They have an insatiable appetite for these, but they do waste a lot of the seed as well. The blue tits seem more nervous - they zoom onto the feeder, grab a seed, then take it to a branch and dissect it to get at the parts of interest.
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Goldfinch
THIS evening was warm and sunny enough to get into the garden and take a few photos, as well as cut down the marauding bamboo. This pair of gold finches were quite tame. The male had been singing with gusto from our cherry tree, posturing and turning left then right throughout - they then both came to feed on the sunflower hearts.
They have an insatiable appetite for these, but they do waste a lot of the seed as well. The blue tits seem more nervous - they zoom onto the feeder, grab a seed, then take it to a branch and dissect it to get at the parts of interest.
They have an insatiable appetite for these, but they do waste a lot of the seed as well. The blue tits seem more nervous - they zoom onto the feeder, grab a seed, then take it to a branch and dissect it to get at the parts of interest.
Wednesday, 2 April 2014
Hawkesbury Upton
THIS weekend we set out for a short walk in the wonderful area of Hawkesbury Upton in the southern part of the Cotswolds. The long deep valleys in this area are bounded by woodlands on their steep slopes, and these have undergone significant active management in recent years. The cutting of the understory and some of the standards has allowed sunlight to reach the ground flora and encouraged a proliferation of wild flowers.
Amongst the yellow primroses a small patch of red individuals have probably arisen from pollen transferred from local gardens and then the plant setting seed.
One of the less common plants that were thriving in healthy clumps is stinking hellebore.
There are some amazing properties along the way and a number were bordered by a stream with luscious yellow king-cup.
A typical hedge bank along the way:
Amongst the yellow primroses a small patch of red individuals have probably arisen from pollen transferred from local gardens and then the plant setting seed.
One of the less common plants that were thriving in healthy clumps is stinking hellebore.
There are some amazing properties along the way and a number were bordered by a stream with luscious yellow king-cup.
A typical hedge bank along the way:
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
Proof at last - wild haggis
EVERYTHING can be found on the internet if you look hard enough and a fine example of this is the post by a highly respected, albeit very young, bone specialist.
Mr Jake Bones (what a coincidence that his surname is the same as his hobby) has found and blogged about one of his prize specimens. This is great as I was starting to doubt my own sanity about the source of haggis meat: see his blog
No-one will laugh at me any more when I tell them that the feared wild beastie (Haggis scoticus), that we thought that we saw on our last holiday to Skye, was the animal in question.
Well done Jake - we (well you) showed 'em!
Mr Jake Bones (what a coincidence that his surname is the same as his hobby) has found and blogged about one of his prize specimens. This is great as I was starting to doubt my own sanity about the source of haggis meat: see his blog
No-one will laugh at me any more when I tell them that the feared wild beastie (Haggis scoticus), that we thought that we saw on our last holiday to Skye, was the animal in question.
Well done Jake - we (well you) showed 'em!
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| Haggis skull - scary! |
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