#everyone will be glad to know that there are two wood pigeons nesting in our garden at the moment | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sussex-nature-lover · 4 years

Text

Thursday 18th June 2020

Lockdown Day #87 Bit of a Slump Here

Yesterday was one of those days. A nothing kind of a day, of the sort we all have. There were apparently some awful storms around the country from Tuesday night, which we missed, but it was humid and overcast and there were some massive black clouds, so for the second day running we didn’t go out for a walk. I missed it and also feel kind of guilty. In addition to that though I’ve heard more traffic in the lane and I’m not looking forward to walking having to brave that free for all without a verge or pavement. I want to go up to the pond, to the further ponds that aren’t accessible lately (cattle in the field and I don’t like walking through a field with cattle) I want to go to the woods, to Linnet Bridge and to the Hop Field, but I don’t want there to be people out in the world and traffic. I don’t think it’s just me either, but it’s selfish because life has to get back to ‘normal’ On that note, it was Bin Day. It was Rubbish. The fortnightly collection alternates with Recyling and remembering where we are with that is becoming a challenge, but I have to say that throughout the Lockdown the service hasn’t faltered, so big thank you to everyone involved with that essential service.

It’s dull today, very dull. It rained last night and it’s raining now, which will do the garden some good, I’m glad I took a few photos around the garden when there was some light. This is how the Delphinium’s coming along and the Copper Bowl - I’ve moved the tub with the small Conifer and Hostas, which is how I had it last year.

This is the little Christmas Tree that’s still in a tub. Look at all the new growth

What else did I do? I had Whatsapp and email conversations with friends and caught up with news. I spotted a Father’s Day card in our postbox in the porch and then a parcel too - they’ve gone in our quarantine bay for now. I browsed Twitter and saw a photo of SEVEN young Kestrels in a nest somewhere in Belgium - amazing and chatted with Twitter friends about gardens and birds and other stuff. Strangely I didn’t chat with anyone about football until much later and even then I didn’t have much to say. It was live from Villa Park against Sheffield United and then Man City -v- Arsenal was 8.15pm...don’t the schedulers know we have beds to get to these days! The Villa match ended 0-0 and the most interesting thing about it, apart from a standard VAR controversy was (as reported) Man City, as predicted, won.

Premier League players and officials ‘took a knee’ in a Black Lives Matter salute for the first ten seconds of the first match back tonight, as the Premier League restarted after coronavirus lockdown. As referee Michael Oliver blew the whistle to start the Aston Villa v Sheffield United game, he and both teams immediately dropped to one knee before a ball had been kicked, in memory of George Floyd, the man killed by police in Minneapolis last month sparking global protests. Players also wore ‘Black Lives Matter’ in place of their names on their shirts. After the pause, the match began in earnest, the first of almost 100 games crammed into six weeks as professional sport returns following the lockdown. Moments before the BLM salute, in the traditional slot for pre-match tributes, players and officials at Villa Park had stood in silence to remember the victims of coronavirus

Roll on Sunday.

Back to Nature.

While we were sitting at the kitchen table I once again saw a furious flash of activity and the Sparrowhawk passed by the feeders. I think he took something. It all happens so quickly, blink and you miss it. All I can tell so far is that this isn’t a bird I’m familiar with. It seems quite a light beige-grey rather than the more usual steel grey of an adult male. I haven’t seen it perch anywhere so it’s hard to tell. It looks a good size though.

NESTWATCH:

First off, you know I like to get my excuses and apologies in, spelling, quality of pictures etc. etc. so take all that as read please, with the addition of dirty windows. Actually OH cleaned most of the windows yesterday, including climbing out on a sloping roof for access, without telling me <cross> but for obvious reasons the Daisy Waldron window is filthy and not likely to change any time soon. Add to that the reflections from inside and the maker’s sign that all the glass carries and we’re struggling here chaps.

But, excuses well primed, hands up who’s seen an actual baby Wood Pigeon before? No? Well you have now and you can carry that gift with you for all time

One sleepy Squab

Two cosy Squabs side by side

I used the enhance filter just because it makes the birds show up a bit better than they otherwise would. I watched one of them having a peck and pull at some of the twigs. They must be bored. The only other thing I have to report is that Daisy Waldron spent a bit of time perched outside the nest. Maybe it was a little bit warm in there in the afternoon, or maybe it was Dad. I’d assumed that with the regurgitation feeding it would only be the female sorting out meal times, but apparently both parents feed their young, so who knows, they all look identical to me.

In other Youth News, more dulcet tones in the garden as the Jackdaws are bringing babies now.

Oh and so after being rather meh! most of yesterday, just shy of 8pm there was an exciting sighting. Eagle eyed readers will know straight off, but I’ll type it all up for the next blog. After all I’ve got to have something ready going forward especially if it keeps on raining - I blame OH and his window cleaning. Tempting fate that was.

Foot Note: announced this morning the death of Dame Vera Lynn at the age of 103. Vera was the original ‘Forces Sweetheart’ and had been on TV a lot recently looking good for her age.

E & O E

Please note outside links in bold are not affiliated with this Blog

#nature birds lovewhereyoulive

0 notes