Blue Skies, Sunshine and Deer
March 7, 2010
A Sky full of blue sky and pre-Sping sunshine persuaded my saunter today. Although I did have a walk penciled in for today anyway. Either that or the Gym, the latter can wait till tomorrow.
Anyways, had a bit of interesting company along the trail… The picture shows one of the deer present as I made my way back into suberbia.
The Fourth year…
March 4, 2010
4years of The Acorn Trail
Blogging (last month! ahem.)
Just returned from a brisk jaunt to the farm and back, didn’t really see much, apart from the horses galloping about in the fields. Decided not to call them over this time, looked as if they were otherwise engaged in activities of the procreational kind.
Took a few snaps, nothing to write home about… Was without tripod today, current camera not too responsive without.
Hope to be back posting regular soon.
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Dunnock on my Window-Feeder
June 19, 2009
Yes, at last… almost 2 years since owning the feeder…. a Dunnock feeds from it!!!
It’s been on the window-ledge, sat on the Window-frames, even sat on the roof of the feeder… and finally just now his first feed from it.
Fledlings, a Dunnock and a Sparrow
June 17, 2009
A Dunnock at my table…. Actually, on the window ledge waiting its turn after the Sparrow had finished feeding. My appearance alerted both so not officially (witnessed) on my table yet.
The Sparrow, from the only Sparrow family in the courtyard and has been the only family for a good few years now, a more regular visitor now than I’ve ever seen, a brief glimpse twice in 18 months, and now I’ve see him every day on the table over the last couple of weeks.
The Starlings although about in the area, stopped visiting when the mealworm ran out, a deliberate ploy on my part, to give the Robins carte blanche.
The Robins I’m afraid I haven’t seen for about three weeks either on the feeder or in the courtyard, I’m not sure what happened there, but I think the Starlings presence had something to do with it.
On a much lighter note, great news, the Blue tits have had a brood, two fledglings who’ve been brought to the feeder a couple of times (that I‘ve seen) by both parents, who I’ve watched work tirelessly to open up the sunflower seeds to feed the fledglings, all four have been at my window-feeder at the same time and on my ledge and window frames getting fed by the parents, and incredible sight.
Unfortunately I don’t have any real coverage of the above, my camera is broken and has been for about 10 weeks now, plus my time has been devoted to other projects over the last 6 months and that is and will continue to be the case. Any of the above is chance sightings when I’m needed in the kitchen where the window-feeder is located.
I’ll continue to post when I can, and if I (hopefully) get camera equipment, I’ll be able get some photos on my days off, if I get any days off!
The website redesign has had to be put on hold also, the current design was always going to be a place holder till maybe I went .org, or purchased a design tailored to my needs, I think that will come in the future when I can give this more time, and will be possibly part of my job.
Ok, I do have this picture taken with my mobile phone, when one of the fledlings camped on my window ledge whilst I was sat at my computer, any of my Twitter followers will know this as I tweeted whilst the little chap/chap-et was on the ledge.
I also managed to get a bit of video with my mobile phone of him/her on the ledge, here. And some of them getting fed at the feeder, here. I think you can see (barely… low res!) this matches the explination above.
SkyWatch 17
May 21, 2009
Wild Birds and Nutrition
April 18, 2009
Recent activity at my window feeder can be seen in the film here.
Recent back-story: Over the last month or so a pair of Robins have chosen their nest site based on the feeders food source and share the feeder with a pair of Blue tits.
Both pairs of birds take it in turn to use the feeder, one species waiting till the other has finished.
The female Robin should be laying her eggs any day now if not already.
Another species has visited the feeder on a very regular basis for about a week, a small family of Starlings would visit almost all day everyday to the point of almost stopping the Robin and Blue tit from visiting at all.
I’ve stopped putting out Mealworm for the last week, and the Starlings seem to have lost interest. I will restock from tomorrow with Mealworm, both live and dry.
I’m hoping that the Robins and the Blue tits feel secure enough to bring their fledglings to the feeder. In the Robins case this could be just a few weeks away. The Blue tits maybe mid to late may.
A rare visit from a Sparrowhawk seen here on the back fence.
We’ve also had a pair of Bullfinch visit the courtyard a few times. I believe it’s the same pair I saw on my travels in the snow at the beginning of February, I spotted them fairly close to home.
Plus the usual foray of casual visitors Great tits, Dunnock, Song Thrush.
SkyWatch 16
March 5, 2009
Photo shot by gaeyre
Photo shot by gaeyre
- To view more sky themed images, take a look at the SkyWatch Friday website.
Blue tits, Great tits and Good Company
March 4, 2009
I’ve little time to stay and chat or write about anything interesting, noteworthy or newsworthy, just a few photographs of some of the birds along the trail last week. I took a lot of photos that day, but for another project, so only a few distant, low quality bird shots. It was a bit of a dull and tiring day, with nothing much to inspire, I think I’d done too much prior to the trek, and afterward if I remember correctly, although the tall beer and pub grub later on, and the company made amends to some degree. 
I hope to be back to usual standards soon.
Plans to improve the look and feel of the Acorn Trail are still on hold at the moment whils
t other priorities persist to cry for attention.
New Shoots, Green TV and the RSPB
January 26, 2009
New Shoots
I’ve only just noticed the NEW SHOOTS on the Crab Apple tree outside my window. It’s Been looking a bit bare over the winter, and I’ve been too busy to notice any change… I caught a glimmer of green in my toil, edged closer to satisfy my curiosity, unfortunately no documentation photos, they were taken, but out of focus, the batteries were low, too busy to keep on top of the recharge cycle.
Geese
Spotted about 100 geese overhead yesterday, off to summer in Greenland no doubt.
Green TV
I’ve just been watching the Albatross on the RSPB chan
nel on Green TV . As well as one of my favourite birds the Hen Harrier, which is the most endangered species in Britain. Low numbers have not been helped by the illegal killing of these birds and other birds of prey. Thankfully steps can be made to address this barbaric act, but it needs your support.
Big Garden Birdwatch
Speaking of Low numbers in the bird poulation, the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch took place at the weekend, which reminds me I must submit the results of my Garden Birdwatch to them. my effort took place on a very quite Saturday afternoon. Blackbirds, A House Sparrow, a Robin, a Wren, a Blue tit and a pair of Great tits were visiters in my allotted Birdwatch hour, oh yes and a Magpie landed in the courtyard but none of the dozens of Wood Pigeons that fly 
about here everyday decided to visit the courtyard, even though I could see them and the dozen or so Magpies that usually hang about over the way. Although the Magpie numbers here haven’t been as large the last couple of years, which is the whole point of the count, to work out what this means environmentally.
Big Garden Birdwatch
January 22, 2009
Big Garden Bird watching this weekend… Count the birds you spot in an hour 
on Sat January 24th and Sunday 25th. Then submit your findings to the RSPB for their records. They will draw conservation conclusions from your data, and put wheels into motion to address their findings.
One bird I haven’t seen for a while in my back yard is the Dunnock, conservation is amber for the Dunnock, which does suggest their numbers are in decline.
Watch this space for news on my back yard Dunnocks (PS. I use to date stamp my blog photos as well as the blog post back then, if I ever forgot to switch the date-stamp function on on my camera, I’d Photoshop it onto the photo.)
One bird I can’t wait to see is my first Swallow of the year, I’m sure I’m not the only birder, nature lover, wildlife lover or lover of the Summer (in the UK) to be wishing the same. Even this early.
I blame the recent rise in the temperature for these thoughts. Dreaming of cycling down winding country lanes, through warm breezes, over tall shadows of trees, the sun on your back, and hedgerows full of green…
Putting the bins out is a nasty job. Putting them out tonight though, I was pleasantly greeted by a Robin twittering @way nearby.
To find out more about the Big Garden Birdwatch visit the RSPB website/ Big Garden Birdwatch page.
