Gardeners?

Is it ok to include birds in gardens? If so here is a reason for dandelions

 

I like goldfinches!

 

This one hit the window and we got some pictures while it recovered

 

This morning I had started to trim an early (March) flowering Cherry tree in my front garden and had cut about 6 thin branches when a Goldfinch suddenly flew out of the tree.
Strange thinks I and further investigation reveals a Goldfinch nest in a fork in a main branch so it was time to retire.
Every year a pair of blue tits nest in a bird box in my garden and a pair have taken up residency again.
There’s a pair of Robins nesting in some Ivy growing up a Oak tree about ten foot from the side of my garden.

To help the local bird population I put food out most days and get a wide variety of birds feeding including blue tits,great tits,blackbirds,robins,wren,goldfinch,nut hatch, tree creeper,song thrush,great spotted woodpecker, jay,magpie and those greedy woodpigeon. Even had a cock pheasant feeding in winter.

It does help with this type of environment at the bottom and side of my garden.

 

Lovely garden Dave.

 

Those finches are cool. We mostly get darned grackles and doves here. Noisy and tiring but they do make good sport and occasional snack for Hannah the psycho Dobie!

 

For the first time this year we have blue tits nesting in a bird box I built into the bird table!

 

I was going to upload a photo of my front garden with its feathered leaf Acer I grew from a mere sapling
But the photo I took on my phone is too large
Will try to work it out

 

this has taken me an hour -I keep forgetting what I did to get pics smaller---however siskins and red polls

 

We're extremely fortunate to have a garden that we enjoy developing, maintaining and utilising. And we're surrounded by open fields, so the garden "feels" almost infinite!

The wife has the real 'green fingers' but I do my bit ..... and the very WORST bit is the regular pond maintenance that is ongoing as I write - just about to get out there again and try to drain the last of the water (see last image); power wash the green, smelly cack off everything; replace the filter media; refill and stabilise the water and return the fish!! The fish are currently in a 'holding tank' - the temporary pool set up you can see in the photo's.

We "inherited" the pond and most of the fish when we bought the house but have lost some along the way (herons!) and added some. The largest of the koi you can see in the latter photos is an estimated 20 to 21 inches long, weighs an estimated 14 or so pounds and is a b@stard when thrashing around in the catch net!! I'd never really had any interest in fish before but there is something very satisfying and restful about watching them, especially feeding!

Oh, and, yes - acers/maples are a favourite, we've just planted some around the front of the house so picture of those to follow, perhaps ...... assuming I can get this pond finished!

Be safe everyone and enjoy your gardens - however small, large, green or grey - it's a great place to be during a lockdown!

 

I use this

 

Thanks TD. The pond is a fair size and, I assume, that's helped promote the growth of the fish .....as, I suspect, has the use of premium fish food as opposed to the Tetra used by the previous owner.

The house is now coming together after a LONG period of construction; conversion; development and decoration! When we bought the house five years ago, we quickly discovered how awful the place was - it was a former Baptist chapel that had been disused for some time. It was bought and 'converted' by the people from whom we bought and they were anything but builders! We've pretty much gutted the place; new doors; windows; two new extensions - including the double apex one and the one that you can see with the feature mitre window/patio doors and balcony which is our bedroom. It's something very special seeing a huge skyscape of stars on a clear night!

I count myself doubly lucky that I don't have to suffer the kind of problems that you have with your neighbours and I really feel for you and your family. Hope that's all going to be in the past once the camera system is in!

Stay safe.

 

we get this regularly(great fish Adie)

 

That’s a Sparrow Hawk Neil, looks like a female

 

Tiglet you seem to know a bit about birds have you any idea what this is?

 

I am trying to upload another picture to show dead leaves etc. The camera information shows this picture was taken in November 2019, we thought it looked a bit starlingy but have another look while I try to get another picture up

 

Here's another one,dead leaves on the ground behind the little table thing