The Compers Inn (part 48)

:hello: Good afternoon everyone

Hope you're all fine on this glorious Friday!

I've been making the most of the weather - spent a good
few hours out gardening, mowing, pruning, weeding. Happy
days!

Apparently the Southern part of the UK may be getting
splashes of rain over the weekend which is why I've been
out today doing this n' that.

Also got a load of washing dried outside this morning - the
downside though is having to do the dreaded ironing at
some point! :eek:

Very well done on winning a £50 Ryanair flight voucher
mummy2! :T :j Love the sound of your plans re possible
Dublin visit. Have a lovely couple of days at the two
workshops. They sound fun!

Here's some further Garden Birdwatch info for you - some
numbers are down due to various reasons, but some are up
this year. :j

We can now reveal the top 10 garden birds in the UK and Northern
Ireland. Yet again, the house sparrow was at the top spot. Then
we have the starling at number two. In at number three was the
blue tit, followed by blackbird, woodpigeon and goldfinch. Number
seven was great tit, number eight was robin, and in at nine and
ten were long-tailed tit and chaffinch.



Sparrows on top

Once again, house sparrows came top of the Big Garden Birdwatch
2018! These characteristically noisy and gregarious birds have
managed to colonise most of the world, as they’re equally happy in
urban and suburban areas. However, although they’re still
abundant, they have suffered enormous declines. So at the RSPB,
we’re doing all we can do help them.



Siskins rise up the charts

Siskins – small, attractive finches with a distinctive forked tail,
were up in numbers, reaching number 24. Brambling numbers
were up too. Siskins and bramblings are winter visitors, and their
numbers are higher in years when conditions here are more
favourable than on the Continent, for example during a mild
winter, or when lots of their favourite foods are available.



Small birds, big numbers

Overall, there was an increase in sightings of smaller birds, such
as goldfinches, long-tailed tits and coal tits. Recorded sightings of
goldfinches rose by 11% from last year, and this sociable, brightly-
coloured finch was seen in more than two-thirds of gardens.



A good year for greenfinches

It was a good year for greenfinches. We’re pleased to say they had
a 5% rise in sightings, a great sign as they’ve decreased by 60%
since the Birdwatch began in 1979. It appears this rise is due to
good conditions during their breeding season in 2017.



Blackbirds and robins drop in numbers

There was a drop in the recorded sightings of blackbirds (down by
18%) and robins (down by 12%). We think this may be because
the mild winter meant there was more food available in the
countryside, meaning they didn’t need to rely on gardens for food.
Also, unlike smaller birds such as goldfinches and greenfinches,
blackbirds and robins didn’t have such a good breeding season.


Your grandson sounds adorable leanfun - such a talented
lad! His colouring/shading etc sounds wonderful. Love the
way you took the time to point out the different shades on
the climbing ropes (at the park) with the sunlight casting
shadows. :A You must be so very proud of him & vice
versa! :grinheart

Have a lovely couple of days off indie - hope all goes well
with your Nephew's appointment next week. xx

Time for a cuppa me thinks! Have a lovely rest of the
day all, take care.


Alfie xxx

good morning all :wave:
lovely morning here too Alfie :dance:
lol, love the idea of pillow fight day
sounds great fun lol sorry couldn't resist this one:rotfl:



hope everyones keeping well & hugs for anyone needing one,
have a lovely lucky day all
x

:hello: Good morning everyone


I hope you're all well and having an enjoyable
weekend.


It looks as if it's going to be another decent
weather day here - no sign of the 'predicted' rain
at the mo. Yay! :T :dance:


Had a very productive day yesterday - was
out gardening for a few hours
& actually managed to have massive comp catch
-up, but needless to say I've not tackled
the dreaded ironing yet! :whistle:


It sounds as if you're having a wonderful weekend
mummy2. I'm loving the longer days now - it's brilliant
to be able to make use of the lighter evenings! I'm
always up at the crack of dawn so really nice to
enjoy the lighter mornings too.


Sorry to hear about your forsythia not flowering for so
long this year (after taking a beating from dreadful
weather). Hopefully, come next year, it'll be back
flourishing in all its glory.


Your garden sounds such a treasure trove! Many years
ago (when I was a youngster) I discovered a couple of
old bottles (with glass marbles in the necks) buried in
Mum :A and Dad's :A garden. Found out that they
were Codd bottles. I've still got them to this day - tucked
away in my loft.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codd-neck_bottle


I've received quite a few bits n' bobs handed down thru the
family over the years ..... including a couple of old (extremely
heavy _pale_) flat irons - having to use one of those to do
the ironing fills me with dread! :eek:


Well best get on ......


Have a lovely Sunday all and please take care whatever
your plans.





Alfie xxx

Evening, hope you have all had a good day. I was working earlier, but didn't mind as it has rained all day. I got some more plants yesterday so hopefully can plant them up tomorrow. Weather permitting. Hope you got the chives split & replanted ff. Right off to catch up with the comps.

:hello: Good morning everyone


Hope you're all in fine fettle on this glorious Monday
morning!


Had a busy time yesterday giving my shed its usual
spring clean. Quite a few small spiders scuttling about
which I don't mind now - it's just the humungous ones
that still fairly give me the heebie jeebies! :eek:





I've got to do a bit more in there today .... then that's
it done for another year! :T


Hope you managed to split & replant your chives
yesterday fire**fly. There's always something that
needs doing. I really love each season though
(garden wise) - busy but always so enjoyable.


Sounds as if you're both having a wonderful break
sheils - well done re the meal deal - brilliant bargain!


The birdies has been singing away as usual this morning -
always a cheerful start to the day - best go and top their
feeders up etc!


Have a lovely and lucky Monday all, take care.


Alfie xxx