Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Blue Skies and Magpies

At last we've had a few dry and sometimes sunny days.  Walks are still quite muddy underfoot but it has been great to get out into the countryside.


On Sunday morning we walked at the Consall Nature Park, we walked for over two hours and although cold it was bright and sunny.  The birds were twittering in the bare branches of the trees, the geese and ducks were honking and quacking on the pools, pheasants were calling in the fields and high in the sky buzzards were mewling and thermalling to their hearts content.


Yesterday we popped down to Stafford and again it was sunny and dry and the sky was a deep blue.  


 I'll write more about our visit later on this week.
 
We noticed over the weekend that the magpies have returned to their nest in the trees just over our hedge at the back of the garden.  We don't normally see the nest and it will be hidden as soon as the new leaves appear on the trees.
 

Even though it is very cold the bright sunshine must have encouraged the birds to think about repairing and preparing their nest for Spring.  You can see one magpie on top of the nest and the other underneath it.  We have also seen frogs in the pond which is one of the first signs that Spring isn't too far away.

 

20 comments:

  1. such blue sky! SO glad to see it, we have had way too much grey!
    xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is wonderful to see a bit of sun and some blue skies:)

      Delete
  2. The blue skies have made me so happy this week! I am glad you have been able to get out and enjoy it, too. I found a dead baby bird outside the back door on Sunday, a present from one of the cats, it was properly fluffy and not newly-hatched. I don't think I've ever had fledglings this early before. x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, poor baby bird, it just wasn't meant to be was it? It has been a lovely week but of course today we have grey skies and rain back again. Oh, well:)

      Delete
  3. Those skies are gorgeous!!! I wish I'd enjoyed the beautiful weather today but I've been unpacking!! Nice to see the birds doing DIY!X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope the move went well Kezzie. We have wrens who return each year to a nest under the eaves of the shed and they spend ages tidying it up:)

      Delete
  4. Whoopee! Sounds good. It looks like mid summer with that blue sky! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The sky was very blue on Monday but it was veery cold too:)

      Delete
  5. It is easy to think in these days of blue skies and sun that it is almost Spring (well we can hope anyway). Walking is certainly not without difficulty at the moment with all the mud around everywhere, thank goodness for hiking boots as I slip and slide everywhere when I am wearing my trainers. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, you do need sturdy boots or wellies to walk at the moment. It is lovely to see the sun and blue skies even though Spring is still a few weeks away:)

      Delete
  6. How lovely that spring is so close - it is still a long way from spring here. Love to see blue skies and sunshine - it certainly puts a spring in my step.

    Marie x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The blue skies certainly do lift the spirits don't they?:)

      Delete
  7. It's been good to get out this week and make the most of better weather, although on Sunday we had sunshine, blue skies and then snow showers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has been lovely but its back to rain,rain,rain again today:)

      Delete
  8. How wonderful to be out and about and seeing such wonderful blue skies and the lovely sunshine! A pleasure to go along with you! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Amy - after yesterday's rain it is lovely again here today:)

      Delete
  9. We had a pair of wrens chasing each other around the garden a couple of days ago but I try to deter birds from staying in our garden because of the cats. I'm jealous of your magpies!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will be interesting to see if the magpies use the nest, I think they will. We always have wrens nesting under the eaves of the shed roof, they come back each year:)

      Delete
  10. I enjoyed the bright weather and the walk, Rosie. Great photos.
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Amalia glad you enjoyed the walk:)

      Delete