Yawn Yawn Wakey Wakey 2024

@RowlandsCastle, I can completely empathise with your OH as I have been blighted with a cough since just before the Easter weekend. My Bestie says it is being called the 100 day cough as so many people have come down with this or a similar bug and it is reluctant to 'let go'.

 

Did a couple of hours gardening yesterday morning, mainly cutting back overgrown shrubs. Took longer than usual as I had to check each area for nests. I didn’t get round to the rhododendron ponticum suckers on the bank earlier in the year, but they’ll have to be left now, lots of bird activity amongst the gualtheria, and there are bound to be nests in there.
The rest of the day was disgraceful. We were both nodding off after a late lunch, so I suggested a proper nap and set my alarm for an hour. Woke enough to switch the alarm off, then went back to sleep for another two hours! Felt so guilty when I did wake up that I went out at 8pm and cleaned the French windows! They do look a lot better this morning! Surprising that we both slept a full 8 hours last night, I’d have thought we would have been awake for a while.
There was a baby owl very near the window last night. Could hear it calling, and parent hooting, but too dark to see anything. One spring, we had the bedroom tv on with the curtains open, and a baby owl landed on the windowsill to look in!

 

@Ergates, that is such a sweet story about the baby owl. I have a very friendly robin who will actually eat out of the bird feeder as I am filling it up on the doorstep. I might, one day, get him/her to eat out of my hand. 'Robbie' also comes and pecks at the kitchen window when the bird feeder is empty. Maybe I credit the little feather duster with more intelligence than he/she actually possesses, but it is almost as if I am being summoned to refill the feeder! Naturally, I obey immediately!

 

We have a selection of owls around here and sometimes in the evening I call back to them. It is so funny because they stop calling to listen to me then gradually come closer and closer to check out the intruder on their patch.
It is a good job I only have a couple of neighbours, I am not sure what people would make of an old wrinkie standing in her garden making owl noises!

 

@Ladybird4 we used to feed our Robin mealworms from our hands … then one day he flew into the house right through to the rocking chair and sat on the back of it calling us … we like to leave the door to the garden open in the summer and he became very brave, coming in and demanding to be fed, so we stopped feeding him by hand as we were worried that one day we might shut the door not knowing he was in the house … he’s still pretty tame tho, if it’s the same one … it’s more likely that it’s his grandchild by now tho.

 

We’ve noticed on our walks at the Donkey sanctuary that there are a few robins who will come and perch on the fences as we walk by. We have taken to bringing some suet nibbles with us, and offering a few. I’ve had a couple brave enough to come and take the food off my hand! Very exciting! Makes up for the fact that feeding the donkeys is absolutely forbidden, I’d love to do that but being able to give them a scratch and a cuddle makes up for it!
I must keep an eye open for the baby owls. We’ve had them living in the garden in the past, I must fish out some pictures to post.

 

Good morning,
A damp start to the day here and no sunshine.
It sounds as if many of you had a productive day yesterday.
Going out shortly for breakfast - a trip with the morning coffee group, so it will be a change. There’s a farm shop attached, so may well come home with a few goodies.

 

@Goldenlily26, what a lovely story. When I used to stay in the Lake District at my friend's place by Coniston Water, we would often hear woodpeckers. We would then knock on anything wooden near by and often the woodpeckers would fly in to investigate. I echo what you said about 'observers' - we would have looked totally demented!
@Dovefromabove, that is such a wonderful tale of your robin. No wonder they are the most popular bird in Britain. It is interesting when watching things like The Repair Shop and Gardeners World when there is often a robin shown in one of the 'shots'. Magic!

 

It's sunny here in the south (or for me, the north of the south).

Washing out, garden waste wheelie bin emptied (and ready to fill again).

 

@Ergates, you are so lucky to be able to cuddle and stroke the donkeys! As I said before, that would be one job I could do all day!
@Blue arbour it is raining here Enjoy your jaunt and let us know what you are tempted by please!

 

Pleased to hear some people are getting sunshine @RowlandsCastle.

 

The rain is on its way.

 

Think we're in for a wet one too...

 

Grrr @RowlandsCastle, I notice my area is under one of the darkest green splodges on your map.

 

Cornwall
Chilly but broken sunshine and still dry!