Weekend, 26th-29th.4.2024.

 Friday just had to go over to the reservoirs to see how the grebes and their babies were getting on, and of course the Heart_ Mural, but no change there.

The weather hadn't got any better though it was slightly warmer.

The youngsters were enjoying themselves on the water, just wish they would stay away from the banks where the birds nests were.

The grebe babies were playing out on the water.

You had better get off fishing again dear, the babies will be wanting dinner soon.

I saw the dad giving a baby a small fluffy feather and had wondered about that, but a while back on TV it mentioned that it helped the babies digestion, so there you are.  

These guys are a bit of a pest, but they have to eat too don't they, stop feeding they with free handouts and they go somewhere else, hint for Rishi!!.

These magpies love the peanuts, dashing back and forth hiding them and back to see if there are any left. 

Stayed in on Sunday and did some overdue housework.

Monday it was off to get my Spring Covid jab that had been requested by the surgery for the over 75s

Got there early as my shopping at Lidl didn't take as long as I'd thought, but they let me in at the Festival hall in Denton as they weren't too busy and had a chat with the young lady who was going to jab me, turns out she was an ex-paramedic of 17years experience so the jab was ok and no problems, problems will be tonight sleeping on that side, still it's better than the alternative isn't it!.

After a chat with my mate Bob outside with his daughter who had brought him for his jab, he kept slapping me on my arm while he was talking and his daughter said, I hope that's not the arm he's had his jab in?, it was actually!.

So it was off to Gorton Reservoirs again to see the Grebes, and got some nice pictures of dad feeding them.

Weather no better!.

 When's dad bringing dinner mum?.

 Have a nap he will be here soon.

Here he comes with your dinner.

Here he comes with dinner.

Who's first?.

Baby has got it!.

Don't just sit there! go and get some more.

If any one is wondering where their young Swans have got to maybe here at Gorton, where the two residents are wondering why here, eight on the lake today.

So then it was off to Morrison's for fish and chips, there wasn't many in today so I was given a large helping which was nice but a bit over facing for me, still the thought was there!.

On the way home I called at the charity shop to see if I could get to any jigsaws in the packed back room, but the lady in charge had sorted me some out and put them in the front of the room, so I got five 1,000 piece ones, think they are tired of sorting the back room and had lowered the price!, so I got these, all for £5!!.

      Good job has I'd just finished this one today.

Typical charity shop, packed out and can't move round.

So it's been a good day even with the jab, arm is getting like a second hand dart board now!.

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An estate agent is trying to sell a very old man a new home.

It would be a marvellous investment say's the agent.

At my age you've got to be joking say's the old man, at my age I don't even buy green bananas!.  

The older you get, the longer it takes to get over a good time!.

There's a fine line between marketing and grand theft.

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Thursday, 24th.4.2024

 Went to the Lower Ressers at Debdale park yesterday to see if any movement on the Heart_Mural, but alas no, weather being the problem no doubt. Then it was on to the lower resser to see how the Great Crested Grebe was doing on her nest.

But when I got there the cupboard was bare so to speak, the nest was empty, and I was a bit sad thinking they had left it because the eggs hadn't hatched!.

Then I saw the pair of them on the other side of the lake.

After I took this picture, I noticed a bit of white on the females back and sat there for a while until the male went off and the female drifted a bit nearer to me.

 and there they were two babies that I could see!.

There might be more on her back, she had 4 babies last year.

Sat there quite a while, but only the two, there again they move about and there could be more and moving round to see out!.

Dad bringing dinner.

Is that for me Dad.

Stop moving about, I'm trying to get 40 winks.

A bit blurred this one, but they are on the other side of the lake.

 Its funny watching the babies, as they crane round mums neck to see there they are going.

 Its funny watching the babies, as they crane round mums neck to see where they are going.

Sorry there are a lot of pictures of them, but they are my favourite birds and how do you delete any of them, they are all beautiful!.

Will check on the progress of the babies over the coming days.

Been to Portland Basin again today, become our favourite place for lunch these days.

Plus my Mate and neighbour, Chris sings there on Thursdays.

Got my Spring covid booster vaccination call this week from the doctors, hard to get a booking though, have to keep ringing round, as the doctors surgery aren't doing them this time, overworked poor things!. 
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Monday, 22nd.

 Monday I set off from home in sunshine to go to Reddish Vale Park, but by the time I got there it was raining again, so being well wrapped up I set off to walk round the two mill ponds.

Birds were glad of the seed as there were no one else about to feed them, spot the Mandarin.

Nice new bench on the lower mill pond.

Spring flowers.

Female swan on her nest.

While the male stood guard.

Though did get out to do a bit of preening, you can see his leg tag as well.

It didn't stop raining, so it was back to the car, opened the hatchback and sat under that.

Got this Coal Tit, only a few feet away.

Also a nice Nuthatch.

  A collared Dove.

A bedraggled Blue Tit. 

Squirrel with a monkey nut.

Then it was off to Morrison's from a hot drink and dry out, sat with 7 ladies as they said it was their table, but I said I was here first and no other tables available, so they would have to suffer me, but I will turn off my hearing aids if it their chat get's too raunchy!. We finished having quite a nice chat in the end, it's true strangers are friends we haven't met yet.

On the way out of the supermarket, whilst at the traffic lights took this picture of the Heart_murals I spoke of in the last post of the old toilets at Reddish near Houldsworth Square.

Back home, goldfinches in the rain.

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They broke the mould when they made Michael Jackson-each time apparently!.

  How did Michael Jackson pick his nose?, from a Catalogue!.

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