Magpie Angel

Harlequin Ladybird Invasion!

2007-11-15T16:40:00.001Z

Apparently there is a rather large, aggressive ladybird now here in the UK which could eat our cute little native ladybirds out of house and home. See the Harlequin Survey. A ladybird turned up in the office and I checked but it wasn't a Harlequin I don't think. I never knew there were so many kinds of ladybirds native to this country (46 to be exact).

Ladybird Ladybird fly away home back to the States where you came from.

Ladybird! Ladybird! fly away home;
The field mouse is gone to her nest,
The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes,
And the birds and the bees are at rest.

Ladybird! Ladybird! fly away home;
The glowworm is lighting her lamp,
The dew's falling fast, and her fine speckled wings
Will flag with the close-clinging damp.

Ladybird! Ladybird! fly away home;
To your house in the old hollow tree,
Where your children so dear have invited the ant
And a few cozy neighbors to tea.

Ladybird! Ladybird! fly away home;
The fairy bells tinkle afar;
Make haste, or they'll catch you and harness you fast
With a cobweb of Oberon' car.

Ladybird! Ladybird! fly away home;
Good luck if you reach it at last!
The owl's come abroad, and the bat's on the roam,
Sharp-set from their diurnal fast."
author unknown

November Rain

2007-11-08T13:40:00.000Z

Deep grey clouds lowering over us, blustery wind pushing them along at a pace. The wind whips around the building moaning and wailing, evoking in me some deep ancestral memory of artic winters. And then comes the rain; silvery, slanting, like flashing needles, cold and sharp. The building creaks and we cower like mice in dark corners wondering where the golden autumn has seeped away like so much spilt cider.

Compost Corner

2007-08-14T16:05:00.000Z

Our compost bin is now in place and I've filled it with all the waste food we have been collecting over the last week: mouldy carrots, grapes, blackened bananas, greening cabbage, potato peelings and alas the pretty dragonfly that was starting to lose it's colours and go black too. I feel sorry that I couldn't preserve him a bit better. Still as Danny says, "once the spirit has departed the earthly body serves no useful purpose" apart from to make compost of course!
Perhaps by next spring we'll have something worth using on the garden.

Catch a Shooting Star

2007-08-14T15:55:00.000Z

We spent a pleasant evening on Sunday at my brother's house as it was my mum's birthday. They had lit a fire in a burner outside and we all stood round hoping to see shooting stars as it had been forecasted to be a wonderful meteor shower that night starting at around 11pm. By about 11.45ish I had seen about 6 or 7 meteors; a couple of them really good ones with long golden tails. They go in such a flash though. I thought there would be more of them together but we had to go in the end and my neck was aching that much I couldn't take any more. Great stuff though. And it was fun looking through the binoculars and seeing how many more stars are viewable even with the tiniest amount of magnification.

Beautiful Dragonfly

2007-08-14T14:43:00.000Z

I found this lovely dragonfly on the pavement as I was walking back to work the other day. It must have been freshly dead because it was perfect apart from a slightly damaged wing. I think it's a Migrant Hawker (Aeshna mixta). Apparently they are quite common. It was an amazing chance to see one close up as most of the time dragonflies move so quickly you just get a tantalising glimpse all in a jewelled blur at best. Looking at the eyes was stunning. They reflected all the colours and you could see all of the individual cells. Fantastic!

I was wondering how far this little fella had moved from water as there didn't seem to be any obvious water source nearby. I don't know how far dragonfly territories extend or even if they have territories. I think the nearest pond is a few roads away which perhaps isn't too far for a winged insect.

Bats!

2007-08-10T09:42:00.000Z

Last night after our training session in the dojo, it was getting dark as the sun was going down which always looks great over by our end of the road because you have a great view of it. It's just the lay of the land. It was still warm enough to sit outside the dojo on our bench and enjoy the ambience as the sky became a deep prussian blue with Venus glowing bright and glassy. A little bat came flitting by so small and hardly noticeable. I wonder what kind of bat it was. Probably a pipistrelle as they are the commonest bats in the UK. But I have no way of being able to get a closer look, I am just really glad to see them still around.

Summer Photos

2007-08-10T08:51:00.000Z

Just because I think they look pretty!

The image of the swallow babies was taken in County Wicklow, Ireland at my partner Danny's sister's house. She had several swallow nests growing under the eaves of her porch. The swallows didn't seem to mind people coming and going at all. There were a lot of swallows in Ireland. There seemed to be more than I have seen here in recent years but maybe I just haven't been in the right place at the right time. Swallows used to be my favourite birds when I was a child. There was something mysterious about them, the way they gathered together in September to fly off far away to the South. I wanted to go with them and understand their chittering like in the old fairytales when people could fathom bird-talk. I still love swallows. In fact I love all birds but now I have other favourites: bullfinches, goldfinches, chaffinches.
And of course the magpie.

The yellow archangel (top right picture) was spotted up on the top of the Beacon in the Lickey Hills. I have never seen it growing there before and in such profusion. The pale yellow flowers contrasted beautifully with the deep burgundy spiky bits. Gorgeous!

Territorial!

2007-08-09T12:17:00.000Z

I went for a walk at lunchtime as it is so sunny today I thought I had better make the most of it especially considering the really awful weather we have been having. I usually do a stint down the local leafy lane where all the big posh houses are as they have lots of trees and bushes and there are plenty of birds and interesting plants growing in their gardens. I have noticed that there are no birds singing anymore. No chaffinches, no bluetits. In fact not many birds to be seen around either. I did pass 3 magpies on the playing fields and stopped to watch them as they either hopped or waddled along. Members of the crow family seem to favour wide open spaces where the grass is short. Maybe that's because they can dig for wireworms and find beetles and other insects more easily than rough tussocky grass. Or maybe it's to do with being able to see things coming from a distance too. Who knows. Speaking of magpies - I found this interesting webpage on a great British bird site. It has a good discussion forum and lots of useful info about birds. What intrigues me about the description of magpies is this sentence:
"The tail accounts for over half the total length of the bird and is an indication of the bird's status in its society."
From that perhaps it is just meant that a juvenile bird has a shorter tail because it hasn't had time to grow a long one yet. But one could also take it to mean that the longer the tail the higher up the pecking order that particular magpie would go until it reached the top where it would be crowned King or Queen Magpie! Hmmmm.

As I carried on with my walk I noticed two different types of Lavender growing in a front garden. The one kind looks very pretty with large "ears" of purple but very little scent unless the leaves are bruised and even then the scent wasn't that pleasant; kind of sharp and not very aromatic and soothing. The other kind was the old-fashioned english lavender which doesn't look so spectacular but makes up for it with it's gorgeous spicy warm scent which you only have to brush the plant to send wafting around you in delicious waves. I was just in the process of crushing a tiny bit of one stalk of the old english type in my hand as the owner of the house returned and as he drove into the driveway he bibbed his car horn and wagged his finger! I thought he was a complete idiot. Fancy telling someone off for smelling your lavender. I mean that is what it's there for isn't it? People can become so obsessed with owning and controlling natural things they forget that we all really belong to the garden - it doesn't belong to us!

Thus endeth the lesson for today!

Fat Dormice

2007-08-09T10:26:00.000Z

My colleague has just told me about Fat Dormice or Glis glis And here. These are the dormice that the romans like to eat...yuk. They look more like grey squirrels and are quite hefty with large bushy tails. A bit of a contrast to the smaller Common Dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) we have here. These fat dormice have a fascinating history having been brought here in 1902 by Baron Walter Rothschild, where they escaped from his Tring country estate. They now roam free(god bless 'em) but only in a specific area of the country. Namely, a 200 square mile triangle bounded by Beaconsfield, Aylesbury and Luton. If you have them living in your attic you can't kill them because they are protected, so you will have to either put up with their bumpings and wooflings or have them expelled (gently) by someone with a license to do so. They sleep for 7 months of the year apparently so they shouldn't be too much trouble. Awwwww how sweet.

Snake in the Grass

2007-08-06T10:59:00.000Z

This post has been prompted by my friend Janet who told me recently about seeing grass snakes Natrix natrix - don't look at the link if you are squeamish about snake pictures! I haven't seen one for years and would love to see one again. I looked them up on the net and am in awe of their beautiful colours. They really are a sight worth seeing. I had a compost bin for my birthday recently so perhaps I will end up with one in there! You never know. Talking of which it's amazing how much waste one collects just from one meal. It makes me realise all the glorious compost I could have been making all along. I have yet to site the bin properly as it has no bottom so it needs to be placed directly on top of the soil. I am quite excited about having it because it means we can improve the quality of the clay soil here at no extra cost and I don't have to feel guilty about throwing out kitchen waste!

I put a load of old pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds out for the birds but I haven't seen one bird eat them yet. Instead they have become covered with slime trails as the slugs and snails have had a feast. Yuk! Where are all the thrushes when you need 'em?

Slugsville

2007-07-26T12:07:00.000Z

Rain! Rain! Rain! That is all it does around here. Apparently this is the wettest summer ever recorded - since records began in 17 whatever!
It is really depressing to put it mildly and most of all for those who have been flooded continually for the last few weeks over and over again. Tewkesbury is completely surrounded and can only be reached by boat. We tried to get to Bidford upon Avon to see a friend at Marcliff and we got to the bridge ok but beyond the bridge was flooded for at least 500 mtrs if not further and abandoned cards were floating around in the fields. I was worried even standing on the bridge as the water was right up to the top of the arches and was swirling and bubbling around quite ferociously. The water was all brown and it came up to the tops of the trees. We carried on down the road and tried the next turning but the road and fields were badly flooded there too. We carried on to Stratford knowing that there had been flooding but hoping that there was a way through somehow. When we got to Stratford a taxi driver told us that we just wouldn't be able to cross the river without going a lot further south and it wasn't really worth it. The road that Marcliff is on is so near the river that that would surely have been flooded also. In the end we turned back. At least it was a nice drive.

Now back on er, "dry" land I look in despair at my garden and it's mighty army of slugs that have made it their stronghild. I wish some giant thrushes and hedgehogs would come along and eat the bloody lot of them! The slugs have been at everything leaving trails of slime everywhere even the bird food they have had a go at as well as my bulbs. I even found one inside the bird feeder! As Danny and Kenny were moving some wood left over from the dojo they uncovered more monster slugs - they had never seen any so big. I am always amazed at how high these creatures can travel. I even saw a snail at the top of the lilac bush which must have been at least 7ft up in the air!

The weather has been really unkind to all the plants too... the hollyhocks and evening primroses have keeled over in the wind and rain and I managed to save the alkanet by staking it up. All of the garden is completely sodden and the only thing that seems to be enjoying this weather is the bracken. I wish we could have a bit of really hot sun but it looks like rain, clouds and electric storms for the next couple of weeks.

Dojo Update

2007-07-16T15:23:00.000Z

The Garden Dojo (as it is now officially called) is open and ready for use. It has been for a couple of months but I have been too lazy to update this blog. It still smells wonderfully clean and new in there; a mixture of fresh canvas, pine wood and incense. It is a really beautiful serene space and we are really blessed to have such a special place to train, learn and grow. We have also now got two wooden storage benches; one either side of the door and they fit perfectly. I was contemplating making some cushions for them but not sure what fabric to use yet - perhaps vinyl covered cotton? I saw some lovely designs in John Lewis recently and I could use polybeads inside so it wouldn't matter if they got damp. Anyway, the next stage in the revamp of our outside environment is to hookup the electricity to the mains and fit some solar lights. Then we want to put in some stepping stones in the ahem "lawn" and once the er, lawn has been re-seeded in the autumn we will be away with the mixer as they say in the emerald isle.

Rain-Soaked Summer

2007-07-16T15:13:00.000Z

Oh summer where have you gone? This one has been so rain-soaked and soggy that people are saying we have had no summer at all. Our garden is a complete shambles and a haven for about a million slugs and snails of all shapes, colours and sizes. They are curled around every succulent green stalk available. My lovely hollyhock had a beautiful crown ready to bloom when it got cut off by the dreaded creatures. They had chewed right through it's stalk so the top hung over all sad and forlorn. My foxgloves arrived a while back but too late to give them a long enough growing season. That is the last time I will ever buy any plants from the internet. If you want to buy plants, I have learned that you need to actually see them and pick the best ones otherwise you will be fobbed off with a load of crap. Some of the plants I ordered were either too rotten or too small to do anything with. I expected better and was really disappointed.

The only things that have done really really well this year are the poppies and cornflowers that have flourished in what was supposed to be the lawn and was a complete sea of mud until March. The seeds must have been disturbed in the soil when it was levelled to make way for the new lawn. Well lawn, what lawn? Now it's a tangle of wild flowers - ok weeds then. But it does look very pretty. We are going to get a kilo or so of wildflower seed and just strim what is there in autumn and then just seed the whole lot with wildflowers so it comes up like it did this year only better. Hopefully next year my foxgloves and other plants put in this year will do better and actually look like something. There is still work to be done making things look more how I want them to but it ain't bad and I think the birds like it.

In the Olden Days

2007-06-13T12:32:00.000Z

I found this fascinating online account of a 19th Century nature photographer. He records his travels all over the British Isles photographing birds, dragonflies and anything else interesting including one or two of the strange locals! One of the chapters that interested me the most was the accounts of bird catchers because a) they spoke of catching so many birds such as redstarts at once and b) because of their attitude to bird catching and selling which in the light of the current environmental concerns seem archaic to say the least.

Lunchtime Delight

2007-04-23T09:43:00.000Z

On my walks during lunch break I have found a few leafy roads to peruse near to work. There are big old houses with mature trees and large bushes and shrubs. Lots of cherry trees dripping with blossom, weeping willows, and magnolias with those pretty pink petals that seem to me to be a plant equivalent of flamingoes.

Garden Progress

2007-04-11T12:24:00.000Z

Well I have managed to put a few plants into the shady side of the garden now that the fence has been painted green. This includes a LOT of aquilegia as it is quite pretty and grows just about anywhere. There are 3 rose bushes: 2 pink, 1 orange, some echinops ritro (globe thistle) which has lovely blue flowerheads, a small red rhododendron (not sure how it will cope in our soil but I will give it a go) and some hollyhocks: pink, white and deep purple. I have ordered a whole stackload of foxgloves and as I adore them I am sure they will look wonderful and re-seed for next year hopefully. I still need to find more stuff to put in there though. Even though the border looks quite narrow when you start to look at it it takes quite a lot of plants to fill it. Does anyone have any good suggestions for shady plants with lots of colour? I am not a great foliage only type gardener. I want pretty flowers...

Springwatch 2007

2007-04-11T12:16:00.000Z

Here's a link to find out more about Springwatch 2007. They are tracking who is spotting ladybirds, frogspawn, peacock butterflies, hawthorn flowering, red-tailed bumblebees and swifts.
Springwatch

So far I have seen a few ladybirds and the odd bumblebee but they didn't have a red tails. The hawthorn near us has fresh green leaves but no flowers yet. They usually come in May don't they? That's why it it's called May Blossom! Doh!

Shoots

2007-03-08T23:04:00.000Z

Oh yeah, you know I said it was Spring? Well here you go:

Oh and look here too:

See! I told you!

Today Was The Day!

2007-03-08T23:00:00.000Z

Ok, well it's not quite finished but they did a good job considering there wasn't much time before it got dark. It's a work in progress. They just managed to get the roof on before it got really dark and started raining. Then it was time for fish and chips all round and making notes on what needs to be done tomorrow.

Dojo Progress

2007-03-07T23:14:00.000Z

We are building a dojo in the back garden and the base is down and has been for weeks. Well, the dojo kit is being delivered tomorrow and "the lads" i.e. Danny, his brother, a carpenter friend, Danny's son and the guy who did the fencing are all coming as a task force to erect it in one day even though apparently it's got 600 pieces! (I hope their instructions are better than Ikea's!). Anyway so the story goes. When I come home from work I hope to see it all done!!! (She said hopefully!).

We have done a hell of a lot of work on the garden to get it to this stage.
We have erected new fences, felled trees, sawed stumps, cleared debris including an old metal fence and builder's rubble and concrete fence posts that were buried. We have also levelled the ground, got rid of a really wobbly slabbed path and cleared all the grass (if you could call it that - it was so full of weeds) ready for new turf. At the moment it looks like a really muddy rectangle of ground with a huge great slabbed platform at one end. Not very attractive. I hate the square edges and the angular effect. There is very little foliage to soften it and it looks so horrible; bare and barren. But we have great plans!!! There will be the dojo of course which will look like a wonderful little log cabin. There will be borders, full of luscious flowers and shrubs. There will be a seating area complete with honeysuckle for fragrant evening lingerings. There will be a chimnea for warming ourselves and maybe cooking a thing or two. There will be sympathetic solar lights and stepping stones in the newly laid lawn. Oh the visions! The plans! Now you see why I am so desperate to get out to some gardens and start buying a few plants?!

Spring Has Finally Sprung!

2007-03-07T22:43:00.000Z

OK I think it's really happening this time...the daffodils are out, the crocuses are out. The sun is shining...and there is no snow! Well, not this side of the Atlantic, although my friend Linda seems to be having a rather different experience in the States.
I have been searching around looking at gardening sites recently because a fever for gardening always grips me in the spring. We are planning to visit some good nurseries and open-to-the-public gardens this year to get ideas and buy plants and generally have a good day out enjoying our little self-indulgent selves. Here is a nice one I found nr Kidderminster called Stone House Cottage Garden and Nursery.

Well Maybe Not!

2007-02-08T23:02:00.000Z

Oh it's snowing!, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

Oh and there was me waxing all lyrical about the spring....obviously I spoke too soon! Brr it's going to freeze over tonight and the sky has that weird orange colour when there is a lot of snow around. The snow was sharp needle shaped not like big fat flakes so that means it's really cold. Not that I really mind because I love the transformation the snow makes to the landscape. I don't think the birds enjoy it that much though...I went out this morning in my boots, dressing gown and a hat to put some sunflower seeds, oats and fat balls on the ground for them. I hope they weren't covered by too much snow before they had a chance to get at them. Saw a robin, blackbird and blue tits today.

What's New Here?

2007-02-01T09:24:00.000Z

Well, let's get up to the right time of year now. It's Spring! Well, sort of. Apparently this is the warmest January for ages and it certainly feels that way even though the other day there were lovely ferny frost patterns all over my car windscreen. The crocuses are out, the catkins are out. The nights are getting lighter and the days are getting longer. The birds are starting to sing. Hey ho and a hey nonny no! Sweet lovers love the Spring!

I haven't got a decent photo to epitomise Spring that I have taken recently but I will post one soon.

Wagging Off

2007-02-01T09:22:00.000Z

I haven't posted anything here for ages so I thought I would update it now and what could be more fitting for a new update than this link to a post about Magpies or should I say "Wagpies"?!

Read it and you will know what I am on about.

Crimson Delight

2006-10-08T16:46:00.000Z

Hollyhock, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

It's cold in the air, it's really Autumn. But even so this beauty is still flowering. I hope they come up again next year even better. I love the architectural effect of hollyhocks.

Sentinel

2006-09-28T12:32:00.000Z

On my way to work I pass a sort of "reservoir" - more like a large pond really. They recently dredged it as it had filled up with silt. It's bordered by willow trees and usually attracts a large number of mallard, canada geese and black-headed gulls. But yesterday there was a more picturesque visitor: a grey heron. I could have take a pic if I had had my camera with me. It must have been a juvenile as he was more grey all over rather than having a white front. He saw me watching him and moved off in a very slow, deliberate manner. God bless the herons! I always love seeing them especially so close up.

Hogzilla and Co

2006-09-26T08:54:00.000Z

I saw a program last night about Hogzilla supposedly the largest wild pig in America. He had been tramping around the misty swamps of Georgia until he was killed. They said he was 12 feet long and weighed 1000 pounds. But as it turned out he was about 8 feet long and about 600 pounds. Well, whatever, he was still a whopper. They also discovered that he was a cross between domestic and wild breeds of pigs. So the piggies have been partying in the woods without us noticing. Now these feral pigs are spreading all across the States (exacerbated by the deliberate feeding of these boar with pellets for the hunting industry) and apparently in Britain too... the Forest of Dean for example - we now have a couple of thousand wild boar in Britain. People are worried that they will contaminate domestic pig stocks and bring diseases. It's interesting to note people's reactions to the idea of "wild" animals being allowed to roam freely in what once was their natural habitat. Part of the problem is that we have destroyed most of the forests and we are not used to being confronted by anything more ferocious than a badger or a fox while taking a woodland stroll. Perhaps it is we who should reexamine our attitude to the wild. As far as I can see many people don't really want to live in the wild or they don't want the "wild" encroaching on their nice little safe environments that they have created through technology and artificial taming of the landscape. The wild boar of the Forest of Dean and elsewhere in Britain are just reminding us of our long forgotten past. Nature if left alone soon comes back into balance. We are now paying the price for messing around and trying to play God. With only small areas of forest to roam in and no natural predators (apart from maybe the Black Beast of Bodmin) the wild boar will cause us problems unless we can find a way to come to some compromise with the "wild". Time to bring back the Wolves I say, and that is what they will need to do in the States too. Nature will have the last word, you'll see.

Great News!

2006-09-22T12:55:00.000Z

Another victory for red kites - they have bred in Shropshire for the first time since 1876 after being made extinct from the county through persecution - presumably from gamekeepers and landowners poisoning and trapping them. Read the full story here. Interesting to note also that the photo of the first chicks shows them in a nest with a dead crow and a magpie for their dinner. See! It's not only songthrushes that get eaten but magpies too...and they don't only die that way. This morning on my way to work I saw a magpie had been run over on the road. There were about 3 or 4 other magpies and a jackdaw in the oak trees overhanging the road clattering about making a racket as if protesting the loss of their comrade. There were beautiful blue-green irridescent feathers strewn across the tarmac and I thought about picking up a few to save but then realised I might end up just like the magpie if I wasn't careful as it was near a really busy roundabout.

Keeper of the Sacred Fire...

2006-09-05T22:14:00.000Z

My son tending our camp fire...there is something magical, mesmerising about fires, especially bonfires. We baked a few potatoes in this one. Sitting around the warmth on flat stones taken from the nearby beach, hearing the haunting call of the tawny owl from the forest and looking up at the shooting stars...what more could one ask for?

Pretty Powder Blue

2006-06-19T21:12:00.000Z

My second butterfly photo!, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

This is my second butterfly photo ever! Its such a lovely delicate thing. Pretty, pretty, pretty.

Heavenly blue

2006-06-19T21:10:00.000Z

Heavenly blue, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I think this is bugloss but I am not sure. I suppose I should look it up in my flower book I might learn something useful.

Clent

2006-06-08T12:36:00.000Z

Must catch up with posting all my images on this blog. We went to Clent the other day and it was wonderful...the place was brimming with fantastic herbs; speedwell, sorrell, bugloss, broom, gorse...

I heard lots of willow warblers in the dense trees... ahh the sound of summer at last!

Magpie Hatred Continues...

2006-05-11T14:37:00.000Z

Another rant about Magpies and how to get rid of them... I notice they don't complain about the poor earthworms being eaten by the thrushes!

I am sick of hearing about it. Why can't people just accept that animal and bird species eat each other? After all we are the worst creatures for destroying other species habitats...its such twisted thinking.

The Floral Dance

2006-05-11T11:43:00.001Z

After a very cold, windy start, Spring seems to have finally blossomed and the garden has exploded into life. The bluebells and tulips are out and the air is sweet with the warm wash of wallflowers which I find somehow comforting and uplifting.

We visited Kinver Edge again the other day and it was really fun. I always marvel at the wonderful view those people must have had living in the rock houses on top of that hill. Its a really special place and well worth a visit.

Wonderful Afternoon

2006-03-06T23:49:00.000Z

Bleak field, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I spent the afternoon doing some birdwatching. I must have walked about a mile or so down past the reservoir. There was a layer of thin ice which had melted near the edges and layers of it sloshed over the overflow swished by the movement of the water underneath. The ice was strong enough though in the centre of the lake to hold the weight of mallards, black-headed gulls, moorhens and coots. There was no sight of the great-crested grebes that used to be there when I was a child. I haven't been down this way for quite a while. Nothing much has changed. I walked past the old ash trees that border the overflow pool and took the path that runs down the edge of the private land. The metal fence is about 9 foot tall and spiky. All the bushes and interesting hedgerow plants were inside the fence perimeter so it was difficult to get good glimpses of birds as they were all darting amongst these bushes and I couldn't get any closer. I managed to spot some chaffinces and I could hear even more singing their lovely chirpy songs. There were plenty of robins and blue tits too.

Further on I passed to some curious horses and a rust-brown pony who probably thought that I was going to offer them some gastronomic delight. They watched me with interest all the way down to the road. However I had no apples or any other kind of food so the eventually lost interest. The land the horses occupy was once a lovely piece of open ground full of wildflowers including orchids, yarrow and tansy. I used to cut through the area to get down to the road by the church but its now all fenced off and divided in two - one part for the horses and the rest has been planted with closely grown hazel - so claustrophobic that not much light gets in and no wild flowers grow there like they used to. When the owners of the land first took possession of it, they cleared and burned a good portion of the hedgerow and all the bramble clumps that had grown up over long years. It felt tragic to me as it seemed such an alive little ecosystem and then it became spoilt by interference.

Once I got down to the road I felt the large trees, dark clouds and the way the sound echoed by the railway track made a slightly oppressive atmosphere. I thought about going back but then I spotted some large thrush like birds in the sheep field. I couldn't see them well enough but I thought they must be fieldfares. I saw a few more further on too and these I could see clearly and their greyish heads confirmed their identity. There must have been about 5 of them. I am not sure when they migrate back to colder climes but March does seem late for them to be here. Still, it is cold yet.

I walked through the graveyard and down onto the road and under the railway bridge. Instead of walking on up towards the other reservoirs, I decided to sit for a while in a nearby field. I saw a little goldcrest in the hedgerow. I tried to get close enough to photograph it but it moved too fast and I was content just to marvel at its diminutive size and features. Then I saw a couple of long-tailed tits also flitting about the hedgerow. I sat for a while as a soft rain fell gently. My camera battery was exhausted so I couldn't take any more pics of the panorama I was hoping to capture so I just gave up and sat there. I finally decided to go when I saw a bird fly into the centre of the field. I couldn't see its colours clearly until I sighted it in the binoculars. To my surprise it was a green woodpecker! I could clearly see its red cap and green feathers. What a wonderful sight! I don't think I have ever seen a green woodpecker on the ground. Only in trees and usually a flash and its gone. This was great. It spent a while pecking around in the grass and I could see it had some mud on its beak. Finally it flew into some willow trees banking the edge of the field, its yellow rump flashing bright as it "yaffled" like some crazy weirdo.

Green woodpecker (Picus viridis), originally uploaded by mangold47.

The green woodpecker picture was published with the kind permission of Hans Mangold. He takes great bird pictures.
As I made my way back to the car, I stopped near a robin singing in the hedgerow and it was like being serenaded - its song seemed to be made up of all kinds of little strings of chirps and warbles which overall had a very wistful sad note. I always find the song of the robin has a kind of poignancy that puts me in mind of autumn even though its spring.

Flight of Fancy

2006-03-06T10:15:00.000Z

Driving down the M40 as usual, I normally see about 2 buzzards, several kestrels and a few red kites. This time there were no kestrels or buzzards and more than the usual number of red kites circling above a field near the motorway. But this time saw an unusual sight; a small brown creature on the grass verge. I thought it was a dog at first because it had its back to me and its head down. But as I went whizzing by I saw it was a deer feeding on the grass quite unconcerned of the traffic speeding past it. It was very small with no white dapples on its back so it must have been a muntjac I think. I have never seen that before. It was quite bizarre.

This lapwing photo was shot by John Smythe and is published with his kind permission. See more of his great nature photos here. And his nature blog North Atlantic Skyline here.

The other great sighting on this road trip were several flocks of lapwings above the fields, their white underbellies and dark outer wings flashing alternately bright and dark as they flew in the sun. I always find it a tremendously heart-warming sight to see lapwings as to me they epitomize the wild. And they have a sort of faint, wistful, plaintive quality that tears at the heart strings. I saw about 2 or 3 flocks which again I found unusual to see so many birds in a short space of time, but am grateful for the experience.

Plans for the Garden

2006-03-03T12:05:00.000Z

This year I plan to try to fill the shady side of the garden with shrubs that tolerate heavy shade. I want things that have some colour and interest. I have found a dwarf shrub that has pretty red berries which might be nice for the front of the border. Its called Gaultheria Procumbens or Partridgeberry. I might try dogwood too because I love its red twigs in the winter, they give a splash of colour. Holly also tolerates shade well so that would add some interest and I have always yearned for a witch hazel tree. They tolerate partial shade so that might work. I think I would choose a yellow-flowering one as they are so pretty. Along with this I want to plant some foxgloves and other woodland flowers that don't mind being in the shade. Perhaps wood sorrel and bluebells will do well. Lily of the Valley and Japanese Quince are also a possibility. In the Summer the garden looks a bit schizophrenic one side always full of lovely flowers and the other side struggling to do anything at all with the plants straining towards the sun. On the sunny side I am really hoping my oriental poppies will come through this year and they seem to be sprouting well so far and the alium is coming up too. My trailing rose also has new shoots. Yep, I think its Spring.

From This to This

2006-03-03T12:03:00.000Z

Thistle, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

We're still getting thick frosts and some snow here in the Midlands. But it usually melts pretty quickly. Its still really cold though and that is hard on the birds. The goldfinches are still coming but in twos and threes and there are still the blackbirds, wrens, robins, sparrows, blue tits and great tits along with good old magpies of course. Still, I think spring is on its way definitely - the amount of sunshine we are getting is beautiful and there are signs of daffodils and bluebells appearing. All the catkins are out in the hazels everywhere. I don't think I have seen so many before. I have even seen a cherry tree in blossom. And the birds look like they are nest building, I saw a fleeting glimpse of a bird going into the shed, I couldn't see what kind. We had a wren last year, but it gave up halfway through and just left a nice little ball of moss above the door lintel.

I've been tagged!

2006-03-02T09:20:00.000Z

Ken tagged me so here goes:

4 jobs I've had:
Wedding dress hand sewer, chip shop assistant, enamel box painter, textiles lecturer. Bit of a mixture eh?

4 movies I like watching:
Precious Bane is my number one. Mary Webb is a real unsung heroine of British literature. And the film did a good job of visualizing the book.
Lord of the Rings, Shawshank Redemption, Pride and Predjudice. Most Period Dramas.

4 places I've lived: (all in the UK)
Manchester where I did my degree, London (hate, hate, hate), Gloucester (but not for long) and Birmingham (it really is a nice place to live despite its image).

4 TV shows I like:
Anything to do with property development but my favourite is Escape To The Country, Wildlife programs especially British Wildlife; Living Britain, Birding with Bill Oddie isn't bad but I wish they would concentrate on the birds more than on him charming as he is. I also have to admit to watching the likes of American Idol and the X Factor! At least I don't watch Big Brother.

4 places IÂve vacationed:
Romania - its such a beautiful place; wonderful mountains full of wildlife, little picturesque villages, fields of sunflowers and meadows bursting with wildflowers and butterflies. I have yet to visit the Danube Delta though which I hope to do one day as its a mecca for birds.
Where else: Bulgaria, comes a close second to Romania in its beauty. Would love to go back when its rose blooming time!
Canada, again a wonderfully spectacular country. I have yet to see the Rockies and the azure lakes which I yearn for. However Ontario is gorgeous and Niagara Falls are a once in a lifetime experience.
Donegal, Ireland. Fantastic white sandy beaches meet rugged mountains. Its windy but wonderful. Its still unspoilt and lovely, with many a nook and cranny where nobody goes. A great place for stargazing too.

4 dishes I like eating:
My favourite is my mum's tuna bake but I can't have that anymore because I am not supposed to eat potatoes or sweet corn. Sigh. So, I like chicken shashlick, persian biryani, falafel especially with some sliced spanish onion, my own home-made flapjacks: I put things like pumpkin seeds and walnuts and ginger in them and they are nice and crunchy.

4 Sites I like visiting:
Flickr, BBC Romanian (it gives me a chance to hear it spoken), Albedo Design (my Canadian friend Arlee - she is really funny), RSPB's main site and their images site.

4 Places I would rather be now:
In Bed, Somewhere warm, In the Shropshire Hills, Somewhere Green and Beautiful.

I am going to tag Bushra see her blog!

Great Garden Birdwatch

2006-02-07T23:30:00.000Z

I've submitted my results for the RSPB great garden birdwatch.

Here they are:

Wren x 1
Crow x 2
Starling x 2
Goldfinch x 15
Magpie x 4
Sparrow x 3
Blackbirds x 4
Bluetits x 2
Cole Tit x 1
Greenfinches x 2

Surprisingly, no Wood Pigeons or Great Tits this time around.

My latest count yesterday for the goldfinches is 17!! They came back to feed on the Evening Primroses again as well as some dead Lemon Balm. I am still struck by how much they blend in with dried-up foliage. Its amazing! The brown of their backs is the same brown as dead leaves.

Goldfinch Feast

2006-01-12T10:47:00.000Z

Goldfinches, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

My dream of having a charm of goldfinches in the garden has come true. I don't know how many goldfinches there need to be to be able to call it a charm but for me 5 will do!

They were back yesterday so I went out and bought a load of niger seed and a special niger seed feeder that has really small holes. The seeds are so tiny and goldfinches beaks are very small and fine so not much seed is wasted. There were too many goldfinches for perches on the feeder so the others went to the Evening Primroses that I had left all brown and forlorn. I had planned to pull them all up but I am glad I didn't. My laziness has paid off! There must still be quite a bit of seed left in the seed capsules. It was amazing to see how the finches kind of blended in with the brown of the dried vegetation and the way their wing markings looked almost like little splashes and dapples of sunlight. I had never realised before how dainty goldfinches are compared to the larger, beefier looking greenfinches that also turned up looking for a bite to eat. The greenfinches have a much heavier beak and physique over all.

So this is my first attempt at photographing the goldfinches that are gracing our garden. This is as close as I can get without scaring them off and with the camera I have. I need a spotting scope to get any better result. It just isn't close enough. And with the zoom on "extra" the quality of the picture becomes very choppy. Time to save up the pennies I think.

Now that the goldfinches know the niger seed is there I think they will come back again. I am definitely going to grow some teasels this year. I think they will grow ok in the shady side of the garden because they get really tall and will probably be able to reach for the sun.

In the meantime its such a delight to watch them! I feel honoured!

Finch Delight!

2006-01-09T17:14:00.000Z

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), originally uploaded by mangold47.

Wow! How about this for a morning's birdwatching? I opened the blind in the kitchen and realised there were some birds in the trees that were too big to be blue tits or great tits so I rushed upstairs to use the binoculars and I saw 3 greenfinches, a pair of bullfinches (male and female) and 6 goldfinches!! I was amazed, I have never seen so many different finches in our garden all at once. The bullfinches and greenfinches didn't stay long but the goldfinches stayed in the ash tree for quite a while. I think they were eating the ashkeys that still hang in sad bunches from some of the branches. Later they moved onto the large oak in a neighbours garden and were pecking at something there - oak galls or acorns?? I am not sure. But what a treat an absolute treat. Goldfinches are my favourites because they are so beautifully coloured. The old country name for them is "seven-coloured (or painted) linnets". I think that describes them wonderfully. I hope they come back soon. Time to buy some more niger seeds quick!!

As I couldn't photograph them well from the distance I have posted this lovely photo by kind permission of Hans Mangold. Please have a look at his lovely bird photos on flickr. Thanks Hans. Great photo. I hope to produce something like that one day but for the meantime I will just look on in awe.

Winter Solidier

2005-12-30T16:55:00.000Z

Teazel, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

Teazels standing tall and straight, their stalks hollow now with frost, looking like soldiers all spiky with swords at the ready. I love their architectural quality. The ones I saw were over 7 ft tall. Two little goldfinches flew away as I approached. I felt sorry as I know I disturbed them from feeding. I hope they come back soon.

Brrrrr!!!

2005-12-28T22:03:00.000Z

Frost, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

Its very cold tonight. The water in an old paint tin out back is solid ice. I watched the ice crystals forming on my windscreen, making gardens of ferns and fronds of great delicacy. Winter bites - there is more snow on the way they say. The chicken fat and bread I put out has all been eaten. I put out a chicken carcase for the fox tonight. I hope he or she enjoys it. The animals and birds need all the help they can get in this weather.

Winter

2005-12-05T12:23:00.000Z

Honesty, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I have decided to go for a bike ride everyday or as often as possible. And the nearest place that I love to visit by bike is the Rea Valley cycle path that follows the river Rea all the way into the centre of Birmingham one way and all the way to the Waseley hills the other. I don't follow it all the way into Birmingham to avoid the noise and having to go onto any major roads. The other day I followed the path all the way to Wychall Reservoir which amazingly enough has a wide variety of wildlife apparently even jacksnipe and the largest teal flock in the Midlands have been known to visit it! I didn't see anything as exotic when I was there only some magpies, crows and ducks. The magpies hovered over the reeds at the water's edge and looked precarious balancing on such delicate foliage. The willows are what make the area though, they are so immensely graceful and somehow endurant. I even saw some buds appearing on the branches that looked almost like little studded decorations all along the length of the wood, so pretty. Today I went back to the cycle path but I didn't get as far as the reservoir even though that was my plan. I veered off the path to look at some distant yellow leaves which turned out to be Rosehips and there I found the Honesty amongst them looking bleached and fragile. It seems that Winter has arrived. The mellowness of Autumn has gone and the world is dark and brittle. The plants look stark against the dim interiors of shadowy hedgerows. Shades of blacks, greys, browns and whites dominate the vista with splashes of blood red like gashes; the death of the old year. Little birds flit amongst the hawthorns, its hard to see their colours in this light. Greenfinches, chaffinches, sparrows, great tits. They all fly away even though I approach as gently as possible.

The sky grows ever darker, a steel blue bank of cloud lowering overhead making me feel oppressed. Its getting colder. My face is started to freeze. Still everything seems like the Land of Wonders. At every humble weed and blade of grass I stop and marvel at its intricacy, its delicate strands and minute seeds still clinging to carcasses of stalk and leaf. I take lots of photographs this time hoping to capture the spirit of this dark wintry moment. But what I see with my eyes and my heart is not captured by the camera. I can see more than the mechanical eye. All the glorious shapes of the umbell heads bleached and broken by the river's edge make perfect shapes in their dereliction that the camera can't seem to record. I take frame after frame but it's no good. The light is failing and I just can't seem to capture the souls of these plants. Maybe I am not meant to. Maybe it's better just to savour them in the moment that will soon be gone forever. All the textures, and muted subtle shades fill my mind with awe. There is so much beauty I am enjoying myself immensely. Why didn't I do this more often before now? I used to cycle a lot. I had forgotten how wonderful it felt. Its a joy to rediscover doing something that I love. Now my legs are beginning to feel cold. My toes are cold. My boots are sodden and muddy. My bike slides in the squelchy grass. Time to get back. Just one more picture. A fallen log draped with the finery of dead goosegrass looking like faery garlands resplendent with dainty scrolls and finials. The photo just looks like a drab load of bleached weeds on a log. Nothing special. But my heart says otherwise. I make it home after a slog uphill which makes my legs feel wobbly and then into the cloying, enveloping warmth of the house.

Splendid Rosehips

2005-12-05T12:02:00.000Z

Gorgeousness, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

Something pretty to look at while I compose my latest post.

Bracket Fungus

2005-11-07T14:55:00.000Z

Bracket Fungus, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

Strange looking fungus. I don't really know much about them. These were sticking out all up the trunk of this copper green covered silver birch. I wonder if its edible?

Bird Man

2005-11-07T14:50:00.000Z

Bird man detail, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I wish I could fly away. But like me the Bird Man has to stay...his left arm has been broken off and he cannot fly anyway. I feel like its a painful sculpture - not a particularly happy image...much how I feel right now. The crack in the wood looks like a scar. How life scars us when we are dealt emotional blows. And yet still we must endure them.

Forest Cavern

2005-11-01T20:03:00.000Z

Forest Cavern, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I love the darkness cast by these pines and their quiet brown atmosphere. Its as if they are all waiting for something. They sway gently from side to side touching their tops as if nudging a friend. The only sounds are the breeze blowing through the needles and the constant high pitched "swizzle-swizzle- swizzle" of the blue tits as they flit from tree to tree. The forest invites exploration into its dark depths. Its dim and soft inside the house of trees. Years of fallen pine needles yield underfoot. Its hard to see ahead, only tree trunk overlapping tree trunk. In old stories and tales the forest represents the mystery of the subconscious; somewhere where wild savage beasts lurk untamed, to be either conquered or killed. The forest is where we meet ourselves in our most primeval form.

The Road Goes Ever On and On

2005-11-01T10:38:00.000Z

Follow me, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I love this path, its in the woods near my home and always holds a quiet mysterious pull. So its really autumn now. All my tomatoes have been picked. The ash trees are dropping leaves and ash keys and twigs all over the garden and the squirrels have been eating berries from the cotoneaster bushes. The air has a tinge of woodsmoke and frost a poignant reminder that the summer is over. Fireworks sound like gunfire in the darkness or the demonic cries and squeals of goblins. This is the time of year when I feel such a longing, a mourning almost for the lost golden days of summer. For all the delightful, bright cheerful days and treats that the sun brings. Now all the flowers are sodden by days of cold incessant rain. The nights are drawing in and its time to light the fire to warm the body and the soul.

Weird Plant

2005-10-12T22:22:00.000Z

This is a weird plant that me and mum spotted on one of our evening walks in Ireland. On returning home and browsing through many wild flower books we finally decided that it must be Navelwort as the leaves have a sort of dimple in the centre a bit like a navel. Interesting stuff. I have never seen it before and to see it growing out of the bole of a tree, it looked like a parasitic plant although I don't think it is.

Harebells

2005-08-06T12:59:00.000Z

Harebells, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

Another rare find, I have never seen harebells growing on a beach either. I love these delicate little bells blowing in the wind, they look so fragile as if they are about to be swept away.

Coltsfoot

2005-08-06T12:57:00.000Z

Coltsfoot, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I have never seen Coltsfoot growing on a beach before. I thought it was lovely poking out amongst these sea-rounded rocks...one of the many treasures found on Irelands gorgeous beaches.

Common Mallow

2005-07-12T09:17:00.000Z

Common Mallow, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

One of my favourite wild herbs. Again growing in the heart of industrial Birmingham. Amazing how much beauty there is unlooked for...

A Magpie "Angel"

2005-07-12T09:13:00.000Z

Dead Magpie, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

A dead magpie..hmmm... unusual to see one - I wonder what killed it? It has only got one foot. Could it have been a cat? I am not sure. It would be unusual for a magpie to be killed by anything as they don't have that many enemies larger than them.

More bees fighting over pollen

2005-07-12T09:10:00.000Z

Bees fighting over pollen, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

How many bees can you get in one flower? These 3 were fighting over one rose - the fact that there were about 1000 other rose flowers around to go to didn't seem to make any difference...I wonder how much pollen there is to go round?

Bee on lavender

2005-07-12T09:07:00.000Z

Bee on lavender, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

This is lavender growing at the side of a large dual carriage way in a really industrial part of Birmingham. Hard to believe, it looks like an idyllic country scene. I am always surprised at the amount of wildlife living in this city.

Orange Hawkweed Named!

2005-07-01T12:07:00.000Z

Anyone know what this is called?, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I didn't know what this plant was called even though I'd seen it around quite a bit and was attracted to the gorgeous colour. Then Lindylu on Flickr told me what it was. Thanks Lindylu!

"This is Orange Hawkweed, or Devil's Paintbrush (Hieracium aurantiacum) - so pretty for a weed!"

It has also been called "This aggressive invader from Europe is also known as devil's paintbrush. It outcompetes many native species by forming dense, monotypic stands, or competes with forest understory plants. As a Class B noxious weed..."

Oh dear!

I don't see it as something evil even if it is called "Devil's Paintbrush" or "Fox and Cubs". I have never seen dense stands of it like it says above only very small clumps of it dotted about here and there. But perhaps because it has been introduced into North America artificially, it doesn't sit well there as it does here in Europe. Either way, I think its beautiful!

The tallest foxglove of the summer

2005-06-29T08:49:00.000Z

foxglove1, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

Over 6 feet tall. I hope I get more like this next summer. I adore foxgloves. When you look at them close up they do look pretty weird.

Storm about to break

2005-06-29T08:46:00.000Z

Storm about to break, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

We have had a lot of hot weather recently (well, for Britain anyway!)and its brought on a couple of thunderstorms. This is a weird cloud formation that almost looked like the clouds had really sharp hard edges. I have never seen that before. There was plenty of thunder and lightning, but some of the thunder was quite far off. I counted 14 seconds before it sounded. The rain that followed was so heavy that the sound of the water gushing from the gutter kept me awake and I had to get up and shut the window. Welcome to the english summer!

Alium just coming into flower

2005-06-29T08:39:00.000Z

Just coming into flower, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I love all the little buds on these - they remind me of sprinkles used on fairy cakes.

Longest Day of Summer

2005-06-22T10:12:00.000Z

Life is beautiful. It was the longest day of summer yesterday. It took a long time for the day to finally dwindle into an amber and gold sky streaked with lilac-grey making little lagoons and pools in the clouds that appeared as mysterious inlets on some magical horizon. The moon was clear and bright and the air warmly perfumed. How sublimely beautiful. And yet I always feel a poignant sadness at such times, as if life too is dwindling. I know the sun will come up again tomorrow but it just feels that way... as summer winds on I know its only for a short while that the sun is hot and the sky bright and clear with the sunlight sparkling and dancing on the lake. Like a mayfly, only living for one glorious, delirious day, the summer passes swiftly by as a shimmering jewel-like dream. I feel at a loss to capture it's beauty in any artform and instead stand mesmerized as if I too am part of a dream and cannot move or express what is in my heart.

Alium just opening

2005-06-22T10:11:00.000Z

Alium just opening, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I love aliums, garlic and all things onion-like. Some onions I had in the kitchen started sprouting so I planted them in the garden. It will be interesting to see whether they actually flower.

Burbling Stream

2005-05-17T13:09:00.000Z

This is the stream or little river we walked along the edge of at Ray's Farm. The lads spent a while trying to find the Water Nymph sculpture.

As we were walking I heard a Buzzard making a calling out and looked up to see it being pursued by a crow above the treetops - they fought for some time before finally separating and the buzzard flew off. My guess is that the buzzard was getting too close to the crow's nest.

Owls at Rays Farm

2005-05-17T12:58:00.000Z

There were plenty of owls in enclosures at Rays Farm. It was thrilling to see many different types of owls close-up - Snowy, Tawny, Barn, Eagle etc. But ultimately it was very very sad to see them enclosed - 4 or 5 to a cage unable to fly any distance. How tragic to see a bird that is unable to stretch its wings out to fly and glide at will. All the owls have very intense eyes especially the Long-eared owls which stared at me as if looking into my very soul! I can see why owls are traditionally called "wise" in fairytales. They have a certain persona that makes them look somehow knowledgeable and other-worldly.

I love how the tawny owl on the right of the picture has feathers that blend in perfectly with the tree stump they are perched on.

Birds at Rays Farm

2005-05-17T12:52:00.000Z

I saw a little Willow Warbler come flying into the woods from the field that bordered them...couldn't get a shot of it as it flew off too quickly. I managed to get a picture of a pheasant I saw creeping through the undergrowth. Not a great picture as the zoom was stretched to the max. (Must get a spotting scope sooner or later!). There were plenty of other pheasants we could hear making that weird choking call they make.

The Magpie Debate continues

2005-05-17T12:38:00.000Z

See it at this forum... some for and against. I like the discussion though. At least they are polite!

Spirits of the Forest - Rays Farm

2005-05-16T15:15:00.001Z

Here are some pictures of wooden sculptures I took recently at Ray's Farm in Shropshire.

Click on the photo to see the whole set.
It was a wonderful day out. The sun was really warm and walking down the woodland trail was gorgeous. There was the smell of wild garlic and nettles wafting on the breeze.

Red Kite Bonanza

2005-05-16T14:52:00.000Z

Driving down the M40 motorway every other weekend means that I often see one or two Red Kites hovering overhead as I pass through Oxfordshire. But this time I saw at least thirty all wheeling on the thermals in a great circle not far from the edge of the road. I presume there must have been some roadkill or something to draw so many into one spot. It was a stunning sight, as they are impressive birds at the best of times but seeing so many at once was very unusual. They are fantastic birds, and after a re-introduction of them to the area, have made a good recovery from being poisoned and shot. One of the success stories of recent years.

More about Magpies

2005-05-13T09:04:00.000Z

There was a huge magpie on our fence this morning. It was a strong looking bird and I was impressed by the powerful presence it had. Presumably that is how smaller birds must feel when they get near it too.

Barren Nest Latest...

2005-05-13T09:00:00.000Z

The barren nest seems not to be so barren after all. I have seen magpies hopping about in the branches near the nest so perhaps they are going to finish building it...

Raspberry Ripple

2005-05-03T09:36:00.000Z

Wallflowers, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

More gorgeous wallflowers.

Marmalade

2005-05-03T09:32:00.000Z

Wallflowers, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I love the colours of these wallflowers as well as their gorgeous scent! When looked at closely the petals are so soft and velvety.

Barren Nest

2005-04-28T09:55:00.000Z

Barren Nest, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

Here is a picture of the nest that I spoke about in an earlier post. I thought it had been made by magpies but perhaps it was crows as there is no dome across the top which is characteristic of a magpie's nest. Either way, it appears to be abandoned as there has been no activity there and no change in the nest construction. Maybe just as well as there'll be no leaves going to grow on these dead trees.

Cedar Waxwing

2005-04-27T09:15:00.000Z

Cedar Waxwing, originally uploaded by jackanapes.

Waxwing Delight

2005-04-26T08:55:00.000Z

I was just coming down the steps of from the train station today when there was a soft flurry of wings nearby and a whole flock of waxwings landed on a bush a couple of feet away! After yearning to see these birds all winter and being jealous after reading other blogs where people have seen thousands of these birds, this was an absolute treat. I wish I had had my camera with me as they were so close I could have got a great shot or five. Never mind, the thrill of seeing these exotic looking birds will stay with me for a long time. After gobbling a few berries on the bush the birds flew up to the roof of an adjacent building and stayed there preening and sunning themselves. They reminded me bizarrely of budgerigars because of their upright stance and hopping and shuffling gait.
The lovely photo of the waxwing is used with kind permission of Matthew Richardson. See more of his photos here.

Sugar Candies

2005-04-19T12:20:00.000Z

forgetme1, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

Forget-me-nots in my flower border. These are the pink version rather than the classic blue. Forget-me-nots always seem to cheer me up for some reason, they seem so bright and sunny and yet such a humble little flower.

Survivor!

2005-04-19T12:11:00.000Z

paeony1, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

I am so pleased to see this little shoot poking through the soil at last. I tried to transplant a well established paeony last year and it all just seemed to wither and die off. I was hoping it would come back to life and sure enough here are the first signs of a new beginning!

Busy Little Worker!

2005-04-19T11:55:00.000Z

robin1, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

This little robin is building a nest in the ivy on the fence near our bathroom window. He/she (not sure which) keeps bringing beakfuls of oak leaves, moss and tufts of grass every few minutes. Its so cute!! It keeps landing on the wall and hopping about a bit before actually flying under the ivy to do its building.

I am amazed that it has chosen to build a nest so close to the house as it will have to contend with us coming in and out of the back door.

Another robin keeps appearing close-by but doesn't seem to be doing any of the moss collecting.

Snow On Its Way Again!

2005-04-06T12:01:00.000Z

Apparently there is going to be snow and minus below temperatures at the weekend! I cannot quite believe it as we have had a few good days of sun - I even lay out on the lawn sunbathing on Sunday - it was that nice, listening to the birds including a little starling which made a really weird series of clicks, squawks, whoops and chortles. I really hope we don't have snow because I have planted tons of seeds in my new mini greenhouse. I don't want them to fail! This time I have planted seeds in the borders as well as in seed trays - I am trying to make the most of both methods as last year a lot of seeds I planted direct didn't come up. I am hoping for a better year this time around now that I know what grows best where with the sunny side and the shady side of the garden.

More on Magpies's Nests

2005-04-06T11:52:00.000Z

The magpies have been searching for sticks for their nest and every morning I have seen one of them in the lilac bush trying to break twigs off it, then it flies back up to the oak tree. I can't really see the magpie's nest forming when I look at the tree but perhaps it is at the wrong angle from where I am. I hope it doesn't touch the new clematis montana I planted underneath it. The leaves and buds look pretty tender. I am hoping that the clematis will wind its way through the lilac bush and then eventually onto the leylandii trees and make them look a bit more picturesque when it flowers; as they are pretty boring to look at I think.
I noticed that a nest has been built in the burnt trees near the scrapyard on my way to work. I think its a magpie's nest from the shape of it. It seems a rather strange place to build a nest as the trees are dead and will provide no leafy shade whatsoever for nestlings when the summer sun gets hot. I think it would make it unbearably overheated and the nestlings might die without getting some relief. We'll just have to see.

Magpie Nest

2005-03-22T12:13:00.000Z

Two magpies are building a nest in the large oak tree in a neighbours garden. I saw one magpie picking up twigs and then he flew into the tree and bounced from branch to branch until he reached the top where the nest is being constructed. Magpies like to build large nests that look a bit like a squirrel's drey: a dome like shape with a hole in the centre as the entrance.

Greenfinches!

2005-03-22T12:11:00.000Z

I saw a couple of greenfinches in the garden today for the first time. They were feeding on the niger seed I had put out to attract goldfinches. Yipee! I am so glad they have come - I really love them, they are so pretty. I hope they come back often.

Spring Has Sprung!

2005-03-14T13:32:00.000Z

I think Spring is finally here - I say "think" because the last few weeks have seen snow, sleet and hail in varying proportions as well as the odd sunny day. But now that the crocuses and daffodils are beginning to flower I think it is finally Spring even though its still really cold. Had a treat on the way to work the other day - greenfinches, redwings and a dunnock all in the space of a few minutes. I think it is probably the closest I have ever got to a group of redwings - they were on the large buddleia bushes near the carpark and didn't stay long.

Now that I have put out more bird feeders in the garden the birds seem to be visiting more regularly. The fatballs I put out went really quickly and were popular with all: blue tits, great tits, robins, magpies, sparrows etc. I put some up in another tree too but it them a while to realise they were there so there is still a bit of one ball left. No-one seems to have eaten those niger seeds I put out - perhaps there are no goldfinches where I live - shame! I am longing for my own "charm" to inhabit the garden.

Work on our dojo at the bottom of the garden should start within the next few weeks, which means starting to clear all the debris around the ash tree and putting it into a skip. It will be hard work as there are old tree stumps, lumps of concrete, and broken paving slabs as well as a year's worth of grass cuttings and weeds, not to mention the old dilapidated shed. Still after its done it will look very well having a dojo in a lovely shade of green instead of that old derelict shed. I would like to plant some stuff around the front edges so that it blends in well with the rest of the garden.

Its time to start planting my seeds, I am hoping to produce a better flower display than last year! I love cottage garden plants - and was subscribing to the method of "throw and sow" last year. But now I think I will carry out a more controlled method and plant seeds in trays and then plant them out when they get large enough. At least the slugs won't have a headstart then. Time to plant my tomato seeds too. Again I am hoping for better success than last year - the plants were too leggy and produced really small fruit which may have been something to do with the variety or not as the case may be. I love the smell of fresh ripe tomatoes!

Woodpecker

2005-03-09T10:45:00.000Z

I saw a great-spotted woodpecker in my mother's garden yesterday on the old pear tree. Its the first time I have ever seen one there although because her garden has lots of big trees near it, it does get visited quite regularly by a lot of "woodland" birds such as jays. I always feel a stab of excitement when I see a bird like that that I haven't seen for a long while. I also feel in a funny kind of way privileged to get a glimpse of such a wondrous and beautiful creature. The woodpecker flew off heading straight towards the house and I have an image in my mind of its torpedo like body, wings held in, with its long sharp beak pointing straight at us before it flew up and away. I hope it comes back soon.

A New Blog that I Adore

2005-03-09T10:18:00.000Z

I have recently come across this lovely blog Mystic Writer. It has wonderful descriptions of nature and thoughts on love and life with some spectacular photos too! Mystic is a truly talented and beautiful writer. Check it out!

Long Meadow

2005-03-07T12:27:00.000Z

Little buds are on the branches even though the branches are black. The light of the moon is brighter and the sky is bluer. The mornings are lighter; the day seeps into my eyes early. I feel happier, freer, I feel like I can get up and its ok. Winter is fading. The old oak trees loom large like ancient beasts in the mist; they have a long history, they speak in an ancient tongue. The field is long and steep like in my dreams. When I get to the top I feel like I am the Queen Of The World with the wind in my hair. The fields speak to me and tell me their stories; who lived here a long time ago. Who walked here before me, leaving their footprints in the grass and in the mud, in the vibration of their essence that I now feel as I make my way through the dew-soaked underbrush. I feel them echoing back at me, I feel them still moving through the spaces, as if they are ghosts; leaving an imprint of a life once lived. There is a little wren moving in the dark architecture of the hawthorn hedges. A robin sings from the top of a holly bush. I stand transfixed, mouth open, listening. The smell of wet soil, damp grass and leaves bathes me. I feel alive.

Magpies Magpies Magpies!

2005-03-02T14:10:00.000Z

Why oh why have people got such a thing against magpies? I feel I must speak in defence of these beautiful creatures. A bounty of £500 has been offered by a shooting magazine to people to kill as many magpies as possible supposedly to "save" our songbirds from exinction. The RSPB has condemned the competition as "totally inappropriate". Studies carried out by the BTO and the RSPB have proven that the Magpie population do not adversely affect the levels of songbirds. Rather it is the lack of nesting sites and food that are causing the alarming drops in their numbers. And what is causing the lack of nesting sites and food? Man of course! The destruction of hedgerows, and modern farming methods, use of pesticides and weedkillers. The sanitization of nature for profit. We are blaming magpies for something that we are causing ourselves. If only people would listen! Why do magpies seem to provoke so much hatred and disgust? Are we going to kill every predatory animal, bird and insect in the country? This is such an absurd stance to take! What about seagulls, hawks, owls, crows, foxes, badgers, cats, dragonflies? Why don't we kill all of them too? Why can't we accept that animals eat other animals including us?!! What is at the heart of this desire to kill magpies? It seems to me to be a longing to return to an idyllic idea of nature as something peaceful, sweet and nice. Like a nice little songbird that is there for our pleasure. Big ugly birds like magpies and crows are "nasty" and don't fit this "pretty nature" picture. We can't allow killing in nature even though we are the biggest killers and destroyers of all. This is complete nonsense. Magpies have just as much right to live as any other bird. It is time for the people who want to kill magpies to look at their own part in causing the destruction of the environment that is responsible for the fall in bird populations. When are we going to wake up?

Redwings

2005-02-01T10:03:00.000Z

I saw a cloud of redwings on the rowan trees. The made faint high, wispy calls, and as they flew away they seemed ethereal, as if they were birds of faery from a distant land. I like seeing the birds of winter coming here. It makes me feel glad somehow, to know that the birds still think our country is worth migrating to each year.

Lapwings

2005-01-21T13:51:00.000Z

I saw a load of lapwings in a field near the main road. They are one of my favourite birds; I am not really sure why but maybe its just their wistful dark eyes and mournful cries and their characteristic shape in flight. Or perhaps they just remind me of the wild, of the fields and moors and the feeling of the wind on my face.

Wild Wild Weather continues

2005-01-20T14:34:00.000Z

I couldn't sleep last night for the wild raging winds that rocked the trees for hours. They say its going to snow at the weekend but I am not sure - it doesn't seem cold enough, not yet at least. The greenfinches were there again today, although I didn't manage to catch sight of them, I just heard their thin little voices on the wind.

Weather Weather Weather!

2005-01-19T10:04:00.000Z

As an adjunct to yesterday, apparently there were winds strong enough to cause a power cut near Wolverhampton last night as well as fleeting snow in places. Brrr!
This morning however seems much warmer - its even sunny and to add to that I saw about 4 greenfinches in the hawthorns near the station this morning. They were making a sort of trilling and wheezing sound.
I also saw a lone magpie on a tree clearly showing a large nest laid bare by the lack of leaves at this time of year. As the light shone through the branches - the picture seemed clearly black and white like a crisply cut paper silhouette.

Wild Winds

2005-01-18T13:14:00.000Z

Its still really dark when I get up in the morning. Today there was a thick frost on the car which took quite a while to get rid of. Today is very windy and very cold. I went out for a walk at lunch time but my teeth started to chatter so I decided better of it.
A magpie appeared on the burnt trees near the scrapyard. It seemed so vital and alive in contrast to the stark black branches. Seagulls glided overhead, their bodies having the translucent quality of fine bone china in the winter light. Although my mother has catkins out on the hazel hedge in her garden, I can't quite believe Spring is really here yet. The evidence is in the little green shoots of daffodils and crocuses and the flowering of tiny snowdrops. And yet, somehow, Winter seems endless. Grey day after grey day, lashing rain, chilling fog, and more rain. The wind sounds like scabbling cats. Now its raining again, the wind blowing it horizontal. I am reading Gone To Earth again as it seems the perfect book for spring by my favourite author Mary Webb.

Blackbirds

2005-01-12T10:17:00.000Z

Found this nice blog called Blackbird Tree by fellow textile artist Cathy Cullis.
Speaking of blackbirds they are making a lot of noise in the garden with their sharp staccato warning calls. Must be a fight over territory or something. No I didn't see it - I was in bed because it was still dark. Groan groan. I hate getting up in winter. Today is really windy - and cold. Not unpleasant but enough to wish to be indoors even though its sunny.

A Quiet Winter Day

2005-01-10T13:06:00.000Z

I woke up today to birdsong for the first time this year. There were Robins for sure and Dunnocks in the mix as far as I could tell. Spring must be coming. The sky is heavily streaked with cirrus cloud, the striations looking like marbled silk. That means bad weather is on the way. Its been so windy recently but today is calmer. A quiet winter day.

Grey Day

2005-01-07T13:51:00.000Z

Today is cold, grey, heavy clouds frown on the horizon. There is some rain but not as vehement as the lashing downpours we have received on our windows of late. Little birds - wagtails and sparrows get blown away in the wind. Its not the weather to be out and about. It seems so dark yet its only lunch-time. I wish I was at home by my fire, not stuck here in this electric lit office - it just doesn't feel right. The instinctual thing to do is to curl up by the glowing embers with a good book - although the wind howls in the chimney reminding me of the ferocious air whirling the winter clouds along. The colours of winter are so subtle, and demand more than a desultory glance to reveal their beauty; the graphite shades of clouds and rain, the deep reds of bare woody stems, the creamy ashen bark of gracious silver birches.

Kestrel

2005-01-06T13:01:00.000Z

I saw a kestrel yesterday as I was leaving work - I thought it was a crow at first (what was I thinking?!), then I realised that its movements were more hawklike as it started hovering over the factory units. It was a beautiful sight.
There are plenty of rats and mice around for kestrels to prey on. Apparently we are never more than 6 feet away from a rat in the UK. Lets hope that doesn't get worse or this could be the result! Despite the rodents being readily available kestrels are on the amber list of the RSPB - which means there has been a steady decline of 25-49% in their population over the last 25 years.

New Bird Feeder

2005-01-05T11:56:00.000Z

I have put up a new bird feeder - its a long one with several "perches" along its length and its filled with black sunflower seeds amongst other things. It hasn't attracted flocks of birds as I had hoped! Oh well, at least the blue tits are making use of it. Brown bread seems to me to be a common favourite amongst the magpies, dunnocks, blackbirds and sparrows. Even the robin was pecking away at it. I was surprised that the blackbirds have pretty much ignored the apples I put out. Maybe they are just bored with them.

Treasure Hunting

2005-01-05T11:49:00.000Z

treasure_hunting1, originally uploaded by Nicky Perryman.

On a trip into the hills to use my son's latest Christmas present: a metal detector...we only found a piece of foil and some old drink cans but there was treasure of another kind just for the taking; a lovely little holly tree full of red berries, the ghostly trees appearing from the mist, the deep dark shadows under the huge spruce trees that make you think of Hansel and Gretel lost in the woods, the smell of the pines and the calm and soothing effect of being somewhere away from cars, bustle, computers.

Winter Wren

2005-01-05T11:37:00.000Z

Birds that have visited the garden recently: robins, dunnocks, blackbirds, blue tits, great tits, wood pigeons and of course the ubiquitous magpies. I have seen a little wren several times on top of the fence moving about this way and that. I wonder if it might be the same wren as the one that started building a nest in our shed. I saw it in the Spring coming and going out of a gap at the top of the shed door and it was taking moss inside. Unfortunately it never finished the nest but left a ball of moss above the door lintel. There probably wasn't enough support from the lintel to make the nest safe. Apparently it is the commonest UK breeding bird.