FROG FRENZY AND FEBRUARY BITS AND PIECES

What a crazy couple of weeks it's been. So much has happened I will doubtless forget most of it until I'm out walking and then will have forgotten again by the time I get home...that's being over 50. Anyway, the first thing to talk about is these frogs, who were having a whale of a time in my neighbour's very small pond. Not only were they in, and around the pond, but the surrounding grass was alive with them too. Here are the best of the MANY photos I took:

Since my post levels have been unfeasibly low, I'm chucking in the February bits and pieces here too. I'm at the point where I barely get through a third of my daily list of things to do every day so blogging has had to take a back seat.

The Golden Plovers are back:

He looks like he's seeing if anyone's looking before taking on a sheep:

Pompous looking Chaffinch:

Buzzard from below:

Marching Magpie:

Blue Tit...........

.........trying to hide?

Not the best looking Robin. Looks very fierce here:

Three Sisters?

Trigger looking for his neighbours:

Sleeping pony on the moor:

Ice patterns:

I love this; stunning morning light:

Blurry Jack:

Less blurry:

Snippet looking like a teddy bear

So what have I been up to? Mainly dealing with OB and the fact that he's being bullied again at school. Many meetings and complaints about the fact that it wasn't dealt with properly before Christmas. Things are looking up as they're now coming down hard. Anybody different is a target and it breaks my heart. I know I'm biased but a sweeter natured boy it would be difficult to find. Last Monday and Tuesday we were at Great Ormond Street for the long awaited therapy. Five sessions with an hour between each. He did really, really well and they think he could reduce the tics by up to a third and, with lots and lots of work at home, get back some limited control when he wants it, in a cinema for example. Over half term we went to see a film and he had to move seats as he was squeaking in a man's ear, so to be able to hold them in would be amazing. that incident made him very sad and it came up when we were in discussion with them at GOSH. He's so brave and I'm so proud of him. They had mock SATS recently and he's a level 7C in maths with his 11th birthday next Thursday. They can't officially grade him that high because the government won't allow it, but he is. What a star with everything he's going through. Anyway, I'd better go and get him to turn his light out after a draining day for many reasons. 

So, until next time, whenever I can, here are the canine boys, one of whom is in daily disgrace......a remote control citronella spray collar is on its way to try and deal with him.....more information about that next time as he needs a post to himself. It's not the hairy one of whom I write......have a relaxing Sunday and I'll try not to leave it so long. I miss you all. 

A GOOD WEEK FOR BIRDS

This juvenile Peregrine (probably male according to our local Peregrine expert) is just about the most exciting sighting I've had in a long time. I took this from about 100 yards away so it's not as sharp as I would like, but I'm just so pleased to have got anything. This is the second sighting but the first picture that confirms its identification. 

Almost as exciting, on a gloriously sunny Monday, was this Willow Tit. The reason I'm so sure about it being a Willow rather than Marsh Tit, is that it was singing; I saw it singing and was clear on the song coming from its beak. I ran the couple of hundred yards home and went straight to Google and compared recordings of both birds. It was unmistakable. I was about to claim two birds on the RSPB red list but have just discovered the Peregrine is on the green list. Great news, but not what I was expecting. The Willow Tit definitely is though. 

Having thought our Buzzard pair, who had two surviving chicks, had gone forever, it appears they, or another pair, are back in our shelter belt. I've seen them a few times now and am hoping they nest here again this year.

Here, I managed to get both of them as they chased each other and appeared to be playing in the sky. 

Just after the Peregrine sighting, I saw these two Canada Geese flying over. I can't say I've ever seen any up on the moor before.

This crow was sitting in a tree at the end of the garden and, for once, didn't fly away as soon as I came anywhere near it.

I love this. Strictly not this week.....a couple of weekend's ago when the snow was at its deepest on the road.

House Sparrow on the barricade built to try and contain Jack. Nothing is working there and I think we need to think along the lines of Colditz.

Trigger's Magpie friends:

A Meadow Pipit (I think) flying off

Stonechats. The first picture was nearly deleted but then I noticed him flying towards the camera

Robin:

And a metal bird for good measure. At least it has a wildlife based name. A Lynx Wildcat. 

Brilliant news from Great Ormond Street a couple of days ago. Devon CAMHS are sending both their child psychologists up to London at the beginning of March to observe OB's five ,hour long CBT sessions so they will be able to learn how its done, and help other Tourettes sufferers in this area. AT LAST. It took many phone calls from GOSH and a letter which I haven't read but was sent a copy of the reply from the head of Devon CAMHS which contained a sincere apology for the lack of communication. How long has it taken? Too long, but there's no point in doing anything but looking forwards. 

So, until next time, which should be the MANY bits and pieces from January that are really stacking up, here are those naughty boys fighting over a stick in the snow. The snow which was still two inches thick all over the garden until today. Have a great weekend everyone.