I suppose there a bit like Marmite, not that I ever eaten a slug! You either love them or hate them. These are the size of pigs, I found them hanging around my rootrainers , whilst I was sorting out my flowering plants for the borders. I grow most of my plants exclusively in rootrainers. This year I’ve had very poor germination from Nasturtium majus Milkmaid, the Nasturtium majus Black Velvet I’ve planted I’ve had 100% germinate, but the Nasturtium majus Milkmaid have been very poor, I think I would be lucky if I’ve got 32 plants out of 256 seeds planted. I thought it could be because I’ve switched from a peat based seed compost, to non-peat based, to save the peat bogs, but then the Nasturtium majus Black Velvet have been planted in the same conditions. So my mix of black and white plants my struggle again this year in the border, last year Nasturtium majus Milkmaid germinated but turned out to be red and orange Nasturtium majus. I may report the batch numbers to the commercial grower, just to check they’ve not had a major failure!
Tiger or Leopard spotted slugs (Limax maximus)
I did think it could be these slugs I found…Slugs the size of pigs!
Tiger or Leopard spotted slug (Limax maximus)
but I found no seed stalks, where they’d been eaten, and I’ve just not seen any seeds germinate.
Tiger or Leopard spotted slug (Limax maximus)
I quite enjoyed photographing and watching these slugs, that I didn’t have the heart to murder them! I’ll probably regret it, as they’ll be back eating me vegetables. So I left them out for the birds!
You may have visited and found you were greeted with a blank page in the last 24 hours! I think I’ve found the issue, and disabled that feature! I think it’s linked to the performance of my hosts MySQL shared database server, running out of steam!
Windows Vista updated itself today with a CSR Bluetooth update, and my bluetooth stopped working between my computer and phone. I used the rollback feature to rollback the driver to the original driver shipped with the operating system dated sometime in August 2006, Bluetooth started working again! So it just goes to show, sometimes newer updates are not better!
I only posted one photograph of the Goldfinches on the feeder yesterday, I didn’t want to bore you with too many photos. With the remaining photographs which were taken between 30 seconds – 1 minute intervals, I’ve created a short time-lapse 4 second movie clip. Here it is:-
I could have just created a movie from the digital video camera, but where’s the fun in that!
I’ve just quickly dashed out into the garden in my slippers, with camera and zoom lens, balanced on the rotten wooden fence and got off a few shots…
Sunday Goldfinches!
The problem with the Goldfinches, they always show, when I’m not in the garden! I’m hoping to get much better shots, but I cannot play at present, because I’ve been given my orders to wash-up and tidy the kitchen! But I’ve got a few gadgets to try and get better shots!
I’ve seen the BBC have replaced BBC iPlayer Download Manager with BBC iPlayer Desktop which uses Adobe AIR and Flex technologies which will make use of Flash Media Rights Management Server (FMRMS) to DRM-protect content which is downloaded to the user’s desktop. I wonder if they’ve changed this because they were fed-up of people stripping out the DRM with Windows tools. I suppose Mac and Linux users will now be happy, that BBC iPlayer content is available to them, and folks that never liked the peer-to-peer Kontiki software can be removed – I think Sky and Channel 4 4oD service still need this technology.
The BBC still allow you to download Windows Media Player content at present, with DRM! (direct download from website only – not peer to peer)
These are the best photographs I’ve managed to shot at present. (click the photo’s to view). These were both taken with a rather old Canon EOS 300D Digital SLR and Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens. It’s not the camera which is the problem, it’s trying to catch the finches at the right moment!
Single Goldfinch on nyjer feeder
Two Goldfinches on nyjer feeder
It’s very difficult to get close-up pictures, the feeders are at the bottom of the garden, I’ve tried sitting down at the bottom of the garden waiting, but I think I need a bird hide! (everytime I come into the house, the come back and feed on the feeder).
I’m having a competition between two large high street shops, who’s business turn over – tax free profits are 280m and 160m respectively. Two items have failed, and I’ve had issues with the shops replacing or repairing the items, so I’ve deciced to return to the Managing Director at their Head Offices for repair or replacement. It will be interesting test of their Customer Service, and if they are the caring, sharing brands, they claim. If they give me the cold shoulder, I’ll name and shame them here! Lets wait
I also have an interest in birds, I wouldn’t call myself a twitcher or a birder, maybe somewhere in between! There’s one British bird which I would love to see visit my garden, it’s the Goldfinch. Nyjer (thistle) seed is the preferred food of goldfinches, and you need a special food dispencer and Nyjer (thistle) seeds of course. I have read that unless Goldfinches visit your garden already don’t bother! I have seen flocks of goldfinches (6-8 birds) in the area, and last season, I saw one in the garden (not feeding, just perching for a few minutes). I was going to ask a nearby neighbour who feeds the birds, did they have any goldfinches visit their garden before I invest in Nyjer (thistle) seeds and feeder.Well yesterday, at the local garden centre, I took the plunge and purchased Nyjer (thistle) seeds and feeder. Here it is:-
and I’d like to report, that earlier today, I though I saw, two Goldfinches feeding at the end of the garden, but I couldn’t confirm because I didn’t have me bins on me. I just checked about 30 minutes ago, and I spotted FOUR GOLDFINCHES FEEDING ON THE NYJER SEED!
Nyjer (thistle) seed dispencer for Goldfinches.
Let’s just say, I’m a little excited!! Just goes to prove the books and experts are wrong!!!
Digital SLR on Tripod, 300mm Zoom Lens attached, waiting for them to return, watch this space for photos…..
(if Goldfinches currently visit your garden you are very lucky!)
![[Valid RSS]](http://andysworld.org.uk/images/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed")