Kitchen Garden Forum

All of a sudden this morning the place is full of Skylarks. I live on a migration route and by tomorrow they will have moved on but for the day I shall enjoy their presence. When I say full of Skylarks at a rough count there were over 120! Lets hope a few will stay.
JB.

Dear Johnboy, im so glad you get so much pleasure out of the free things nature has to offer.

How people get bored beats me.

My sign of Spring is Curlews - back this week which I think is quite early, will have to go through the diaries.

Hi Geoff,
Our Curlews appeared last week and seem to be up in numbers, that if they decide all stay. There are about 6 pairs in the district, I am told, but I have only seem 4 pairs. Last year we were down to 2 pairs and only one of those managed to rear any young.
This is a wonderful time of the year when things begin to return. The Kingfishers have returned and also the Grey Wagtails. They and the Curlews spend their winter on the coast.
JB.

Re the birds you're seeing. Brilliant! I set off to work at 5.30am each morning and these last three weeks, the birdsong has been lovely. It's all common birds, blackbirds, robins, wrens, song thrush and occasionally a tawny owl, but I love to hear it. Really sets me up for the day ahead. I used to birdwatch alot but due to circumstances, I haven't done much at all - apart from on my allotment - and I'm really starting to get the longing for it again! Spurn Point isn't too far away from me so I might have to dust off my "bins" and visit. Any birders out there seen anything of note lately? Cheers, Elaine.

Dear Elaine, i know it's not a rare bird, but at work this afternoon the most beautiful Barn owl landed on a post about 20 feet from where i was working. I was rather pleased i must say.

I get about early in the mornings, and i too love the early morning chorus.

Lucky you, Johnboy! This number of skylarks sounds great, haven't seen so many together for many years. Our oystercatchers returned last week Tuesday and the curlews have been back for about a week, too. A song thrush is singing his little heart out every evening on our birch tree, the chaffinches, dunnocks and great tits area tuning up for spring and the long-tailed tits have paired up. I am now waiting for the first chiffchaff to call. Unfortunately, they only pass through here, I don't think they have ever nested in the village.
A great spotted woodpecker and a nuthatch pair came into the garden today, lovely to watch.

The Long-tailed Tits are still feeding from the feeders in our back yard, but as yet no sign of Sparrows,Great and Blue Tits or Robins. The resident Blackbirds are about as are the Collared Doves,Jackdaws and Magpies.
There has been a lot of different cats around lately;it may be these which are keeping the small birds away but not the larger ones.

Hi Elaine,
Ensconced in my favourite hide this morning watching the birds feeding when they all disappeared. I thought that the local Sparrowhawk was on the prowl when a Red Kite glided into view. About 50ft away were a dozen Crows feeding on a casualty Pheasant when all of a sudden the Kite swept low scattering the crows and the Kite wheeled and dropped and nicked the remains of the dead Pheasant and flew off directly towards me. What was so wonderful was that the kite swooped, wheeled, dropped and took the Pheasant all in the one movement and didn't even touch the ground. Totally masterful!
That one will live with me.
JB.

Ello OH. Marvellous. I love Barn Owls. I used to watch them regularly as I was lucky enough to find their nest. It was so exciting watching the young uns fledge! Sadly the stand of trees where the nest was, got destroyed the year we had those storms. There are still Barn Owls around but I've no clue as to where they nest. It's great just to see one though.

Ello Jonboy. Wow! Red Kite!!! Beautiful. The first one I ever saw was in Wales. I was so awe struck gawping upwards at this gorgeous creature, that I almost went over backwards down an incline !
Cheers, Elaine.