WELCOME TO Val's Alentejo -I write about my region of Alentejo. My art ,painting, my cottages, Family life, my animals -Travels And my love for Roses- and rural country life.

Friday 10 May 2013

Birds and more Birds

 I wake many mornings and tell myself, get your camera and "Today you will get some good photos of the birds around".  Waking every morning tho he coooo cooooing of the doves..the twittering of the sparrows. trills of blackbirds ..but boy oh boy, is it difficult to get them on camera.  I need one of those fast click click cameras. I did get some nice shots  and am pleased with them.
                                     I have a family of doves, many of you will know.. here i took this one on the telephone pole-.
                                   Another dove decides to take a meander
                                      I was so pleased it didnt spot me. I have to be still like a statue
                                   I thought it might have been interested in Jeffrey's little toy teddy!
                              The sparrows, are starting to become a problem.  Each year its the same thing. So it looks like i will have to board inbetween the beams.. they make such a mess on my nice summer patio.
                                      They are watching me here, waiting for me to leave the patio
                                         He looks a handsome fellow
                                      They love the electric wires to sit on
            As i was moving around with my camera to see if I could catch sight of more birds.. I looked and looked again.. and there hiding behind the pump house is Shilah and if you look closely.. Pascoa is lying down.  It took me a few min to realize the were there..  Its going to be 28deg today.  They have found  a shady spot to hide.
 Yes,  this looks like a mop that has been tossed into the bamboo ... All was quite, when i saw a movement.. You got it!  its Isaa.. now I know where she hides.

Its been so beautiful here these days.  I have been spending time in the garden and relaxing around.
Sorting all my summer clothes and putting heavy winter ones packed away.

Wishing you all a very happy weekend.   Hope that your days are full of sun ,love and laughter.

val

31 comments:

  1. Hello Valerie

    I can just imagine the wonderful sounds around your home. The image of Shilah amongst the trees is beautifully composed. Wishing you a weekend of joy

    Helenxx

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  2. I can see Shilah popping out from behind the pump house. Isaa does look like a mop head lol, but it's a nice cool place for hiding. x

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    1. I thought i was seeing things.... I had to have a laugh.. I have never seen them there before..
      loved your last post Suzy.. such a lovely place and very interesting.
      Thanks for commenting
      val x

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  3. Thank you dear Helen.. that is so sweet of you.
    I am pleased you can find me now.
    I have still to update my sidebar.. you were on it hen now off.. I havent done anything.. blogger sometimes is strange.
    wishing you a wonderful weekend.
    val x

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  4. Dear Val, I love your newest header. Birds are wonderful to have around. I love ours even though there are too many...thousands of them and they can make a mess. I try to convince them to move away from the roof line because it is our terrace that ends up being not habitable. It's always a give and take isn't it.
    ox, Gina

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    1. You are so right Gina.
      The birds make their nests every year up in my eves.. I will definately have to close the area in with wood..paint it a light yellow or something.
      I love to sit out on my patio.
      I feel a little bad..as there are babies there. but the mess is awful.
      nice to see you.
      happy weekend.
      val

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  5. It looks really hot with you already! I love the meadow full of wild flowers and the two horses seeking shade!
    Glad you were able to get your fill of Magnolia blooms at my place. They are really especially beautiful this year. Have a lovely weekend!

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    1. Thank you Sandra..
      The meadows are really beautiful at this time of the year.. full of wild spring flowers.
      I did like your post of your beautiful magnolia tree.. its stunning.
      happy weekend
      val

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  6. such a beautiful place you have! yes, those nesting birds can make a MESS!

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    1. Thanks Tex. The birds sure do make a mess. I was out most of the afternoon ..there is grass all over the patio sofa... but its easily cleared. A little tedious. But i do love to see them.

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  7. It is so beautiful to listen all these birds in your garden !
    I wait to grow up my trees and to have these soungs of birds.
    It seems that the weather there is lovely and the summer is near !
    Have a lovely weekend my dear Val !

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    1. I love to wake to the sound of the doves and the birds Olympia.
      Its wonderful to have the luxury of living in the country..with all the beauty around me.
      Yes, our weather is lovely.. warm and sunny.
      wishing you a good weekend.
      val xx

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  8. It is lovely to have birds close to the house nesting, but they do make a mess. When we lived in Northumberland we had a row of house-martin nests along our eaves. They pooped over the side of the nest, never in it, so the consequences down below were piles of guarno (bird poo). At the end of the summer season it would set rock hard. Much to my neighbours amusement I placed thick cardboard to catch it held down with bricks. At the end of the season I could just pick it up and nothing showed. I had the last laugh as she was out trying to get rid of hers with a hammer and chisel.
    Lovely to see Shilah and Pascoa sheltering from the warm sun together.

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    1. I have learnt a lot about birds since they have been so close the the house.. they are very clever. While I was hiding to take some photo.. a sparrow saw me..she or he had some grass in its beak..and sat as still as a statue.. thinking i hadnt seen it.
      I was the guarno off my window every week.. and hose down the walls..
      It is indeed hard stuff to get off. ): funny story. (brains..thats all it needs)_):-
      Shilah and Pascoa at the moment are in seventh heaven with all the lovely fields full of lovely feed.
      Thank you Rosemary.
      Happy weekend
      val xx

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  9. Passionate observations have grand rewards! Very good captures. I have yet to capture one decent swallow.

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    1. I can tell you i was a good three hours trying to get the photos of the birds.. they know when we are hiding or about. Thank you for you kind comments.. I enjoyed taking their photos..
      happy weekend

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  10. Val, you know I love nothing more than bird pictures and these are so happy. You have had fun stalking them and well-captured images. I was stalking a pretty yellow bird today, but I don't know what it is. I have arrived in Canada, and having a lovely time meeting my new grandson. He is adorable! xxxx

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    1. You have shown some great bird pictures.. you are lucky to have such varied variety.
      I am so happy that you are in Canada.. Enjoy your new little Grandson.
      You have waited so long.
      hugs
      val

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  11. It sounds like summer is well and truly on its way to you. I imagine how nice it would be to walk out onto a warm patio in the morning to photograph the birds.

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    1. Its not quite summer..but we are having warm spring days.. i love this weather, wish it was like this all year around. It is nice to sit outside now.. i have more space.
      thank you Ponsdside..

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  12. You sound very happy today - I think I would be too if I lived where you do. I agree it is very hard to get photos of birds - they just don't seem to stand still long enough.

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    1. Thank you dear Elaine..
      When the sun is out and the birds singing and my garden is coming on nicely.. it's such a delight for me. I do not like winter or cold weather.
      It is hard to photo the birds. I have so many here.

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  13. Dear Val,

    One of the things I have learnt to appreciate, here in England, is the countryside. As you know, I was born in a city by the sea, in Italy, and all I knew about was city life and... the sea! I could see the sea from everywhere and I never imagined anybody could stand to live in a place away from the cost. But... I came to live here, in the countryside, and I remember very vividly digging up hundreds of grape hycinths, bulbs and all, and piling them up, ready for the bin, and "killing" a number of lilies, as, to me, they looked, as they grew, like tiny little artichoke shaped miniature E.T! That's how ignorant I was! As my first Winter approached, I looked out of the window and noticed, for the first time in my life, black birds and thrushes (not many of them left!) My brother in law gave me what I thought was the weirdest birthday present: a box full of peanuts, and a bird feeder. "What am I supposed to do with this big box of peanuts? What is this?" I asked my (ex) husband? Anyway, I started feeding the poor birds, during what was a very long, white Winter (the worst of my life!)
    Time passed... I now know the names of most British birds (in English, not in Italian!) and two years ago, I had to give a new born bird a heart massage, as it had fallen out of the nest. It worked! I could see blood flowing through its veins. My brother and I put the baby back in its nest. I though the mother would reject it, but, instead, she fed all four babies, which we watched for weeks, until the last one left the nest!
    I do love birds! We kept canaries and budgies, at home, when I was little, but it wasn't the same as watching them grow, learn how to fly, "talk" to their mums and be free. How I wish I, too, had wings!

    I like your photos, Val! They show what a kind lady you are and what good, creative soul you possess! Thank you for that! And... thank you for reading "my" little story!

    Sorry... I talk too much!

    BIG LOVE

    ANNA
    xx

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    1. Dearest Anna,
      I love to read your comments on my posts.. I know what it is like to live in the city. My 3 sons live in the city. You dont see birds.
      I only started realizing that i liked to photo the birds around me some time ago.
      They give me hours of pleasure.
      I am not good with the names of the birds.
      How lovely that you and your brother saved the little bird.
      You do have wings Anna. we all do. We just have to decide when to use them.!!
      big hugs.. have a wonderful weekend.
      val

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  14. It looks such a beautiful day it was lovely to see all the birds that visit your garden ans also your animals hiding in the shade. I was intending to swap over my wardrobe too but it has turned colder again!
    Sarah x

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    1. Hello Sarah,
      We are now on our way to the hotter days. Today the birds are quiet and enjoying the warm weather.
      I think the weather doesnt know what to do with itself.
      We are lucky so far.
      xxx thanks for coming over.

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  15. Great photos, Val. You must have both patience and a good eye to get these. My bird photos are always shaky and rather blurred. Please send us some of your blue sky and sunshine, if you can spar it. Today we had hail and tomorrow we may even get some wet snow - in the middle of May! Sigh....

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    1. Thank you Perpetua..
      Today is a special day here.. its the Holy day of "Our Lady" of Fatima..
      I was pleased with the bird photos..but i had to creep slowly.
      Sending you sunshine and warmth from Portugal
      val

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  16. Hi Val your side of the world is positively blooming whilst we are all bunkering down getting ready for the cold. thank you for sharing the sunshine and birds with us all .

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    1. Everything is looking lovely here Shell.
      I see on the news that you are having awful weather.
      thanks for leaving your kind comments..

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