Shroppy Liz
Sunday, June 29, 2003
I'm sure it was!
I have heard them, Ted and Freda have heard them and now last night whilst looking up the info about the flycatchers, I checked up to find that not only have we heard them here, but last year I saw one on the fence in front of my little computer room. I was puzzled about it and tried to identify it, but no luck.
However, I can quite definitely (ooh erh) say that we have a nightingale living in this area! How exciting is that!
I am so thrilled because it is the kind of bird that I didn't expect to see in this country, let alone hear it.
That kind of thing makes the day so special.
Have a look and see...
Nightingale
Friday, June 27, 2003
The spotted flycatcher shows signs of appreciating the new pool in my garden. She sits on the tall wall at the bottom end of my garden at this time of year and scoots around catching the flies. Later on she sits on the gable end of the porch catching the butterflies that feed on the buddleia. When caught, they are taken back up to the gable, then she whacks them on the lead ridge before devouring them. Noisy and sad for the butterflies. Devastating when the butterfly concerned is a painted lady or a comma. Aaahh.
Spotted Flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher
Sunday, June 22, 2003
Bliss.
There is nothing quite so lovely - and that is not the word I want, it is too simple, as standing outside in the garden after some gentle rainfall. The warmth, the scents, the sounds are all quite different and calming.
Wonderful!
There is nothing quite so lovely - and that is not the word I want, it is too simple, as standing outside in the garden after some gentle rainfall. The warmth, the scents, the sounds are all quite different and calming.
Wonderful!
Saturday, June 21, 2003
One Week Later...
My computer has had a nervous breakdown and I have been away, so no notes for a week. The garden is flourishing now, lots of flowers and scents in the air. The pinks are especially lovely as is the crambe. I will photograph it tomorrow and post it before the rains spoil the display.
The woodpecker is still visiting the feeder, so I hope to capture him soon. Meanwhile, the wasps have hit the dust, thank goodness. I don't feel it is fair to have them flying around the front door, there are problems enough getting through the man-eating-clematis without being stung on arrival!
More tomorrow!
My computer has had a nervous breakdown and I have been away, so no notes for a week. The garden is flourishing now, lots of flowers and scents in the air. The pinks are especially lovely as is the crambe. I will photograph it tomorrow and post it before the rains spoil the display.
The woodpecker is still visiting the feeder, so I hope to capture him soon. Meanwhile, the wasps have hit the dust, thank goodness. I don't feel it is fair to have them flying around the front door, there are problems enough getting through the man-eating-clematis without being stung on arrival!
More tomorrow!
Saturday, June 14, 2003
Positive Thinking - that's my new thing!
Just look at these lovely foxgloves growing in my garden - aren't they lovely? They are grown from seed from Hidcote and are meant to be this tall - wonderful. A success story,
now .. can I kill those pesky wasps!!!
Just look at these lovely foxgloves growing in my garden - aren't they lovely? They are grown from seed from Hidcote and are meant to be this tall - wonderful. A success story,
now .. can I kill those pesky wasps!!!
Friday, June 13, 2003
OK, that's it, you know when you've had enough.
Last year I had to deal with 5 wasps nests, they were in the compost heaps, Flower posts, under flower posts and in the soil. The last place was the most dangerous as I had no indication until I pulled out a weed that there were wasps around, then they attacked... It's amazing how fast you can move when it is really necessary.
This year has been strange, it is only mid June and the plum tree has fully grown fruit on it. The plants are doing strange things - but I feel that it might be a very personal slant on the bad timing.
Tonight I gave myself some time off - to lie in the garden and just dawdle. I've sent off an application for a job, I've done the cleaning, made the last of the things for the beans and peas to climb up, so I lay back and just looked around.
The winter flowering clematis is flowering. Silly! I looked at the flowers and enjoyed them, they are high up under the wooden bits under the guttering.
Then I saw them, the wasps. They were flying in and out.
There are times in life when you feel strong enough to face anything, at other times, the simplest things get to you. I am at the stage of 'other times.'
How do I puff the killing powder high up over the front door to get rid of these horrors? They can be vindictive, attacking any one who has a personal scent that offends them. I can't just ignore them. But I am fed up with this annual attack from the wasps. I have had enough of this. There is just so much that a person on their own can take and I feel very close to that stage.
Last year I had to deal with 5 wasps nests, they were in the compost heaps, Flower posts, under flower posts and in the soil. The last place was the most dangerous as I had no indication until I pulled out a weed that there were wasps around, then they attacked... It's amazing how fast you can move when it is really necessary.
This year has been strange, it is only mid June and the plum tree has fully grown fruit on it. The plants are doing strange things - but I feel that it might be a very personal slant on the bad timing.
Tonight I gave myself some time off - to lie in the garden and just dawdle. I've sent off an application for a job, I've done the cleaning, made the last of the things for the beans and peas to climb up, so I lay back and just looked around.
The winter flowering clematis is flowering. Silly! I looked at the flowers and enjoyed them, they are high up under the wooden bits under the guttering.
Then I saw them, the wasps. They were flying in and out.
There are times in life when you feel strong enough to face anything, at other times, the simplest things get to you. I am at the stage of 'other times.'
How do I puff the killing powder high up over the front door to get rid of these horrors? They can be vindictive, attacking any one who has a personal scent that offends them. I can't just ignore them. But I am fed up with this annual attack from the wasps. I have had enough of this. There is just so much that a person on their own can take and I feel very close to that stage.
If I'm very still and quiet in the house, the birds just take over my garden, its wonderful. The woodpeckers are visiting more frequently now, the bullfinches come too, both Mr and Mrs B. That is a great treat as his colouring is spectacular.
This morning has seen the advent of the heavy brigade, collared doves - well they're almost there, and an inquisitive jackdaw is stomping around looking for food. He of course, has problems with the feeders.
Perhaps I ought to introduce him to the site which compares height and weight ratios then he could find out how small he would need to be before he could hop onto the feeder.
Silly!
This morning has seen the advent of the heavy brigade, collared doves - well they're almost there, and an inquisitive jackdaw is stomping around looking for food. He of course, has problems with the feeders.
Perhaps I ought to introduce him to the site which compares height and weight ratios then he could find out how small he would need to be before he could hop onto the feeder.
Silly!
Thursday, June 12, 2003
In BROAD Daylight!
The little hussy - she did it in broad daylight - I looked at the feeder filled with peanuts and there she was: spreadeagled on it, my little mouse chewing away at the peanuts! Taking her turn with the woodpecker and other birds! Well! What can I say - absolutely nothing that will have any effect at all, just keep putting in the nuts...
I came home from Worcester last night to a sad sight - a dead young thrush just in front of my house. I suspect it was a cat as neither I nor my neighbour drive fast down here - in fact we would be silly to do so. The thrush has been feeding her young for some time now - the snails and slugs have suffered her onslaught. Good for her! That makes it all the sadder to see the body. It was like the first house martin I saw this year was also dead on the road outside, now would you fly 6000 miles (is it that far?) if you knew that a cat would kill you on arrival? I don't think so!
The little hussy - she did it in broad daylight - I looked at the feeder filled with peanuts and there she was: spreadeagled on it, my little mouse chewing away at the peanuts! Taking her turn with the woodpecker and other birds! Well! What can I say - absolutely nothing that will have any effect at all, just keep putting in the nuts...
I came home from Worcester last night to a sad sight - a dead young thrush just in front of my house. I suspect it was a cat as neither I nor my neighbour drive fast down here - in fact we would be silly to do so. The thrush has been feeding her young for some time now - the snails and slugs have suffered her onslaught. Good for her! That makes it all the sadder to see the body. It was like the first house martin I saw this year was also dead on the road outside, now would you fly 6000 miles (is it that far?) if you knew that a cat would kill you on arrival? I don't think so!
Monday, June 09, 2003
RIP
Lots of dead creatures on the roads recently around here, a greenfinch, two pheasants tonight and a barn owl. But there have been very few hedghogs on the roads and I haven't even seen one - alive, this year.
The birds have thwarted my plans by eating all the sunflower seeds during the day, I don't know if it is the greenfinches that eat most or the coal tits.
The greater spotted woodpecker only goes for the peanuts, he is very shy and seems to know when I have the camera to hand, so I shall wait until I have a good photo of him before I publish.
Lots of dead creatures on the roads recently around here, a greenfinch, two pheasants tonight and a barn owl. But there have been very few hedghogs on the roads and I haven't even seen one - alive, this year.
The birds have thwarted my plans by eating all the sunflower seeds during the day, I don't know if it is the greenfinches that eat most or the coal tits.
The greater spotted woodpecker only goes for the peanuts, he is very shy and seems to know when I have the camera to hand, so I shall wait until I have a good photo of him before I publish.
I have a suspicious mind...
Last week, when I should have been writing my essay, I watched a programme about clever animals which may solve a little query I have. Why does the bird feeder with black sunflower seeds empty over night? I can't think that the hooligan greenfinch family really stay up all night eating, nor the coal tits, so my question was who is eating the seeds? I suspect I know - I have a mouse who lives nearby - I have seen her come out to eat the dropped bits from the peanuts, so I suspect that at night they are shinning up the metal pole and eating the seeds, I shall have to take that feeder in over night and see what happens. Will they come and knock on the door to ask for it?!!! They'll probably come into the houe and raid the cupboards ... there's a dilemma!
Here she is... cute really!
Last week, when I should have been writing my essay, I watched a programme about clever animals which may solve a little query I have. Why does the bird feeder with black sunflower seeds empty over night? I can't think that the hooligan greenfinch family really stay up all night eating, nor the coal tits, so my question was who is eating the seeds? I suspect I know - I have a mouse who lives nearby - I have seen her come out to eat the dropped bits from the peanuts, so I suspect that at night they are shinning up the metal pole and eating the seeds, I shall have to take that feeder in over night and see what happens. Will they come and knock on the door to ask for it?!!! They'll probably come into the houe and raid the cupboards ... there's a dilemma!
Here she is... cute really!
Saturday, June 07, 2003
Not wanted!
You know when you're not wanted, it doesn't matter if its people or creatures, they let you know. I have been out in the garden celebrating the posting of my essay. Nothing too radical or riotous - a glass of wine and some very late lunch, in fact it could be called brunch. I came in to fetch some fruit and glanced through the window to see lots, but lots of birds dashing to the feeders. I shall have to have words with them about trust in our relationship, I feed them but they don't trust me!
You know when you're not wanted, it doesn't matter if its people or creatures, they let you know. I have been out in the garden celebrating the posting of my essay. Nothing too radical or riotous - a glass of wine and some very late lunch, in fact it could be called brunch. I came in to fetch some fruit and glanced through the window to see lots, but lots of birds dashing to the feeders. I shall have to have words with them about trust in our relationship, I feed them but they don't trust me!
Thursday, June 05, 2003
Sluggit, tha's what I've done and it worked for one night anyway. I have planted out some more beans to test the situation....
Wednesday, June 04, 2003
Even shopping does not allow me to get away from the new person - other people are having the same slug problem... it really is a case of wiggling mass destruction of veg and flowers.....
Well the slugs are truly revolting - I think they have the 'gang' mentality, they don't just eat a leaf, they destroy it togeher and then hang around laughing. I have resorted to underhand techniques to control in them in the drive to grow my own veg, the trouble is I seem to be turning into a nocturnal guard, the torch comes out, the stones and then I am off to find the varmints and deal with them. This is turning me into a person I don't wish to recognise....
Tuesday, June 03, 2003
Birds Galore!
My usual habit is to check emails first thing in the morning, yesterday's half-awake logon was disrupted by a succession of visitors to the wall outside my tiny study. A spotted flycatcher and its mate spent some time flitting around, a thrush and then two sparrows! They have been so decimated in numbers that they feature on my unusual birds list. Later on other visitors to the feeders in the garden were the greater spotted woodpecker, a family of green finches, the nut hatch, some goldfinches singing away in the rhododendrons, various members of the tit family - coal great, blue etc. I returned from cricket coaching late in the evening to see the small owl flying to the oak tree nest to his home tree, I will try photograph him..
The butterflies too showed their hand, orange tips, a painted lady and there was another which I didn't manage to get close to, it wasn't a peacock but may have been a large tortoise shell.
Freda, my neighbour, agrees that they have heard a bird which could have been a nightingale in the woods surrounding our houses. How exciting!! We are so lucky here, there is such a lot to see.
Oh, I have forgotten the bullfinch is back - thank goodness the fruit trees are past the budding stage, I must net them!
My usual habit is to check emails first thing in the morning, yesterday's half-awake logon was disrupted by a succession of visitors to the wall outside my tiny study. A spotted flycatcher and its mate spent some time flitting around, a thrush and then two sparrows! They have been so decimated in numbers that they feature on my unusual birds list. Later on other visitors to the feeders in the garden were the greater spotted woodpecker, a family of green finches, the nut hatch, some goldfinches singing away in the rhododendrons, various members of the tit family - coal great, blue etc. I returned from cricket coaching late in the evening to see the small owl flying to the oak tree nest to his home tree, I will try photograph him..
The butterflies too showed their hand, orange tips, a painted lady and there was another which I didn't manage to get close to, it wasn't a peacock but may have been a large tortoise shell.
Freda, my neighbour, agrees that they have heard a bird which could have been a nightingale in the woods surrounding our houses. How exciting!! We are so lucky here, there is such a lot to see.
Oh, I have forgotten the bullfinch is back - thank goodness the fruit trees are past the budding stage, I must net them!
