Try this link:

www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/acatalog/Nest_Bo...der_Camera_Kits.html

Although they are out of stock at present, it will give you an idea of prices etc. and they are only 5 miles away if you want to see before you buy.

Hi barbersdrove. what a brilliant idea for a birthday pressie .As advised in previous reply it is best to look before you buy as there are several types and prices vary considerably. It is worth looking through magazines such as Country file ,Rspb Birds or Bird Watching . Vine house farm is fine as they are local and the owner Nicholas Watts is extremely knowledgeable on bird watching. The Wild life group has on many occasions dealt with a company called Natural Surroundings of Holt in Norfolk who supply all manner of wild life sundries, it would be a good place to visit as they have usually got one or two up and running wich you could see and get advice at the same time. They also produce a good catalogue of thier products. It is best to ring for opening times and request a catalgue at the same time. the centre is set in a lovelly wooded valley but if you do visit try to pick a nice day as it can be a little wet.

Thier phone no is 01263 711091,e-mail paullaurie100@aol.com

best of luck philip j.

On the way back from our walk around Deeping Lakes yesterday we saw a Yellowhammer. Haven't seen one for a very long time.

Along the Welland Bank (Road on the way back to Crowland) there is a maize sweetcorn patch. It appeared to be full of birds one of which was the Yellowhammer.

Wonderful to see it...

Can someone suggest what may have given us a little mystery.
Now that the snow has melted from the lawn I have noticed a track that meanders in the grass. It is about twentyfive feet long running from one border to another. It is a little over an inch wide, in some places as much as two inches. The grass has been either eaten or pulled out for the whole length of the track. I suspect a rodent is responsible but am not sure, any ideas.

Do you think it could be a mole?

Possible but we have never had any mole hills in the garden and there aren't any now. So I think that is unlikely.

cotton bud wrote:
On the way back from our walk around Deeping Lakes yesterday we saw a Yellowhammer. Haven't seen one for a very long time.

That part of Deeping does seem to be a hotspot for Yellow Hammers. Many a time I have seen Yellow Hammers around the crossing gates. Quite what the attraction is I don't know but there is a pig farm there as well and from my experience of living on a pig farm in the past they tend to be a magnet for all kinds of birds.


On a different subject we do have a lot of Field Fares in the fields at the back of Harvester Way.

I had a red wing in my garden this morning- a first I've seen in 24 years! My cat found a zebra finch and brought it home but despite my amateur attempts at care, it died. I guess it had been out in the cold for too long without sufficient food. Cat was disappointed to lose her plaything but she had not injured it (she is a rubbish hunter preferring her sheepskin next to the bedroom radiator to the great outdoors in winter).

thanks everyone for your helpful suggestions, I'm putting plan bird cam into effect starting this week

Seen today was a Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding from the fat feeder from one of our trees. This is the second time in two days he's been around.

We saw a pair last year but only briefly. It's good to see one is still around.