Spring is sprung

[gessoo]

and my partridges are back rushing round the garden finding suitable nesting places!!!

Not a question, but best wishes to all the birdy people on this site.

[sylvana]

Its great to see the birds starting to build their nests, I,ve seen black birds in my garden collecting nesting material.

Are your partridges the grey or the french variety ?

[sixpence]

Isn't it great to see, gessoo? Not that I get partridges, but this winter and spring I have changed to feeding my birds on the sunflower hearts and I've been well rewarded. My new visitors, joining my regulars, in the last couple of months have included siskins, greenfinches, goldfinches and a pair of bullfinches.

Isn't it funny how we call them "our" birds, because they choose to visit our gardens.

[gessoo]

Just the common French variety! They usually next below our lounge window in the periwinkle. They are so brave and don't even move off the nests when we go near. Even stroked one on the head last year. Two years ago Mr Patridge got killed on the roads. Mrs Patridge called for him for two weeks and then proceeded to hatch both nests! Unfortunately, Mr Patridge's death must have affected her badly - she systematically killed all the chicks. It was horrible.

However, she became very tame - needed the company I think. She used to call round to the back door for food at breakfast and tea time.

[gessoo]

'nest' not next!

I could spend all day watching the birds. I have a tree right outside my window which is full of bird feeders - as I sit here now there are tree sparrows, blue, great and cole tits, greenfinches, chaffinches, about 4 blackbirds and a pheasant. AB and the birds take up too much of my time!

[sylvana]

That was so sad news to hear about mr partridge, but i think birds soon learn which gardens have kind people that care about them.

[WendyS]

gesso - loved hearing about your partridges but what a sorry tale. But how lucky you were to be able to get so close to her. Let's hope she has better luck with her partner this year.

[shaneystar2]

Spring was sprung at the weekend but has sprung back again today !!
Ne'er cast a clout 'til May be out !
How lovely to have partridges in the garden.
I only have a motley collection of sparrows ,blackbirds, and the lone ranger robin. I think they are nesting at the back of my shed.Starlings of course and a few sammy seagulls sometimes.I did see a blackbird flitting around this morning looking for bits and pieces for her nest.

[gessoo]

Funnily enough, Shaneystar, I rarely get starlings.

Have a couple of moorhens at the moment running around under the tree with the blackbirds!!

[shaneystar2]

Well..I have a mob of them of out there at the moment ..I put some fat balls out this morning and they have nearly gone through them . They bully the poor little sparrows and now they are all lined up on the telephone wire ..looking hopeful l!

[Cetti]

Hello gessoo - I missed your post yesterday due to a serious bout of nest decluttering!

How lovely to have these stunning birds in your garden, not only in but nesting as well. Lucky girl. I've only ever seen 2 Red-Legs and that was on land belonging to very rich folks....which makes me wonder if you are actually Lady gessoo? I do hope yours keep safe this year as originally they were brought over from France by CharlesII for target practice (nice king!)

[gessoo]

Hi Cetti, You did make me laugh out loud. Lady Gessoo - I wish............ I live in a cottage with 1/2 acre of 'wild' garden, surrounded by the fields of a very well known country estate in Norfolk - shooting country! I think all those lovely partridges and pheasants come to me because they know they are safe from those horrible guns!!

[Cetti]

I knew it - see, the gentrified life is gradually rubbing off on you. Possibly being overexposed (in the best possible taste!) to 'royal' neighbours?

Norfolk has to be one of the finest birdy places to live in the country. Just so much choice of habitat. Wow... If I lived near you my family would starve and the house would be a hovel.....and I wouldn't care! A few partridge - or any birdy pics would be great for us to look at sometime - if you feel like posting that is.

[gessoo]

Not quite 'royal' neighbours Cetti, but definitely royal connections, and not too far from the Queen's Norfolk home. Its one of the oldest estates in the country. Have you heard of 'Turnip' Townsend?

We are also only a few miles away from the North Norfolk Coast and have a Owl and Birds of Prey Trust literally a stone's throw away. Often see Marsh Harriers about these days!

I shall do my best now to get some photos - hopefully Mr and Mrs Partridge have selected their new home by now and will successfully rear their young this year. It was dreadful watching those little ones being killed the other year.

Meanwhile, I remain a true peasant!!

[Robinia]

oops I missed this yesterday thanks to a blinding headache all afternoon.

lol Cetti - trust gessoo to have upmarket birds eh? we'll have to start calling her modom soon.

The nearest I've had to posh was a pheasant that once came for the day .....oh, & we had a blue budgie last year!

[gessoo]

Well, for all that anyone knows on AB I could be HM Mrs Elizabeth Windsor. He he, that would be a larf. Perhaps she does come on AB posing questions in Shopping or Body and Soul?

[gessoo]

Or perhaps she's Word Master correcting everyone's spellings............................. 'Must make sure my loyal servants can spell properly Phileeeep'

[gessoo]

Sorry, this thread is supposedly about birds, but her majesty does shoot a lot of pheasants.

[Robinia]

Hello, is that the AB Editor?......

one's being impostered

[gessoo]

lol robinia!