I must share this with you.. this evening just as I was putting out the bins for collection tomorrow, a blackbird suddenly burst into song on the garage roof, what a surprise as I didn't know they sang in February, after a miserable day it really lifted my spirits! Spring is round the corner! What has lifted your spirits recently?
What has lifted my spirits today? Being told by a builder that the damp patches in my 300 year old roof is nothing to worry about as they will dry out naturally. Phew...don't need to pay for a new one.
Tree creeper, nuthatch,woodpecker among others today but still pretty silent. We tried to do the RSPB Birdwatch but it was blowing a gale so in spite of the profusion of food we couldn't fill in the form
I believe blackbirds are the first birds to get up and the last to go to bed which is why you hear them quite late into the evening.
When I parked at Aldi yesterday I was nose in to the hedge and there was a blackbird eating the orange berries in the hedge, quite happy and oblivious to the car! I sat and watched him for a while. Not sure of the name of the berries!
Reading this thread late today but loved all the comments. We too get a lot of pleasure from the garden birds and have blackbirds waiting on the patio in the morning for their breakfast. The other day for the first time I saw two robins together so do hope they are a pair and we will have the pleasure of baby robins later in the year. Saw drifts of snowdrops when out yesterday and have some crocuses in flower in a pot by the front door. All lovely signs that Spring is on the way, really lifts the spirits.
How lovely I love to hear the birds sing. When I got up this morning I heard a bird singing outside the bedroom window. Does remind you that springs on its way.
WE saw two chaffinches on our bird feeder, followed by blue tits and our robin. The snow drops are up and it's beginning to look less frozen and there are possibilities for a bit of tidying up and planting.
We have an apple tree in the garden with bunches of mistletoe, I looked out and there was a Lovely mistle thrush sitting in the tree eating the berries, a flock of goldfinch on the feeders, and loads of snowdrops in clumps around the garden and it was so uplifting to think Spring is on the way.
Some years ago our borough council paid a small fortune out to plant thousands of bulbs on many roadsides throughout the town. It seemed like an unnecessary extravagance, but now I look forward to seeing them each spring. Today seeing the snowdrops and crocuses just coming into colour brought a big smile to my face and a spring in my step. I would have joined in with that blackbird if I could sing!
I have loved reading all the comments, its the little things in life that gives us pleasure, how lucky we are to live in a country that is safe and that we can savour the moments! Today has been a lovely day and I was outside for most of it, luckily I was not at work today and could enjoy it!
Reading all your lovely insights made me a bit homesick for the English countryside Here in Aus I have flying Pelicans that take off & land on the lake like jumbo jets Always make me laugh Winter or Summer & feeding the Rainbor Lorikeets is always a joy They are small & fiesty & chase all the bigger birds off the feeders
Yes I heard my first blackbird of the spring this morning. A couple of years ago I used to think there must be a lot of ambulances first thing in the morning until I realised it was a blackbird mimicking the sound. He did it perfectly and was around for a second year. It will probably be too much to hope I hear him again this year. He was quite unique bless him.
Seeing a Nuthatch on my peanut feeder, watching Robins & Blackbirds on my fence & neighbour's bird table. Hearing the Tawny Owls hooting in the evening, seeing the fox trotting down the lane.
Crocus waiting to open, hellibores flowering, sunny bright blue skies.
I'm writing this & it's lashing down at the moment, tomorrow's another day, Spring isn't far away
NannyEm I see flocks of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos and Rosellas in the trees around here as well. Before I moved, we had a Kookaburra but I never saw him/her.
lmm6 I agree, a nature table was a wonderful thing in my city primary school, I used to take 'sticky buds' and catkins from my rural Auntie's garden.
Here, most children are surrounded by nature (although not always interested in it) and the subject is Environmental Ecology now.
I can hear birdsong for the first time in what must be years, now I have my hearing aids. Its worth putting up with the feedback when I open a bag of crisps.