h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Scorp, not sure when I will see him with bank hols and appointments but I will email the link to him and see what he says.

Look forward to holiday notes

Websailor

Sue and Scorp, Nigel says:

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Hope that helps?



Websailor

Wed. 4th May 2011
weather: Stunningly beautiful.



Have been feeding badgers cat food in addition to normal rations as they can't get any worms and lack moisture and protein. It seems to be a hit as we now have four badgers coming.

Invited some friend round this evening who have been begging to see them for years! The brocks have been coming in daylight at 8.45 and 9pm so I thought there was a fair chance they might get to see them.

At first I thought they were going to let me down, but two turned up, the a third who was promptly chased right out of the garden, by first one badger, then the second. Friends left as it was getting late, but if they had stayed till 9.45 they would have seen four

Not sure if one was a 'Mommy' but will see what the camera shows tomorrow.

I am totally CCd from doing DIY, shopping, and having a day out yesterday so I am off to kip soon.

Back if I have any news - very hectic at the moment as my son is doing DIY for me and cracking the whip, forgetting I am a and not as fit as I was



Websailor

Tue 17th May 2011


Things are hotting up in McWebbie's Bistro. food is going down a storm but there is not enough to go round, and No, I cant afford any more

Check in here http://www.flickr.com/photos/websailor/


Websailor

sign neededqueue this side and form an orderly line

Has anyone done a survey on how fast a male blackbird can demolish a dish of mealworms. We've been watching one on the birdtable for quite a few minutes then he suddenly disappeared. I went to have a look and told SS there was a very good reason he wasn't coming back - he had polished off the lot; and I had put them out mainly for the bluetits.

Prof, I don't think they have heard of a queue


Scorp, you need to put them in something small that the blackbirds (and starlings) can't get to or they will always scoff the lot. Haven't bought any this year, just don't have the time which is upsetting as finding worms in this dry weather is so hard for them.

My blackbirds beg for soaked raisins so perhaps you could do that for them

Websailor

Oh they get soaked raisins too WS! I have a robin feeder with a grill around it, so I might try that with mealworms.

That's good Scorp. Are you finding bird food etc is rocketing in price It is rally bugging me as I have to ration more than I like

Websailor

Everything is rocketing in price WS. As we are going away again on Monday, I dare not order from the usual supplier, so I went to the local pet store and bought a stupidly small carton of mealworms which cost me 2 squid.

Scorp, I buy bulk and it is delivered next day unless I have to order on Friday. It makes organising myself a lot easier, especially as I do not have a car.

Hope you enjoy your break.

Websailor

More action on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/websailor/

Wondering once again if we have two Mommas, as this one seems bigger!!

The birds are feeding well too. Jays, lots of bullfinches, blackbirds, robins etc. I just do not have the time to watch at the moment, I only see them at mealtimes



Websailor

Hi, Everyone, I m not around much but got workmen in and I am in a pickle

Take a look at my Flickr page (see above) for some lively action.



Websailor

The badgers look quite healthy and happy Websailor!

They do indeed, fat too! Not overfed, I am just compensating for the lack of their staple diet, earthworms. It has been so dry here for months that they can't get their 200 a night rations.

Websailor

from behind workmen's wheelbarrow

Hi, Prof,

Had visits from two woodpeckers today, a female and a juvenile Also several visits from a Jay and numerous bullfinches both male and female though no youngster yet. One greenfinch popped in the other day.

The thing is that at the moment I have very little time to watch them

The only birds who appear to have youngsters so far are the starlings and they have only paid a couple of visits.

I have yet to look at last night's video clips but a badger arrived at 8.30pm while it was still clear daylight!! I hope to have some good video clips



Websailor

Hi there Websailor! I had a lovely view of a woodpecker today. It was a little Cardinal Woodpecker ... they're only as big as sparrows. It was on a large dead tree in the garden of the neighbours just across the street, and it was alternatively calling and drumming on the bark of the dead tree. There is a bit of a gap between the dead bark and the wood of the trunk so it makes a nice drum! This species drums very rapidly, about ten times a second - so I estimate - but it's a very short movement, just half a centimetre or so (a fifth of an inch), and also it's not a very loud sound. How do the woodpeckers over there drum?

P. S. I found a nice video of a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming (albeit not on a tree!). It's different ... it speeds up towards the end until the different 'tocks' become a buzz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Q-E0hzAkM&feature=related

That's a brilliant clip Willem. They mostly do it on trees here, very fast and very loud, the sound carries a very long way. If I don't cut the plastic off the big peanut cakes they hammer away at that too, till they make a big enough hole to eat through. The tree drumming is territorial, and contacting a possible mate mostly. They have gone quiet now

I have been getting daily visits from them recently, male, female and a juvenile and probably more, as it is hard to ID them individually as they don't stay long.

We have two juvenile robins but there is a real shortage of youngsters so far, which is odd as we have been gettin toog very hot summery weather of late, and it is very dry, I think we are heading for drought restrictions in spite of what they say to the contrary.

Sadly I do not get much time to watch at the moment but the food is all disappearing so they are feasting well.



Websailor