Birds nesting?

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qbman1
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Re: Birds nesting?

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You have peasants in your garden Gill ?! Let them eat cake ! :lol:

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Gill W
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Re: Birds nesting?

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qbman1 wrote:
You have peasants in your garden Gill ?! Let them eat cake ! :lol:
Lol, bloomin' predictive text !! :D
Gill

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gfwgfw
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Re: Birds nesting?

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Hey Ho

The birdies are having fun in rural Darzet

Out early this morning shooting . . .

With my Nikon camera and got some good pics of a broody Robin strutting her wares

Sadly, rejected by our sh==ty South Today prog

Try try again dear Giant :crazy:
Gentle Giant of Cerne Abbas :wave:

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Ray B
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Re: Birds nesting?

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Over the past weeks we have watched as our Blue Tits constructed a nest in the bird box on the side of the garage (it's the female that does the work) and started to lay eggs, problem was , when she left the nest she covered them with feathers so we were unable to see all the eggs. Now she has started to sit on the eggs, when she pop out she don't always cover them now, and the good news is we can count eight eggs in the nest.


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oldbluefox
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Re: Birds nesting?

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That's good news Ray. We have always tried to spot the chicks when they have fledged and leave the nest but have yet to see them. We have spotted them afterwards when they are on the ground and at their most vulnerable from predators.

This year the blue tits have taken their custom elsewhere and ignored a luxury dwelling so this morning I have removed one of the rings and it is now available with vacant possession for robins, sparrows and pied wagtails (so it says on the box!). It's probably too late for this year but I feel sure there may be takers in time to come. The hole looks enormous.
I was taught to be cautious

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Ray B
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Re: Birds nesting?

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Nine eggs today.

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oldbluefox
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Re: Birds nesting?

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Not enough for an omelette Ray but she'll be having to build a bigger nest before much longer!!! :thumbup: :thumbup:

I was pleased to go out today and see the resident blackbird feeding not just two chicks, but three!! They are actually quite big now so hopefully much safer but Mr Mrs have done a good job to raise so many, if they all survive. The male bird is pretty tame. I go out first thing in the morning (in my white P&O dressing gown, which I did NOT pinch!!!) and he swoops straight down from his lofty perch and takes the food from my fingers. I must admit he is pretty spoilt. I'm sure he thinks I'm some sort of giant seagull!!!

Also today we had loads of goldfinches. I had topped the feeder up so there were 4 perches open to them but they were still queuing up. They look like people at cash machines going about their business but such beautiful birds.

And it's the woodpecker stealing the squirrel's monkey nuts!!!
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Manoverboard
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Re: Birds nesting?

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oldbluefox wrote:
... I was pleased to go out today and see the resident blackbird feeding ...
We have a couple of blackbirds pickin n peckin ... at grubs hopefully but I have just fed the lawn after scarifying it and the formula contains little blue pellets so my concern is what happens if the birds eat them ?
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Ray B
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Re: Birds nesting?

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OBF, I don't think the Blue Tit has thought this through, the more she lay the more work to feed them all.
Your blackbirds have done well after a late start to spring. I have spent loads on keeping the blackbirds happy during the winter with bag after bag of sultanas, having as many as 12 in the garden I think all the blackbirds in the area come to breakfast here.
I would recommend getting a bird box with a camera in, we just have to keep having look to see what's happening in the box.
Manoverboard, I don't think the birds would eat the pellets, they always look like fussy eaters to me.


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Mo2013
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Re: Birds nesting?

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We have a pair of blackbirds living in a tree/bush in our garden but I can't see the nest. What is frightening is that several times when my grandchildren are in the garden one of the birds flies really low from one side of the garden to the other and almost 'dive-bombs' them. I worry that one day there will be a clash of bird and child.

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Re: Birds nesting?

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Do any of you remove old bird nests from your hedge rows etc? I do this every year as prime locations are in great demand at this time of the year.

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qbman1
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Re: Birds nesting?

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Do you make soup with them OL ?

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Onelife
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Re: Birds nesting?

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QB

I don’t but I know a family that do... one of them landed on their conservatory roof yesterday :shh: :lol:

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Re: Birds nesting?

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Hi All

I’m pleased to report we have another blackbird nesting in our hedge, what is more pleasing is that it is the one that has been hanging around our garden for the past couple of years. Now you’re all thinking how does he know it’s the same bird, after all, all blackbirds look the same don’t they? Well this blackbird has a drooping wing which makes it easily recognisable from others. She’s not sitting yet but should be any day soon.

The other good news is that her eggs won’t fall prey to the same Magpie.....I’ve shot it!!!

Regards

OL



;)

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Manoverboard
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Re: Birds nesting?

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How do you know you've shot the right Magpie ... they all look the same don't they ? :angel:
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Re: Birds nesting?

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You’re too clever by half MOB :geek: :clap: :wave:

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xmaslisa
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Re: Birds nesting?

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Somewhere 1/2 way between me and you Keith there is a buzzard nesting :) I saw him eating what looked like a frog through my binocs ;)

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Onelife
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Re: Birds nesting?

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Hi Lisa

Nice to see you dropping in from time to time... hope life is treating you well.

I’ve noticed over the past few years there seems to have been a resurgence in the buzzard population around these parts... not sure if it’s got something to do with farmers not spraying as much, either way they are a very welcome sight.

Best wishes

Keith

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noddy10
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Re: Birds nesting?

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There are a lot of Buzzards about if you know what you are looking for, we saw one land in a tree by the roundabout as you leave M27 onto the M271 as we were heading for the docks one morning.

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xmaslisa
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Re: Birds nesting?

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Hi Keith, thanks :) only just found this forum

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qbman1
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Re: Birds nesting?

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Buzzards are one of the success stories of recent years, since the stricter control of agricultural pesticides. They are almost commonplace around here. We also have loads of Red Kites. Since their reintroduction in the Chilterns 20 years ago, there are now reckoned to be up to 600 breeding pairs and we see them all over Oxfordshire now

Hello Lisa - good of you to turn up. The only downside is that you will be reminding us Christmas is coming on a weekly basis now !

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Re: Birds nesting?

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Yes cubie thanks ;) it's about 230 days... Just so you're in the loop lol!

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qbman1
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Re: Birds nesting?

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I just knew you'd know Lisa !!

Only saving grace is that we will be on Aurora again !!

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xmaslisa
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Re: Birds nesting?

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Booooooo!!! Unless it was Lapland ;)

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qbman1
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Re: Birds nesting?

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Oh, boy. Go to sleep woman !

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