The bird table feet and support have rotten away, so it’s time to repair with some odd bits of wood, I have in the wood shed.
As you can see, the bird table has no base.
But, I’ve got wood, hammer, screws, jigsaw, paint and a chiesel! We can rebuild it!
Bird Table fixed
Well it won’t win any carpentry awards, but it’s fixed and painted, and at least it stands up again.
and because Jack Frost is coming to visit this evening (so says the weather forecast), I thought I better wrap up the potatoes, Blue-berry and goji-berry bushes. The problems with late frosts this time of year, is it damages the flowers on the Blue-berry bushes, and no flowers, no berries! It’s the moisture in the air around the plants that causes the problem when the temperature drops, and frost appears, so if you cover up the plants before darkness falls, this traps in the warm air – well that’s the theory!
Ten Bulrush Growbags
I’ve never heard of Bulrush growbags, but these are for my tomatoes when I put them out at the end of the month.
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!
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!
Goldfinches on feeder
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!
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 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!)
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