This fellow seems to have taken up permanent residence in my big, recently collected, Escallonia. He buries himself in the sphagnum moss that I’ve used for top dressing and when I water, he climbs to the top of the tree for a shower. Great to have him about.
Never seen a year like it for these buggers!!!
Phil allowed me to leave the exhibition marquee for a few minutes on Sunday and I managed to snap a few quick photos of the Birds of Prey that were on display within the campus grounds. Here are a few shots. Stunning birds, although they look a little bored!
I was crouching down to say hello to my tunnel frog when Maggie decided she was in need of attention. ‘look at me, Look at me!!’ Just look at those eyes.
I was pleased to see the frog unscathed after I had sprayed the trees with insecticide a few days before. I had banged about a bit before I started to spray to allow them to scuttle under the wooden boards. It obviously worked. They are getting rather used to my presence.
I took a walk with family members along the Floodgates footpath in Ards last Saturday. I promised my sister that we would see a Skylark. I was starting to panic when we eventually spotted one singing on the up before it floated down to the ground again. And then, would you believe it, we nearly tripped over one on the pathway!
A few other birds about too. Spotted this Reed Bunting, not often seen in my area, at least by me!
Shelducks
Unidentified by me, poor photo too but I was hoping someone would know what it was. There was 5 of them bouncing about from bush to bush. Any ideas?
Kestrel hoovering over the path.
Some of the views.
Tides out, way out!
Plenty of air traffic popping into the local airport right beside the path.
My Poly Tunnel frogs from last year are back doing their best to keep up with the slugs 🙂
This one posed briefly while I was poking around with the camera.
On yesterday’s walk I was going to keep the camera in the case. I was suffering with a bit of a hangover and wasn’t in the mood. I said to Stephen that it would take something unusual for me to it out.
A short time later a Bull Finch popped up onto a nearby beech tree. They are a rare sighting here and don’t sit long as they are a shy bird. I even had to change the lens first and was surprised when it sat long enough for me to get a few shots!
As I had the camera out, I took a few more.
A badger set under the roots of a beech tree.
A buzzards seemed to be following us around.
If you look closely you can even see the hailstones that made it take to a perch.
Sometimes being a parent isn’t easy!
Willow
Taking off from Ards Airport, small planes only.
I have a real love of wild birds, always have. My Dad was always pointing out birds when I was young and it has stuck with me.
I like watching them bounce around my trees beside the window were I sit at the computer.
Today I was typing away happily and all was as it should be on the benches. A few minutes later I spotted this.
My Orchid accent had been hauled out of the pot and scattered. A quick look around the benches and I spotted the offender.
I always look out for the first Swallow each year. Always try and spot one before my Dad but that rarely happens. As I keep this blog as a diary I thought I would add a note now as I seen the first one this year today. Funny how seeing a bird makes you happy, made my day 🙂
These Sparrows have been doing a grand job of keeping on top of the insects on a few of my trees. Supposedly on the decline in the UK, my garden is full of them. That’s great until you moss a tree for a show 
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