General Chat

Well it is for the baby owls that are nesting in the trees round here! They've been squeeking their heads off for the past few nights now. Yesterday I found the regurgatated (sp?) skeleton of a small creature on the bonnet of my car, and OH has had blood dripping down his windscreen! Does the wildlife in your area leave any nice presents for you? Jeanette x

This morning I went out and threw water over 2 of the family cars. They looked awful. We have seagulls nesting on the roof....I can hear them now... and let's just say that they must have fed rather too well since last night, when the cars were parked. The line of their flight-path was all too evident. Gwyn

I know the ducks visit the garden at night, the little monkeys leave their mark. I can hear the geese, they are really loud when there is danger. Owls are in the wood, there are other birds that I can't identify yet. Tina x

Hi LW It's like that round here too. We also have quite a few squirrels, and I saw 6 magpies chasing each other the other evening

The wood pidgeons visit every day and 2 robins have babies in a nest in the ivy. We hear the blackbirds singing 'nite-nite' every night. What better presents could we receive!! LW

We used to have herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the back lawn but since using lion poo cat repellant we no longer have that idyllic sight - just dozens of carcasses and the odd zebra head. Looks like we have attracted a whole pride now - sheesh!

Blimey Errol, where do you live.....Longleat! lol

talking of birds There was a nest been built from mud/clay in the archway between the 2 houses. I saw a bird flying in and out and heard tweeting when I went past. But today there are egg shells on the path under the nest. Does that meant the babies have fled the nest or have they not hatched and been dropped? Lots of fluid but didnt see any signs of dead babies

Jeanette - forgot to mention Etta the hedgehog. Usually find hedgehog poo on the lawn. What's the odd bit of poo when we have the pleasure of these creatures. LW

I haven't seen a hedgehog in my garden for years. I can remember when I was a kid my Mum going out into the back garden when it was nearly dark. She bent down to pick up what she thought was the brush head that had fallen off and it got up and ran....you've guessed it...a hedgehog. I've not heard Mum scream very often but she did then! lol I did see a toad hop across our garden yesterday though

LLC they are probably house martins who nest up there under the eaves in their mud homes, probably throwing out empty eggshells now little ones have hatched. Hope you see some babies soon. Liz

I will never forget when I was over in England we visited the wibbly-wobbly house and there was a house-martins nest in the arched gateway with 4 birds in it in a row. They looked like choir boys. I dont think many people noticed them, but I took a photo. Must get it scanned sometime.

thanks Liz, I do hope you are right. Would hate them to have lost all thier babies after making such an effort with the nest.

I was really pleased to day as I was going out the opposite entrance to where the birds nest is as I saw 2 birds defending their nest against a cat so they are obviously still looking after their young. The cat wouldnt go so I thought I would help. As I walked towards the cat it saw me and ran.........

Hi Jeanette, Thant regurgitated skeleton is called a pellet. Owls eat all their prey and the parts that they are unable to digest are regurgitated a couple of times aday. They are a good bit of homework for the children, get them to soak it in a saucer of water for 15 mins or so, then gently prise it apart using a cocktail stick or similar. They will then see all the bones, feathers, claws, beaks etc. of the prey they have eaten. These pellets are not 'nasty' but do wash your hands after. Kathlyn PS... I have just been to feed my three baby Common Scops owls. They are 7 days old now and are eating me out of house and home.

We have very large trees at the back of us...and the crows come in to roost...they are very entertaining on the whole, and we have begun to identify specific birds and also different sounds for different events..the worst thing is this time of year, they are telling each other about their day at the office around 11-30 pm...and start the wake-up chuntering about 4-30 am!! And they really are the chattering classes!! Love Daff xx ps, we also have 2 pairs of Jays, 2 species of woodpecker, at least 3 owls, all different, pair of mallard, a heron, loads of blackbirds..one dazzlingly beautiful female who gives the sprinkler a tweak on a sunny evening ...telling us its time for her shower. We have at least 2 robis, a fox, two large and a much smaller hedgehog, we are slap bang in the middle of the frog migratory path....and loads of birds that won't stay still long enough to identify...oh and a couple of buzzards that risk it with the crows every so often!! The rearguard escorts them firmly off the premises, so to speak. And I saw a kingfisher, just once. Love Daff xxx