Simply Stoned!

We went for a walk yesterday evening after work and came across this obliging poser!

I love where we live!!

New Feeder.......New Bird

Okay so the new bird wasn't on the new feeder but they are both new!

The bird is our very first Greenfinch in the new garden! I couldn't see any more so I'm not sure if this one is single or just went for a wander by itself!

Apologies for the quality of the photos - they were taken through the kitchen blinds!

The new feeder is a peanut one that I just couldn't resist!  It's hooked on the corner of our bungalow and in perfect view from the bedroom window!

A solitary Blue Tit has already visited it this afternoon - it's perfect for the "clinger on" birds and it's out of the way of the main feeders so the Starlings won't monopolise it!

 

So the view from our patio chairs is this....

What more could we want!?

Our "Other" Back Garden!

We discovered our "other" back garden last weekend - a stretch of beach / fields / scrubland and gorse literally 3 minutes walk away.  Below are a selection of photos I took from this new haven!

My first Stonechat of the year!

Kestrel - seen quite a few times so hope to get better close-ups soon!

Gorgeous blue skies in Ireland all last week which is set to continue throughout next week into next weekend - I could get used to the blue backdrop on my photos!

Of course, I've probably jinxed it now ;-)

Home Sweet Home

We've been here now for a few weeks and settling in quite nicely!  After looking around the neighboring hedgerows/fences/gardens etc I've spotted a couple of nest sites.

One is definitely being used by House Sparrows, its in a hole in the eaves of the house opposite our back garden and there is constant activity going on - good job there is now a new food source for them ready for the chicks!

Picture quality is a bit poor due to the fact they were taken through slatted blinds, trying not to appear too suspicious pointing a camera at what could be mistaken for the bedroom window!

The next site is the house next door to the one above that looks like it had a Swallows or House martins nest under the eaves.  You never know they may return to build a new nest!

The 3rd site is our house that we put up at the side of our ivy covered shed.  We know it's a Robin nest box but in fairness we weren't to know there are no Robins in the neighbourhood! I'm hoping that maybe a Wren or Dunnock may use it, I know I'm being overly optimistic but again you just never know!

 

We're also thinking of securing the empty coconut shell deep in the hedge for the Wren, not sure if it is a bit too open for it but something may use it.

Watch this space!

Lucky Day

Today was a good day! Firstly we were greeted with this when we awoke....

Yes, we do actually have blue skies in Ireland! And it forecasts it to be like this all next week!  It is true that sunny days automatically puts you in a good mood.

So, with the sun above us and the birds chirping away, we put up our new feeders....

and within 15 minutes we had our first Goldfinch visit us (in fact we had 3!)

It didn't take the Starlings too long to sample the menu either!

We spent the morning in the garden planting flowers and veg (beans & salad) and there was one Starling that wasn't at all bothered by us and carried on munching away as if we weren't there!

The more time I spend in the garden the more I love it!

Then I got really lucky and won on the Grand National!

I must thank AP McCoy for my €200!!  I wouldn't normally encourage gambling but I think I may have to bet on the US Masters just to see!

Wicklow Head

Given that the forecasters got the weather wrong on Easter Sunday and it turned out to be gloriously sunny (sorry Warren!), I joined FB (Forest the Bear) on one of his walks to Wicklow Head via Seal Beach.

His last visit there showed at least 30 seals sunning themselves on the beach, this time there weren't as many but still enough to make me smile!  There were 5 on the beach....

....and another 2 playing at the waters edge.

After sitting watching them for about 45 minutes, we decided to make our way to Wicklow Head - seals don't really do much do they?!

This juvenile Shag/Cormorant (not sure which) was making the most of the sunshine & drying his wings.

We perched ourselves halfway down the cliff at Wicklow Head opposite the colony of Kittiwakes and Fulmars.  I've never actually seen a colony of seabirds before so this was a real treat for me.  I must say the noise was unbelievable & this was a small colony! It was quite awesome being at eye level with some of the birds as they circled before landing next to their mate.  The photos aren't the best due to the sun being in front of us and quite strong (again sorry Warren!)

Razorbills were doing their thing on the water!

After spending a couple of hours sat on damp grass, my backside decided enough was enough and we started to make our way back to the car park.

The views were gorgeous on the way back and reminded me of an Alpine village.  We had gorgeous blue sea, bright yellow gorse, blue skies, green fields and snow capped mountains in the background!

 

I do actually have a gorgeous photo of the stunning scenery but for some reason Blogger doesn't want to upload it (having stupid problems with Blogger at the mo!).  It's taken me about an hour to do this post which is ridiculous! Rant over now.  I'll try to post the last photo later!

New Old Visitors

Have been in the new house for a couple of weeks now & I'm still trying to get used to the back garden.  It's quite strange that I get excited when a Coal Tit visits the feeder when they were the most common bird at the last house! 

We had 2 Blue Tits flitting in and out of the shrubs yesterday & I couldn't stop smiling!  Its as though I'm rediscovering all the birds I took for granted at the last place.

I suppose at the moment the feeder is quite hidden.  I can hear Goldfinches in the vicinity and Greenfinches keep passing overhead but none have landed yet!

I have ordered a load of new feeders online which should be with us next week, so hopefully any birds flying over will see all the culinary delights we have on offer!

We get the House Sparrows every day and the Starlings always come down for a bit of a nosy.

You looking at me?

However there's one bird that I'm missing!

The Robin! I thought every garden had one - so where's ours?  I've only heard him sing once and that's it. It's quite strange not to have one wake you up at 5.30am claiming his territory!

And I would've thought the gardens around here are ideal for the little scamp but I've still yet to see one!

We're planning on doing a little digging this weekend though so if there is one around then I'm sure he'll appear as soon as the spade hits the soil ;-)