For the birds

[thebish]

Cobs and Pens? Get this on your fecking irritability-ometer. There's me in the Swan at Newby Bridge in need of a slash, goes to the bogs which are marked up 'Cobs' and 'Pens'. Cobs and bastard Pens? Brilliant. Which one am I then? This'll be just what I need when I'm stood here bursting for a piss - a fecking quiz!!!

[LeverEnd]

Cobs and Pens? Get this on your fecking irritability-ometer. There's me in the Swan at Newby Bridge in need of a slash, goes to the bogs which are marked up 'Cobs' and 'Pens'. Cobs and bastard Pens? Brilliant. Which one am I then? This'll be just what I need when I'm stood here bursting for a piss - a fecking quiz!!!

Should've slapped it out in the Pens' sink by way of protest then told them it was their fault as they kicked you out.

Actually on reflection, that's a bad idea. As you were.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Cygnet update; s/he's still surviving. Getting quite big and very fluffy.

[malcd1]

Cygnet update; s/he's still surviving. Getting quite big and very fluffy.

Is it ready for the plate yet or are you going to fatten it a little bit more first?

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Cygnet update; s/he's still surviving. Getting quite big and very fluffy.

Is it ready for the plate yet or are you going to fatten it a little bit more first?

I fear you have me mixed up with the Queen, sir!

[malcd1]

Cygnet update; s/he's still surviving. Getting quite big and very fluffy.

Is it ready for the plate yet or are you going to fatten it a little bit more first?

I fear you have me mixed up with the Queen, sir!

Sorry I always assumed....

Anyway I forgot the -->

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Cygnet update; s/he's still surviving. Getting quite big and very fluffy.

Is it ready for the plate yet or are you going to fatten it a little bit more first?

I fear you have me mixed up with the Queen, sir!

Sorry I always assumed....

Anyway I forgot the -->

That's your knighthood down the pan. ( )

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Carried out my own local swan upping tonight. Two adults and one cygnet. Get in.
Maybe next year they'll manage to get more than one through babyhood.
(PS I've let the Queen know).

[TANGODANCER]

Is it ready for the plate yet or are you going to fatten it a little bit more first?

Wife relates the story of her dad and uncle rearing a goose for the next Christmas dinner. The strutted about feeding, chacking and making wise comments for a couple of months before. Came the fateful day for slaughter. Her dad assumed her uncle was going to do the deed, the uncle assumed no. They spluttered and fumbled around the poor bird before admitting to each other they couldn't do it, before somewhat shame-facedly going out together and buying a turkey from the local greengrocers.

I couldn't have done it either, mind.....

[bobo the clown]

'Bump'

Our garden gets a fantastic variety of garden birds and I am getting more used to the different habits of a range of breeds. Yesterday was something different though. I heard a sharp, distinct knocking in a wooded area at the bottom of the garden. We've had woodpeckers in the past but not for a long time.

I went down slowly and as quietly as I could and managed to work out the knocking was coming from higher rather than lower and, still afraid I'd disturb the bird, I eventually managed to get close enough and clear enough of a view to spot a nuthatch. About 15' up an oak tree it has drilled a hole into the trunk which it uses to place hazel nuts, in abundance right now, and acorns.

It was stood head down gripping onto the trunk tapping like mad at a nut it had put into the hole. Eventually it broke through and took the nut and flicked the empty shell down to the floor. Only then did it seem to notice me and flew off, but not for long as it returned with another nut and placed it in the hole it's pecked out.

Lovely bird with a soft beige coloured underside, white face and a grey/blue top. I didn't get the chance to photograph it but I expect it'll be back.

[thebish]

fabulous birds to watch - and always walking down trees upside-down! I watched this one for a good half-hour a couple of years ago...

[Montreal Wanderer]

When my wife opened the door for the cat's constitutional, an unexpected visitor came in after her (controversial) bucket of winter bird seed. The red-eyed demon squirrel knows no fear.

[thebish]

i've had a greater spotted woodpecker on my fat balls over the last few days.. went off to get my camera, only to find that it had gone and been replaced by a robin and this brown-capped thing... I thought it might be a redpoll - but is nowhere near red enough nd lacks the black at the base of the beak.. but I don't think it's a sparrow - unless it's a tree sparrow - but they too have black on the chest...

can anyone identify this:



this is a tree-sparrow I took a couple of years ago - I don't think it's one of them - though it does have a brown cap...

[Abdoulaye's Twin]

Great Spotted Woodpeckers are buggers for scarpering before you can get a shot. Very twitchy if you'll excuse the pun

[Little Green Man]

Female blackcap?

[Prufrock]

i've had a greater spotted woodpecker on my fat balls over the last few days..

You're killing me!

[TANGODANCER]

I'd guess a common house sparrow or maybe a dunnock?

[thebish]

cheers all - LGM is the winner!! a female black-cap (winter plumage)

[LeverEnd]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31604026

For the sentimentalists amongst us.

[Montreal Wanderer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-31604026

For the sentimentalists amongst us.

In the top picture there seem to be a lot of non-crows there (not that I'm an avian expert).