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Post by YorksherLass on Feb 12, 2019 12:08:18 GMT
Great news Karen & Kathy as the weather is good here too. The only thing which worries me is that it's the mildest it's been for years at this time, so being a bit pessimistic, I'm worried that we may get another Beast from the East again next month - I really hope that doesn't happen. I dread looking at our pond too & seeing loads of frogs in it, 'cos it's too early for them, the earliest was 3 March one year for us.
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Post by suep on Feb 12, 2019 16:52:54 GMT
So lovely for you to see so much action Karen. Can’t wait for the spring and looks like may get a taster this week. Only hope birds don’t start too early. How lovely to get so many birds in your garden, we mainly only get the blackbirds and robins so I love it when the blue tits make their presence felt at this time cause don’t see them as soon as nesting season over. Not got enough trees in the garden. Can hear them in the trees not far away so that is good. Sue
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 12, 2019 18:09:25 GMT
Thanks suep, yes the weather is quite mild at moment, long may it last! I am lucky in that our garden borders a school playing field and they planted Rowan trees all along the border fence which are around 15 feet tall now and they draw a lot of species, the tits love flitting along them and are a joy to watch
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 16, 2019 12:53:11 GMT
A lovely bright day today, but chillier with a breeze blowing, had a pair checking tree box, the males really do look like a fish out of water when inside! Tomorrow the weather says it will be 14oc will be interesting to see the activity!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 16, 2019 13:05:38 GMT
Maybe its a new male and its his first season Karen? All sounding very promising for the tree box though!
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 17, 2019 14:59:33 GMT
Been a grand day up North Spring is springing! Nothing much fresh to report. Still getting daily visits, no clue as to whether its the same ones each day or a variety of BTs. The Great Tit pair keeps popping back and trying to squeeze in the tree box, there is a nest box with the correct size hole for them but they havnt noticed it I dont think Also I had a shock when I heard a loud buzzing in the bedroom and it was a Bumblebee in the tree box entrance hole being picked up on the camera mic Anyway all long may this weather continue. Bye for now
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Post by sammi on Feb 17, 2019 15:23:27 GMT
Hi Karen Wouldn't it be wonderful if the great tits found the other box and blue tits used the other. We've had a greyish breezy day here and not action at all in the boxes. We have great tits who come to feed but don't seem interested in the boxes yet....having spent a small fortune replacing my old boxes with ones to suit the larger great tits I am hoping I get at least one nest this year. Anything will do
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 17, 2019 16:57:58 GMT
Hi Sammi. I have everything crossed you get a lovely Great tit pair this Spring .
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 17, 2019 20:00:12 GMT
Just seen the country file forecast, up to 18oc by the weekend!!
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Post by blueeyedchick on Feb 18, 2019 8:29:36 GMT
Really Karen is that true, if so then we could all see things moving on a pace I feel I am treading water with Spike starling -will he won't he scenario!.
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 18, 2019 9:37:21 GMT
Thats what the forecast was, more above average temps for this time of year, and hitting up to 18oc in parts of UK.
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Post by YorksherLass on Feb 18, 2019 10:13:45 GMT
Yes, it's great news re the above normal temps this weekend, but that means that I'll have to get some gardening done, which also means that I'll be full of aches & pains in my legs, back & everywhere else! One light at the end of the tunnel though - I may see something (anything!) flying into my box. Here's hoping, so now I'll find that smiley which Paul told me about. Success!
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Post by WildlifePaul on Feb 18, 2019 13:05:01 GMT
Going to be 16c here in Liverpool Friday it is saying so 18c down south looks possible! Seems to be average daytime temp of 11c-13c for the rest of the week not bad. Carrys on like this I think nest building will start for most of us next month
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 20, 2019 8:50:42 GMT
Yes such a change from last year with the Beast from the East! Hopefully we wont get that this year. Feel a little sad this morning I went to put the bird food out as I do each morning and came across two wing bones and a spine all picked clean right to the bones, it was still fresh so mayby earlier this morning must have been a Sparrow hawk kill, I have seen them in the neighbour hood and one sitting on the fence now and again but they dont stay long, it appears to have been a Sparrow going by the feather colours, poor chap but I guess thats nature and Sparrow hawks have to eat too.
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Post by sammi on Feb 20, 2019 10:12:17 GMT
Hi Karen Yes it's always sad to see a kill but at least it's been a meal for a sparrow hawk. It's said that if you have sparrow hawk in the area then it shows there is a healthy population of birds in general. Still sad to see. We have a cluster of white feathers this morning in the garden which usually means that one of the wood pigeons has made a meal for our local Sparrow hawk
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Post by blueeyedchick on Feb 20, 2019 11:49:03 GMT
Oh Karen as Sammi said all very distressing but they do have to eat don't they. As long as they stay clear of our parent birds this season I shall be happy can't have them getting killed can we ?
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 20, 2019 12:13:20 GMT
Thanks guys, yes its the circle of life and its the way its always been. The sun has just started shining though and the BTs are full of the joys of spring, life goes on.
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Post by elle on Feb 20, 2019 13:49:06 GMT
Oh Karen, I know it is the circle of life, but when I see anything like that I always have a few curse words, Im glad you are seeing the joys of spring, the only joys of spring I’m seeing is my snowdrops and crocuses coming up!!, and even some of them got dug up by a squirrel hiding his stash of food in my plant pots Elle xx
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 20, 2019 14:02:40 GMT
Hi Elle. I certainly turned the air blue! We are still only mid Feb and so loads of time for activity to pick up
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Post by suep on Feb 20, 2019 16:04:22 GMT
Sad about the little sparrow Karen, none of us like to witness this but must go on all the time obviously. As Kathy says, just hope our parent birds remain safe during the season. Looking forward to the warmer temperatures but hope it doesn’t encourage the birds to begin too soon and then turn cold again. Sue
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 20, 2019 16:28:25 GMT
Thanks Suep , exactly my worry, I have seen reports on fb that some Bts are bringing in nesting material, which is very early, weather could still turn again!
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 21, 2019 10:54:14 GMT
Lots of goings on in the garden today. There has a been a pair of Blue tits hanging around for most of the morning, the male calling for and enticing her to look at all the boxes, he seems very keen for her to make a choice, they have been round them all I think, poor chap seems desperate going by his calls Came back to edit this as while I was doing a few jobs in bedroom, I saw the male was crouched down for the longest time while she was looking in, she spent a little time pecking the hole, all the time he was crouched patiently hoping she would come inside, at times he looked afraid and opened his beak poor thing. Eventually he came out then she went in straight after he left and she did two nest wriggles. The weather is lovely and mild so I guess this is moving them along.
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 21, 2019 11:13:09 GMT
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Post by karenupnorth on Feb 21, 2019 11:14:04 GMT
Here is a pic of the female
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Post by matt on Feb 21, 2019 11:18:28 GMT
She looks quite happy in there Karen!
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