NatureBoy

Can't go wrong with Ginsters pastie. A lot of filling for only a quid when on offer. Fav convenient grub in the hide. NB

Corrrr! I put on 3lb just looking at that!😉 . . . . . .Rabbit, 3 veg mustard mash, wilted nettles and wild garlic for me. Out of greens. May of been shooting a lot, but i aint been in a shop since 16th March. Didn't realise i was such a prepper! Get milk cheese and eggs off farm, bit of foraging, pigeon bartering and still loads of wild grub in freezer. Been out of fruit, green veg, nuts and seeds for two weeks now tho . So look like gona have to bite the bullet and go shopping tomorrow. NB

And look out for the good deals they got on. NB

I quite like them Royal Enfield Himalayan's. Good grin factor. Mate of mine has got one and she says it best and most fun bike she had. Seat height bit low for me being 6' 3" tho. Nice and simple, basic and not big money. If they put a 600 or 650cc lump in them as rumoured i might be tempted, as a bit different and would make scouting for pigeons more fun. Plenty of mods for them to. Noraly has certainly proved they are tough bikes they way she's abused hers. She's certainly boosted there sales. Lot of fun for little money compared to the BMW . . . Both feisty gals with balls. Think one is a geologist and the other an engineer. Certainly good Spring riding weather with so few little traffic on the roads. NB

I didn't realise garganey were so rare until a female turned up on local pond a couple of years ago. Farmer/Fowler/conservationist got well excited and was a first for there farm or local in living memory. In an old book i was given on the birds of Suffolk with records going back to early 1800's it refers to them as The Garganey Teal. It has records of them being shot on the river Alde August 5th 1865 (young female) also on 31st July and 8th August 1872. Nests were found and records of them breeding at Leiston in 1873/74. Says they were also considered rare back then as there is little record of them.. Another bird of interest that turned up back then was the Pallas Sand Grouse. A flock of 7 were see flying east from the sea and landing on Thorpeness beach on 22nd May 1883. One female was taken. Several more flocks were seen that year and 88 along the coast from Yarmouth, Breydon Wall, Lowestoft and all down the Suffolk coast. Other flocks were seen in land and may of bred at Newmarket Thetford and Santon Downham in i888. 30 were recorded shot in those years. My old book was printed in 1931 and cost 24/¬ would that of been a working labours weekly wage back then? NB

As titled. Bit of youtube viewing with a difference for those of us into bikes not getting out at this time. Itchyboots : S1 and 2. Dutch gal travelling solo from India to Holland taking in many countries. Riding a adapted Royal Enfield Hymalayan 400cc adventue bike taking mainly back roads and off roading.. S2 she starts off riding from Patagonia to Alaska. Other good channel is On Her Bike: A Polish/Austrialian gal riding solo doing the same. just traveling and living on the road. Riding a BMW GS800 Adventure. Both have great riding/ filming skills and show a very different side to travelling, other countries and real culture. Interesting the reaction, hospitality and help given to these gals travelling alone with no back up. They both very savay clever, tough, brave gals and easy on the eye. Doing what a lot of fellas wouldn't do! Got subs from me. NB

Interesting read that. Thanks for posting. NB

C.R.T Countryside Restoration Trust also well worth supporting! They do good stuff showing by example. Robin page pulls no punches either. He gets stuck in to Packham and co. He's accused Packhams lot of trying to infiltrate CRT in past. NB

Agreed! . . . . . Great to see and hear about. Not doing to bad in Suffolk. Got them on 4 farms in small numbers. Bred well last year and one farm had covey of 17 going in to Autumn. Out of control dogs and the recent influx of wandering/walkers disturbing them and other birds and animals not helping. Two shoots rear and have enough to shoot good numbers. NB

6 released on a 60 acre site Snettisham/Heacham way. Link to it on GWCT site. All about funding and publicity with them schemes. Why Norfolk. bit strange. NB

In to days news. Beaver see for the first time in centuries in Norfolk. That'l be where Ditchmans gone then.😉 I think he will be disappointed tho. NB

Just heard from one of the farmers/real conservationists that first turtle dove back our way and on the feed. 😉 Hope this season as good as/better than last for them. Happy Days! NB

Kestrels probably not take on many adults. But i have seen even good size young blackbirds taken by kestrels and crows etc. While it's so dry there's less worms beetles and grubs etc. Seen magpies and jackdaws knock them out of the air and kill them. Just like all the crow family and sparrow hawks will work a hedge or border in pairs. flushing young and looking for nests. Usually one above and the other in flushing. When predators got growing young to feed they will really up there game. That's why they time there nesting to that of there prey having young in nest and fledgeing. A lot nests seem to get cleared out by these predators and cats just before the young fledge. It when the parents are less cautious, busy feeding and the young more vocal. 75-80% do not make the first year. Approx 60% of predators don't either. .Rooks will take eggs and young to though a lot of folk will say they don't. Certainly when it's dry and food in short supply. They had young ducklings and eggs my way this year. NB

Kestrels will take birds at times. Mainly small and young birds. I have seen them take well grown young black birds. I have also seen blackbird fight off a sparrow hawk in my garden. Twice! Didn't look to good after (kinda half plucked). But it survived and carried on raising young. Got a bling jackdaw staking out my garden at mo.Ring on right leg. Keep feeding the birds! if they are taking food. We are still in the hunger gap and a lot are struggling with it being so dry. My feeders are very busy and need topping up daily. Important to put water out to if none near by. DO NOT! feed bread this time of year! Young birds can choke on it and it to dry for them. . . . Blackbirds nest i didn't know of in garden hatched out this morning . . . . No turtle doves yet. NB

All gone a bit quiet on that keeper that infected a tiger and other animals in NY zoo. NB

They clever scavengers so adults will be ok. I bet there breeding success will be well down. Some probably not breeding at all or have failed already maybe. Adult should all be on eggs or have young now. Other birds nesting on reserves like Minsmere etc will be hit had by them as they are closed so less disturbance. No ducklings have survived my way. We badly need rain or a lot of birds and wildlife will struggle like the crops. . . . My feeders are well busy. NB

Noticed loads of herring gulls been hanging around on drillings for days. Hadn't thought it maybe because they cant find easy food else where. NB

Old Suffolk name for them is hedge betty. NB

Aint it just! Truly!

Dunnock OF? Always got them in garden. First nest attempt got predated. NB

Because there is a lot of micro plastics in it YB. The conservation bodies etc don't encourage it now. I have a robins nest i kept that is lined with golden thread like on xmas decs. NB

I put pigeon feathers out for them. Used to empty tumble dryer filter out for them to, but we have been told that's bad now. Have a box they use most years 3ft outside my office window. They also try and time there hatch with the emerging of the green caterpillars on the oak leaves. NB

Great to watch there antics aint it!😉 Keep us amused and a bit of cheer at this time. Even the rooks in the rookery over the road from mine have been entertaining to watch carrying some big old twigs. Interesting how they use a mixture of green and dead twigs to build nests. hanging off some branches to brake them off. Keep an eye out for turtle doves folks! They are back early! Been seen in Suffolk in last 2 days. Fortunate to have them visit my garden to feed up when they return most years. Big soft spot for them and english partridges. NB

Plenty of good advice above. 😃 Don't act change or do anything different around them and remember they and other garden birds choose to share your space and nest near you and the habitat food you provide them. I have robins nest by my window that hatched out Monday. Great to watch and clever little birds. Nest in garden every year. Often same or near previous site. Chicks will get more vocal and parents busier as they grow. This is when they more vulnerable to predators. They just have to take there chances with cats unfortunately. As others have said hydrate any dry worms you feed this time of year. Especially with it being so dry again this Spring. Only source of moisture young get is in any food delivered. . . . If successful they may return next year. May even build again and have 2nd brood this year. . . . . . I think garden birds and some farmland birds may struggle this year because of disturbance from more people being home about at this time. I hope i am wrong! NB

Keep them oiled, Make sure you don't loose your graders, they are clipped on right and take it slow. You will be surprised how long a grade 4 leaves it. You can always work down the grades. It strange how some fellas are about it. Used to do 2 or 3 lads hair in a lunchtime when i worked on site. Done one of my girlfriends hair to after she saw me do others. We both ended up with shaved heads at one time. Shaving head easy and easy maintaince. Feels strange at first but i wouldn't go back. Polish and go!😉 Had a doorman even bigger than me ask me if and what product i used on it once. Much to my mates amusement. NB