OneGuyFromBarlick

Jack and I had a surprise encounter at 06:30 this morning as we descended the steps from Cooperative Street to the Pioneer car park. A young brown rat going hell for leather rounded the corner, shot between Jack's legs, over my boots and continued to the top where it turned right and vanished behind the garages. No time to react, it was moving so quickly. If you see one they reckon there are another ten in the immediate vicinity. A hidden part of Barlick's wildlife.....

A couple of dead baby swallows on the barn floor today, apparently thrown out of the nest. The most likely explanation is that the parents have been unable to bring back enough food over the last few awful days to feed all their young. I'm not sure at the moment if there are any of the brood left.

It's been a bad season so far for insect eaters but there is hope. There were midges about in Valley Gardens yesterday....

Strutting round Ellingham Hall, Northumberland, as if it owned the place.

I had a few days in one of the cottages there a couple of years ago with some friends, it's a very nice spot isn't it?

And it's a male.....

Jack and I had a different experience this morning during our first 100 yards walk into Valley Gardens. A black bird, I think it was a female crow or jackdaw, circled round our heads protesting bitterly. I suspect she has a nest full of chicks somewhere nearby and thought we were a threat. Never happened to me before......

We have the same problem in Oz with magpies attacking us when they have chicks. Quite scarey when they make contact.

This one never made contact Liz but I admit Hitchcock and 'The Birds' did cross my mind!

Stanley wrote:Jack and I had a different experience this morning during our first 100 yards walk into Valley Gardens. A black bird, I think it was a female crow or jackdaw, circled round our heads protesting bitterly. I suspect she has a nest full of chicks somewhere nearby and thought we were a threat. Never happened to me before......

It's a fledgling Jackdaw Stanley. It's made it's way up onto the croft and is now being watched over by at least eight adults. Parents seem to have brought in the cavalry, dog walkers coming along our back street are being kept an eye on. Local cats seem to be behaving themselves as well, the adults are making their presence known in no uncertain terms. I love Jackdaws, they are very intelligent birds. I hope the penny drops for the young one on how to fly.

It did look a bit dishevelled... I like Jackdaws, our colony in East Hill Street has dwindled a bit over the last two years but they are still about. I heard them arguing this morning.

It came up from Valley Gardens and made its way along our back street and down the back of Pleasant View. It then came back up and went through the gap to the top of Ash Grove, it was there when we went out on town for some shopping. We went out for a walk yesterday afternoon and it was still on the Croft but at the top of Roberts Street. I tried to shepherd it back down to the other end with a view to getting it back down the valley but it was having none of it. Best not to handle them as there is then the chance that they will be abandoned by their parents once contaminated. It was certainly leading a charmed life as it had run the gauntlet of all the streets cats all morning. They are very ungainly on the ground. The adult Jackdaws were still in attendance in force when we went out for our walk. All was quiet when we got back and we could see no sign of the bird. No evidence of predation round the Croft either so maybe it did make it after all, I hope so.

I hope it did, I know it's nature but I have a soft spot for it.... I'll keep my eye open (as far as possible!) in Valley Gardens.

I read today that the Robin Red Breast has been chosen as Britain's National Bird, after a ballot vote by 200,000 people.
Nice one

Yes, I saw that! Xmas cards have a lot to answer for. A very aggressive little bird......

Seen today in the ivy on Towneley Hall Burnley. My guess is a common flame back woodpecker. Never seen one before so if anyone can help please tell me what it really is.

It's a penguin..... (But then my eyes are very bad.....)

It's a goldfinch, Plaques. Beautiful little birds, one of our brightest. Seed eaters and often seen in small flocks, they have a `tinkling' song as they fly above you. More common in southern than northern England, I would guess not common in the Peninnes!. They love thistles and teasels.

Lots of them around here Tiz....mind you, I have a lot of weed seeds for them to feed on! See photo on the previous page.

We get a few in our front garden as well Tiz.

Well I never. All I ever see in my garden is crows, wood pigeons and vultures. Too many cats around for anything smaller.

We have a couple of plastic chairs out in the garden and yesterday morning had the lovely sight of a Little Owl sitting on the back of one of them, presumably surveying the garden for a meal. They nest in a tree along the edge of the field behind us.

I love owls and remember that they are important in Greek culture. I was told that the eyes that the fishermen paint on the prow of their boats is that of an owl.....

The Little Owl has the lovely Latin name Athene noctua. Wikipedia says "Athene or Athena is the shrewd companion of heroes and the goddess of heroic endeavour in Greek mythology". Quite funny when you see Athene noctua because they always remind me of a teddy bear when you see them sitting on the top of a pole.

"Athene - the goddess of heroic endeavour "

They could do with her making another appearance in Greece right now.