Old Speckled Hen Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 I have seen my first Swallow on the Kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 A swallow!! We thought we were doing well wearing T shirts and no coats today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 It is almost hot outside today. My cats and chooks have been sunbathing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 WOW - I'm feeling good because I saw 2 butterflies swooping about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 8, 2010 Author Share Posted April 8, 2010 They are always early here. Being damp there are lots of airborne bugs Summer, for me, starts with the swift, a wonderful bird we know very little about. I have put swift boxes up and have a tape of swift calls to entice them. The neighbours must think I'm barmy but hey ho!!! The dippers on the river are nesting and I managed a quick snap of one bringing in more nesting material to reinforce her already impressive nursery. The moss ball is all window dressing, the nest itself being in a hole in the bridge. The blue tit and sparrow nest boxes are on their way and our resident Pheasant's ardour,after much display over the last three weeks, was requited yesterday so we hope for little pheasantlings soon. Oh dear ... too much sex chez Dani and Stan's garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 I swopped my boots for fitflops and because my personal central heating is up the creek a T shirt. We also had an humogous bluebottle in the house but summer bit tenetativether me thinks - might snow next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Great pic OSH I've been watching blackbirds, sparrows and dunnocks collecting for nests and shouting, but not yet seen any offspring. Swifts, swallows and housemartins - birds of summer, birds of my youth...makes me feel happy and sad all at the same time because I've not seen any for years. I think they were quite common across the arable fields where I grew up but as I've lived near the coast for years and now near grazing land they just aren't as plentiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 We have a Great Tit pair making a nest in our tatty home made nest box, it has been up for a few years and i just hope they don't stamp around too much or the bottom may drop off. We also had a wren looking in one of the other boxes this morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 I saw my first ladybird of 2010 today. It was on the Omlet netting. I dashed in for my camera, but by the time I got back out, it had gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Blimey - picture it Great Tit in Doc martens - oops there goes the nest n eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 We have them in our nesting box too. They keep nipping the new shoots off of the Crab Apple tree & taking it in to make their nest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 Great picture The nest box I put up 2 years ago behind the shed is in use. Have heard something in tehre for a week or two. Finally saw the Bluetit fly out this morning That is 3 pairs nesting in our garden, plus the resident Robins and Blackbird pair in the hedge. We knocked down the Swifts' nests under the eaves last year after a collapsed nest We usually get at least 3-4 breeding pairs between us and next door! Lovely birds, eating all the mossies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachelk Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 I had a chiffchaff in the garden this afternoon. My daughter found a ladybird too so spring seems to be here! We have got a blackbird nesting in a bay tree in our front garden. My husband has rigged up a camera so that me and the kids can watch it - its very compulsive viewing! We have actually seen Mrs Blackbird laying three eggs, and she's now snuggled up all cosy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted April 8, 2010 Share Posted April 8, 2010 This year I am planning to fix a swallow nest under the eaves of our house as we get lots of swallows around us. Would be lovely to have them nesting in our garden. Hearing that there are swallows already back in the country will spur me on to order one asap before they start their nesting activities and it's too late! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I have seen my first Swallow on the Kent You did well to see it with your head down there in the sand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 We knocked down the Swifts' nests under the eaves last year after a collapsed nest We usually get at least 3-4 breeding pairs between us and next door! Lovely birds, eating all the mossies! It's not too late to put up a swift box. Dead easy to make. I can let you have plans if you'd like them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 I have seen my first Swallow on the Kent You did well to see it with your head down there in the sand I take it out to breathe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 I have seen my first Swallow on the Kent You did well to see it with your head down there in the sand I take it out to breathe - Great answer, made me laugh a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted April 9, 2010 Author Share Posted April 9, 2010 Keep laughing round those 26miles Rachel. Will be thinking of you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Keep laughing round those 26miles Rachel. Will be thinking of you. Fingers crossed I make it to the start. Looking more promising today, will try for a run on Weston Beach on Sunday to try the knees out as have to take YS there for a couple of hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted April 9, 2010 Share Posted April 9, 2010 Summer is definitely on the way....have been treated today to first wobbly armed tatoos... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Saw several folk wearing shorts yesterday and I ventured out in sandals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 Its a lovely sunny day here in Lancashire I've pegged out my washing to dry and.......... I'm wearing my crocs for the first time this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 I have seen my first Swallow on the Kent You did well to see it with your head down there in the sand I take it out to breathe I've only just got this joke, yesterday it didn't compute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 10, 2010 Share Posted April 10, 2010 We knocked down the Swifts' nests under the eaves last year after a collapsed nest We usually get at least 3-4 breeding pairs between us and next door! Lovely birds, eating all the mossies! It's not too late to put up a swift box. Dead easy to make. I can let you have plans if you'd like them. Thanks for the offer OSH, but we can barely get up there! OH used a broom handle and managed to knock the old broken nests down last year, precariously balanced on the top of a ladder I am sure they will be back and start nest building again. They have been for the 4 years we have lived here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
