"Odds & Sods" (old version) - please add to the new thread 2020 instead !

A few from Minsmere on Friday:

I think I can safely say that black is the new black!

Clare Bailey said:

I think I can safely say that black is the new black!

Yup, I have to agree, and he's got every right to shout about it.!!

Hazel these shots are amazing. Can I ask is your water feature man made or do you have running water in your garden?

Kind regards Sarah

The very cold days seem to have driven the birds back to the feeders, a very busy day with a few friends we've not seen for a while.

Very pleased with himself.

Then the chaffinch has had a new hair style...

a bit of a gorilla to be honest

while Mrs has to make do with her old rags.

A few from the feeders and the first swallow of the year. Excuse the weeds - I've opted for a 'wild' approach this year. The weather has been so awful here in North Devon that I've spent no time at all in the garden this year. The hedge to the left was laid for the first time in 63 years but the farmer and although it has opened up stunning views, the wind has been epic. Still can't complain its a beautiful spot

Lovely Nuthatch pics

Bramble, I think your goldfinches need a diet, right porkers compared with our svelte examples. Impressed with your swallow, and that however bad you think your weather is, it is brighter than round here.

Thanks Ian. We are inundated with them and they get through the food very quickly, maybe I should feed them less, LOL

bramble67 said:

Can I ask is your water feature man made or do you have running water in your garden?

  Hi Sarah,  the pond we have was bought from one of the RHS  shows in 2011 where it was one of the display gardens, then it was reconstructed in our garden 2011/2012 on larger scale with the addition of a reed bed and a bog pond area.   It has three pumps which circulate the water within the pond which is mainly natural rainfall now after 6 years;  we only top up with tap water if the level gets too low in rare heatwave summers !      The water is always flowing (two pumps run all the time) as there is a waterfall with two tiers and a long run off area, plus a small trickle (waterfall) feature from the reed bed area.     

Thank you Hazel. A possible future project