Today was the beginning of the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) garden watch, where anyone and his dog is invited to sit in their garden, a park or outside space, and spend an hour exactly counting and registering the birds they see. You can join in or read about it HERE. Herds of people take part every year and it helps the RSPB monitor bird populations across the country. I of course sit and take part, camera to hand. I was a little excited as for the past three days a Greater Spotted Woodpecker has been visiting the Happy Eater tree, which was such a surprise as we’re quite suburban here, and I hoped he’d turn up again today.
I saw sparrows, blue tits, great tits, long tailed tits, blackbirds, collared doves, a woodpigeon, a robin and the beautiful woodpecker. Unfortunately the woodpecker has made a quick getaway everytime I lift the camera, but I did manage one shot of the back of him.

Did anyone else get given a mountain of chocolates for Christmas? We were given loads from family (they know Phil is a chocoholic) a huge box of Lindts, and a tub of Hero’s, a client gave us all a little box of posh chocs each (still in the fridge) also my boss at work gets migraines if she eats chocolates so she gives all that she gets to Phil. This year his favourites were given to my boss by a hearing aid company, and they are still undergoing consumption.

This winter has been quite mild so far, though the nights are cold we are not dropping much below 6 °C (42.8°F) but even so I think the Happy Eater tree is a bit keen, or is confused.
Film Friday will resume soon, I’ve sent rolls off to be developed. I gave up on the instants as I’m also doing the 1 second a day video thingy again this year and it’s too much overlap to do both.
I’ve started another mosaic project, this time a jewelry or nik-nak box, which went quite well, until the grouting when it all went pear shaped. That does seem to be a thing with me, but it’s sortable, fingers crossed.

It’ll look nice in the next picture! 😀
What’s the 1-second video thing? Is that on one of your blogs? I haven’t sen it.
The birds look great!’
I don’t eat a lot of chocolate, but I do love ‘Hotel Chocolat’ dark chocolate.
At Christmas, my step-daughter bought me two bags of their chocolate-covered Brazil nuts. Delicious!
Best wishes, Pete.
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The 1 second a day video thing like I did in 2018 https://fragglerocking.org/2018/12/31/new-years-eve-retrospective/
I think Hotel Choocolat chocs are very very yummy!
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I remember the videos now. 🙂
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Nice chocs! Do you want my postal address?
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Haha man, you live in Chocolateland, don’t need mine! 🙂
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Oh my god, the woodpecker….lucky you…its a great shot too!
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I was so excited when I first saw it I yelped aloud and scared him off, Wish he’d stay a bit longer, he lands on the tree, I reach for my camera, and off he goes. B**tard! 🤣
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Never seen one….well I saw a green one on Hampstead Heath last year but never one of these guys…he’ll be back!
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Fingers xt!
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Ooh! What a handsome woodpecker!
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He is! Cheers Kim 😘
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What a wonderful post, Fraggle. Beautiful photos. LOL, that’s a lot of chocolate. 😺 And a cool bird event. 🐦 Hugs on the wing
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The chocolate looks beautiful. It would tempt me and I’m really not bothered about chocolate. I’d rather have cheese.
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I’m not bothered with them normally either, but these are particularly lush!
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I’m not sure that I’ve ever had Hotel Chocolat chocolates. Perhaps I should steer clear of them. I don’t need an addiction to expensive chocolats.
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Treat yourself at Birthday/Christmas time, I think once or twice a year would be enough.
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looking forward to seeing the completed mosaic…
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Me too! Cheers Graham.
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Yummy and tasty birds and lovely and colorful chocolates. Hmm, not, maybe is all the way around xD
I am glad you have color in your nature to see, fragglerocking. I read Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince and tend to think small birds migrate to Egypt or other Southern lands : )
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And who can blame them!? 😊
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