WHAT I SAW TODAY.....

[Jacksparrow]

Been walking around with a crooked neck for the past week from looking skywards. Today I had my reward, no less than 10 swallows spotted working their way inland. That is the most I have seen for a first spotting of the new season.

Well spotted Willpar. Have you informed Springwatch?

[Placido]

I thought you were going to say HMs, Willpar. for swallows !!!

[nuthatch]

What a sight that must have been, Willpar

[Willpar]

I went to the springwatch site and got directed to another site. For that one had to sign up to be able to enter records. Did not want to do that. But found the forum and there were 80 pages of the stuff. Seems that swallows were seen far and wide yesterday.

Great to see nuthatch, in the right place at the right time.

[Placido]

Not What I Saw but What I Was Informed : the first tagged cuckoo is back in Europe . Dudley is disporting himself(?) around the Madrid area as we speak .

[nuthatch]

I bet he is ....

[peregrine]

Been walking around with a crooked neck for the past week from looking skywards. Today I had my reward, no less than 10 swallows spotted working their way inland. That is the most I have seen for a first spotting of the new season.

Well done Willpar. First one in Dumfries yesterday evening.

[Jacksparrow]

Like myself I suppose you all thought that any feathers used for nest building were only those gathered either from where other birds has dropped them or in some cases from the breast of the hen bird. Not so! I was sat on my patio enjoying a well earned ice cream watching the birds in the garden. There was a Wood Pigeon perched in the upper branches of the Rowan minding it's own business resting and preening. Suddenly a cock Sparrow flew up from underneath and attacked the pigeon or so I thought. The pigeon fidgeted but stayed put. The sparrow returned from behind the pigeon for another go but this time he grabbed one of the fluffy white feathers from around the pigeons bum, plucked it out and flew off. The pigeon looked a bit bewildered but stayed on it's perch. The sparrow returned and repeated the exercise for about five minutes. Finally the pigeon became hungry and flew down to get some fallen seed. The Sparrow squawked discontentedly but the fun was over.

[Placido]

Well !! Now that's a new one and no mistake . Surprised the pigeon stood for it more than once.

[Jacksparrow]

Well !! Now that's a new one and no mistake . Surprised the pigeon stood for it more than once.

That's what surprised me the most. I know Pigeons aren't the sharpest knife in the drawer but to put up with having ones bum feathers plucked shows unbelievable stupidity.