Reed Buntings

[Robinia]

Just to let the birdy people (boa's) know that they're back after their summer session!!  I'd been looking out for their little black hats but I remembered that they don't have them in winter!  A couple bobbed in for a minute or two yesterday & had some supper - they were very shy when they first came before - so I'll be keeping my eyes open (difficult some days!)

Anything interesting in your gardens yet?

[shaneystar]

No sign of a reed bunting here I'm afraid Robinia.You are lucky.I have only got the comedy show(sparrows) my blackbird family and the bully boys(starlings).Even my three thrushes have decamped.Lack of snails at the moment I suppose as it has turned chilly here.I did see a lone robin this morning.And that pigeon is still cooing down my chimney !!

[Robinia]

Hi shaneystar
We had a sparrowhawk hanging around this morning so that seemed to put the breakfast club off.  That & the sudden fall in temp it's much colder here today too. (I found a group of snails clamped down very tight for the winter - you can have them!). Hopefully it will get busy in an hour or so - the birds go to bed early now don't they?

I've got to look for a new all metal nut feeder at the weekend - last year the squirrel gnawed through the plasic hoop & rolled it away behind a shrub. I've been finding peanuts growing everywhere this year!

[Robinia]

Oh a coach load of greenfinches have just arrived, and one handsome coal tit!  (he's probably the driver)

[shaneystar]

I shall have to get my long range binoculars out then !!

Nothing so exotic here.Sob!!

[kitchenmares]

This year since January here is a list of birds that have visited my garden in Penzance Cornwall: chaffinch, blue tits,great tits,coal tits,song thrush,blackbird,starling,black cap,dunnock,bullfinch,goldfinch,long tailed tit,robin,jackdaw,rook,ringneck dove,firecrest,wren,pheasant,siskins,greenfinch,magpie,piedwagtail,goldcrest,reed buntin;male and female,of course;sparrows,jay,yellow browed warbler,woodpecker from Canada and a squirrel! hows that for the last ten months.Everytime i spot a bird i write it down and look it up, from my kitchen window am i sad or what!

[Robinia]

That's an amazing list kitchenmares!  I was just wondering how you remembered them all & then I got to the end.  No it isn't sad at all that you write them down, you're very lucky & living in such a lovely place too!  Your dawn chorus in the spring must be deafening.  I hope Cetti (birdy expert but doesn't like being called that) sees this she's going to be moving house & she'll want to live next door to you.

[Cetti]

I've only just found you Robinia. Can you smell the booze? Ive been making the Christmas cake today and the fumes are making me a bit heady!!!

Now where shall I move?  Norfolk with FP's amazing birds, Derby, with your Reed Buntings. You really are a very lucky girl having a nature reserve right on your doorstep. Now we have a new member of the BOA's I think Cornwall might be THE destination. Canadian Woodpeckers and a Yellow Browed Warbler.....your Bird Recorder must be doing cartwheels kitchenmares.

Perhaps shaneystar will join me in finishing off the brandy as our garden is also miserably low in birdlife, except for the  dopey Dunnock who lives in the privet hedge and peers out now and then to see who's about.

[shaneystar]

Any time Cetti.Very partial to a glass of brandy !
I don't know where all my birds are gone. Mind you we recently had a cat coming into the garden until he got a bit too brave and Shane saw him off !! I haven't seen it for a while so perhaps they may come back. We went up to Hunstanton last weekend and saw lots of waders and wildfowl.
I did see a lone magpie this morning which is unusual around here.

[Robinia]

Well I'm sorry girls but not having many birds in your garden is a poor excuse for staggering into my thread legless! 
Cetti I always know  when I see that I had a reply to a birdy post about midnight it's going to be you, you night owl.  I think we'll have to get Vinny to get the BiddyBus out & we can do trips to each others areas.

 ( We'll do Cetti's as soon as the cake is ready)

[Cetti]

Cats are bad news in my garden too shaneystar, particularly a huge ginger tom (might be Vinny in disguise!) who patrols regularly leaving his delicious scent mark on my choisya. He's just out of range for my usually well aimed missiles. The new two storey block of flats hasn't helped much either - very depressing.

I think it's time to down another glass of wine....Cheers girls!!!

[shaneystar]

This calls for Lions Poo all round !!
Are you paying attention Vinny !!

[Cetti]

I don't think he'll see it as he rarely  ventures outside of his compound....!!

[shaneystar]

Ha ha cetti ..perhaps we could tempt him out with a bottle of Becks and some fishnets ! Gone right of the subject here robinia !!
I will say goodnight all ..that pigeon gets around really early !!

[Robinia]

Yes I'm all for setting up the lion poo outlet again - I could do with a bit of cash for christmas!  I'll keep my eyes open for Vinny. Mind you , he's a tough boss you know - no tea or cheese on toast breaks.

[kitchenmares]

great to read other "birds of a feather" people out there. Ive got all the tit family at the moment busy on the peanuts and fat balls and especially the "fast food", shelled sunflowers. My two parrots; lulu and physco are shouting at the moment because the postman has arrived, theyre good guards, of course that sets the dog off; Max. Max is great at chasing the cats out of the garden so birds are fairly safe. Well, Robinia, Shaneystar and Cetti love reading your letters, bye!