Yes - I'd forgotten about the nigella seeds being edible, but I don't eat curry much now. Might use them for something else - if I remember. Hello @lostpony567DR7qE_bv - hope you enjoy looking around the forum - and joining in on lots of threads. I don't envy your heat one bit! At least your floor will be nice and clean @pansyface
I had a RTBC yesterday - a pair of magpies valiantly trying to build a new nest. Very early, which is a bit worrying, especially after the weather a couple of days ago, and wasn't anything like as bad here as further north. Fingers crossed it stays put for them tonight as there's more wild stuff apparently coming in...
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Our resident magpies decided last year's nest was a bit manky, @Fairygirl, and have been building a new one in the same beech tree, a couple of feet away from the old nest. It's been fun to watch - one bird is responsible for collecting new twigs, while the other weaves them into a windproof structure. I guess the old twigs have become brittle, which is clearly not ideal for a nest high up in waving branches... the twig collector prefers snapping growing twigs off, from lower down the tree, and then has difficulty getting them through the branches and delivering them to its mate. They're very industrious!
I don't think they'll be laying eggs yet awhile. They seem to use the nest all year round here, for resting in.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
It was just quite nice to see them @Liriodendron. Great that you have such a good view of yours. I may well have missed these ones using the nest last year, or it might not have been there at all, as it's not a bit I regularly walk past. It certainly looked very new. It's just in a tree in a residential garden, but all that row of houses back onto fields, and then the little NT garden, so it's a nice location for them. I went that way again today, and it was a good bit further on than yesterday, and they were very busy. It's not quite so windy today, but it's still pretty rough, and to be worse later so I hope they've got all those twigs well secured! There's always magpies nesting in the pines just along the way. They get very worked up when anything else decides to take a look at their goings on, especially once they have eggs. Lots of crows/rooks always getting in about them.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
A robin with a mouthful of nest stuff stopped less than 2ft in front of me. We observed each other for a few seconds and then it went into the ivy to go about its construction work. The robin is still in and out. I knew they were tame but I really expected them to be more secretive about their nests.. I feel strangely honoured to be so trusted.
It was sunny and pleasantly warm this morning and we spent some time in the garden. My OH did some tidying up and moving pots of bulbs around. I have the Lemons a bit of tlc and water, then best bit I did the first seed sowing of the season in the GH.
Mild and dry here with a slight breeze. I've potted up two new dahlias - Tartan and Lady Darlene; pruned back 4 clematis taking cuttings of Lambton Park and sowing seeds from Maxima and pruned and taken cuttings from rose Teasing Georgia.
Lots of roses and a few clematis left to do but I had to stop to get the dinner on and then give the kitchen floor a serious scrub so I can put down a rug for Rasta whose arthritic hips mean she is losing her grip on the tiles.
Lots of birds twittering about but no new magpie nests. We have 3 now in different trees. None has ever been completed or occupied but all were very noisy at the time of construction and get occasional inspections.
It's been a lovely afternoon and satisfying too.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
A robin with a mouthful of nest stuff stopped less than 2ft in front of me. We observed each other for a few seconds and then it went into the ivy to go about its construction work. The robin is still in and out. I knew they were tame but I really expected them to be more secretive about their nests.. I feel strangely honoured to be so trusted.
I know what you mean. One day, years ago, I was walking my dog in the woods, when I saw a bird on the path ahead, wings out sideways. I gently picked it up to check for damage - as I lifted the little robin, she laid an egg in my hands! 😲 I somehow doubt I'll ever have that happen again! It was quite beautiful. I made a scrape nest under some tree roots, put them both in there and tucked them in, there wasn't much else I could do. Next day only the egg was left, but there was no signs of a disturbance so I assume she hopped out.
Posts
Hello @lostpony567DR7qE_bv - hope you enjoy looking around the forum - and joining in on lots of threads. I don't envy your heat one bit!
At least your floor will be nice and clean @pansyface
I had a RTBC yesterday - a pair of magpies valiantly trying to build a new nest. Very early, which is a bit worrying, especially after the weather a couple of days ago, and wasn't anything like as bad here as further north. Fingers crossed it stays put for them tonight as there's more wild stuff apparently coming in...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I don't think they'll be laying eggs yet awhile. They seem to use the nest all year round here, for resting in.
I may well have missed these ones using the nest last year, or it might not have been there at all, as it's not a bit I regularly walk past. It certainly looked very new. It's just in a tree in a residential garden, but all that row of houses back onto fields, and then the little NT garden, so it's a nice location for them. I went that way again today, and it was a good bit further on than yesterday, and they were very busy. It's not quite so windy today, but it's still pretty rough, and to be worse later so I hope they've got all those twigs well secured!
There's always magpies nesting in the pines just along the way. They get very worked up when anything else decides to take a look at their goings on, especially once they have eggs. Lots of crows/rooks always getting in about them.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The robin is still in and out.
I knew they were tame but I really expected them to be more secretive about their nests..
I feel strangely honoured to be so trusted.
Lots of roses and a few clematis left to do but I had to stop to get the dinner on and then give the kitchen floor a serious scrub so I can put down a rug for Rasta whose arthritic hips mean she is losing her grip on the tiles.
Lots of birds twittering about but no new magpie nests. We have 3 now in different trees. None has ever been completed or occupied but all were very noisy at the time of construction and get occasional inspections.
It's been a lovely afternoon and satisfying too.
One day, years ago, I was walking my dog in the woods, when I saw a bird on the path ahead, wings out sideways. I gently picked it up to check for damage - as I lifted the little robin, she laid an egg in my hands! 😲
I somehow doubt I'll ever have that happen again! It was quite beautiful.
I made a scrape nest under some tree roots, put them both in there and tucked them in, there wasn't much else I could do. Next day only the egg was left, but there was no signs of a disturbance so I assume she hopped out.