THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

28 June 2013

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO

    
And with heads this time. Having weighed up the possibility of their being juvenile Greenfinches which look extremely similar (thanks CT!), I'm going to go with Siskins. The beak shape is slightly more pointy and the colouring slightly different. I guess we'll find out for sure in the next few weeks as they mature. Between them and the Chaffinches, they managed to half empty the feeder in two days. At last, the mega-bag is going down a bit. It might be empty by 2015....if they hang around of course. 









A juvenile Great Tit has been pecking away too.



And the trusty Chaffinches.


The Blackbirds are too big so are stuck with the porridge. He doesn't look happy.


Yesterday I saw this sheep trying to scratch its fleece off on a rock. This muggy weather must be driving them mad. 



Those pesky cowboy Housemartins have done a runner, leaving my neighbour with a load of mud and messy sticks on her house. I wonder if they'll be back next year. 
 

Ann (http://sketchingwilliam.blogspot.co.uk/), the pony naming-meister has suggested 'Arrow' as a name for the stallion which I think is great. The arrow marking is, of course on the other side in this picture. He was with Daisy, Isaac, Foal A and his mum yesterday and wasn't happy about Snippet, stamping at him and trotting at us. His looks are growing on me but we will be giving him a slightly wider berth next time. 



Talking of ponies, the grey Dartmoor madam allowed me to give her a stroke and then a big scratch this morning. First contact after weeks of quietly approaching her and breathing with her over the gate. 

Today I failed, yet again, to catch the male Broad Bodied Chaser but got this rather unsatisfactory shot of what I think is possibly a Four Spotted Chaser. Any other offers gratefully received. 


Strange weather today. The picture below sums up a typical Dartmoor summer day......mist rolling in on a high wind followed, later on, by a period of bright sunshine, in turn followed by persistent light rain. Lovely.


Until next time, have a lovely weekend and here's Snippet on cat patrol in the garden. There's one up on the wall.....


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34 comments:

  1. Anonymous28 June 2013 at 20:49

    I'd say you're spot on with the Siskin Em- the Greenfinch baby didn't have spots on its back and looked much more like it's mum with the single band of greeny yellow on the wing. How fantastic! Ours have all disappeared :-(
    Loved the rest of the photos too- especially the expression on the second sheep photo! Marvellous! Enjoy the weekend. CT x

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:12

      I think we're later with everything and, since I haven't seen them today, I'm wondering if they've gone too!

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  2. ann @ studiohyde28 June 2013 at 21:07

    Think I can only name them when they have distinctive markings though! :) He is a handsome chap.

    Aww, these birds at the feeder as so sweet, what a fraught life they must lead, luckily you have 'plenty' of food for them, and Snippet on duty can chase the cats away from them...well done, Snippet.

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:14

      Because the tree they all sit in waiting their turn is up on the retaining wall of next door's higher garden, the cats have a very good chance of getting them. I throw sticks at the tree to frighten them off and Snippet snorts like a pig.

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  3. Little Red Hen28 June 2013 at 21:48

    Do the sheep not get shorn? It does look quite uncomfortable.

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:16

      Hello Little Red Hen.....the owner of that particular sheep leaves shearing VERY late and sometimes doesn't bother at all. Most are doing it around now and they look so relieved. I can't imagine how horrible it must be with that huge coat on!

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  4. SeagullSuzie28 June 2013 at 22:14

    Those sheep look like I feel when I haven't washed my hair for a few days..:) Love the siskins and all the other bird photos. I have had 2 goldfinches on the new feeder so I'm delighted. Still quite warm here at 16 degrees right now, but much more cloudy. Arrow is a great looking beast and well named.

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:17

      We've actually got sun today - most unexpected but then I'm tending to ignore the weather forecasts these days; they're rarely right.

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  5. John Going Gently28 June 2013 at 22:36

    The pleasure of he sheep that's rubbing its arse made me smile x

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:18

      I should have filmed it John and it would have made you smile even more. x

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  6. rusty duck28 June 2013 at 22:58

    Beautiful siskins, not seen them down here. But our woodpecker family has increased to three babies.
    Another lovely pic of your garden, keep them coming!

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:19

      I'm putting together some garden pictures but it's difficult to avoid the ubiquitous trampoline, piles of messy wood, Snippet's sticks or washing hanging out!

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  7. ~Kim at Golden Pines~29 June 2013 at 01:20

    I love your sweet little birds and their photos! But I've never seen a sheep do that before--I guess I'd be doing it too if I was wearing heavy wool on a hot day too!! :-) Enjoy your weekend!

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:19

      Absolutely Kim. If only they had buttons.

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  8. angryparsnip29 June 2013 at 02:40

    You have the very best bird photos. Wonderful !

    Have a lovely weekend.
    I will be very quiet, working inside where it is cool and putting water out for the birds and critters, 114 predicted for Saturday. Monsoon maybe start Monday I hope !

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:20

      Even the idea of 114 degrees is making me feel swoony. I'll be hoping for your monsoon for you too.

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  9. Bovey Belle29 June 2013 at 05:35

    Lovely bird photos - they didn't take long to get used to your new feeder. Well done on having 2 baby Siskins visit it!

    Arrow is a nice little stallion. I hope he isn't too protective of his mares though.

    I had to smile at your description of a typical Dartmoor summer's day : ) Looking at your garden, you have a similar combination of flowers to me at the moment.

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:22

      The 'evergreen' geranium (ha ha) is going a bit mad and I'm having to hack it down every few days to stop it crushing everything else. I'm still working out what grows well and what I should just rip out.

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  10. ChrisJ29 June 2013 at 07:20

    I love that chaffinch that keeps appearing on your blog. I know I say it every time but your photos so absolutely astounding!

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:23

      Thank you Chris. I do love those male Chaffinches too - they look like cartoon burglars I always think.

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  11. Virginia29 June 2013 at 09:18

    How DARE a cat sit on Snippet's wall! Our son's golden retriever gets very possessive about our wall, and there is never any sign of an invader - let alone the horde of barbarians she tells us are descending upon us. As we're in a city, she has to be hushed immediately, which makes it more fun next time!! Loved the foal, bit isn't that mare pregnant very late in the season??

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:26

      Do you remember foal number 10 last year? He was born in late August and he survived amazingly. There are still a couple of mares out there to have their foals. Sometimes it's difficult to tell though.....Daisy still looks pregnant and Isaac is about three months old now!

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  12. ShySongbird29 June 2013 at 12:41

    No need for any doubt now Em, definitely young Siskins. How lovely to have them, as I think I said yesterday we only see Siskins in this area in winter/early spring. You have lots of activity at the feeders, the extra bird food you bought will go in no time at this rate. Lovely photos again. I wonder what went wrong with the House martins, that was a shame. A shame for your neighbour too, all the mess and no reward. Yes, your dragon certainly looks like a Four-spotted Chaser to me.

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:28

      I wonder if the Housemartins were struggling to find enough mud as it was during a very dry spell, but who knows. They also may have been hedging their bets as they would have a couple of days off and perhaps were building an alternative nearby. Glad you agree about the Four Spotted Chaser!

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  13. Margaret Birding For Pleasure29 June 2013 at 12:51

    Hi Wonderful shots of all the birds at your new feeder. The foal is adorable and I loved the photo of the sheep rubbing his bottom. it must be uncomfortable to them when they are molting. Have a great weekend. Margaret

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 14:30

      It was extremely hard rubbing! Have a good weekend too.

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  14. Anonymous29 June 2013 at 18:41

    Lovely images Em of all the garden birds and may I add to all the other comments on the subject that they are definitely Siskins (a bird which we only get in winter down here on the Yorkshire lowlands) while the dragonfly certainly looks like a Four-spotted Chaser :-) I've never had the good fortune of visiting Dartmoor but the misty scene is always how I've pictured it in my mind for some reason (though I'm sure it's sunny sometimes ;-)).

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 20:53

      When the weather is beautiful, there's nowhere better in the world, but I'm biased obviously, as someone who chose to live here rather than being born here. I hope my son feels like that when he's older and he WAS born here.

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  15. Wendy29 June 2013 at 19:18

    Lovely photos - it's great to see that the Siskins have found your feeder. And I love Snippet's focus on the cat, I imagine he could stay there for hours.

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    1. Em Parkinson29 June 2013 at 20:54

      It's nearly 9.00 pm and he's still out there snorting!

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  16. Terry30 June 2013 at 01:47

    Fabulous photos! Now that the Siskins have found you, you'll probably get a lot of them. We lived here 2 years before the Goldfinches found us. First we had 2, then 4, then a dozen, and now I couldn't begin to count them! They winter over with us and leave in the Spring.
    Love the itchy sheep!

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    1. Em Parkinson30 June 2013 at 16:11

      It's actually very hot today and I really feel for them. They're hiding behind rocks and gorse bushes but, in the middle of the day when the sun is high, there's just nowhere for them to hide poor things.

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  17. Gail H. Ragsdale2 July 2013 at 19:50

    Definitely looks like a Siskin to me!

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