Very Happy New Year for 2011!

Thank you so much for visiting my blog - maybe for the first time or perhaps you're a regular visitor - whichever the case I really hope you have  a very Happy New Year as we start 2011 - hoping that this year will bring you much happiness, health and prosperity and not to forget - fun in the garden enjoying all the simple pleasures in life that often get bypassed and forgotten!

It's been wonderful to see the array of winter bird visitors in our garden here in northern Brittany - and I thought I'd share one or two of the photos I've taken over the Christmas period to share with you here.  The first two photos were a fantastic surprise - I was out walking the dog today at 10am this morning and had luckily decided to take my camera - still feeling rather bleary-eyed after a fun and rather late night with friends :-) - only a few minutes from our house I heard the frantic tapping up in the trees that I've only heard 3 times in 7 years - that of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and then tried in vain to get a photo.  It was easier said than done as this species of Woodpecker is very much smaller than the Great Spotted moving around so quickly and drumming frantically into the dead wood of the trees -these were the best ones (not the best but at least it will give you an idea). Only the male has red on his head  - this was a female - no bigger than the size of Blackbird with a small round head and short, pointed beak - the feathers on the back are distinctly barred in black and white - and being particularly shy they're not often seen, so I considered myself very fortunate.

Just before Christmas having only been saying that I'd not seen the Blackcaps this year I happened to look out of the window of the bedroom and spotted this little chap chomping on the last few Crab Apples - this is Malus "Everest" - a smallish sized tree but one that produces lovely blossom in spring and a good harvest of fruit - I must admit I usually leave these on the for the birds.

Another shot I was pleased to get was that of a Redwing - this is the first time I've seen them in our actual garden - they're normally well disguised amongst the piles of leaves in the woodland foraging for the dregs of the apples but this one was a bit braver!

Two days ago I was up in our office looking out in the garden when I noticed a distinct lack of activity in the garden - not a small bird in sight - I very quickly realised why - talk about unsubtle - this beautiful Sparrow Hawk was perched on the roof of our bird table... another moment of having the camera there just at the right time... what a magnificent bird.

This winter we seem to have quite a number of Robins in our garden - this was a shot taken before Christmas whilst we still had the snow.

This photo was also taken during the snow and features a sparrow that looks as if it's dunked his head into a bit of bleach... I've never seen any others quite like it!

As the year progresses I hope to be able to bring you more photos from our garden of both the plants and wildlife and keep you posted on our latest projects as well as postings from further afield as well.

Take care, enjoy the festivities and see you soon... 

Winter Wonderland arrives in Brittany....

A big thank you  to all of you who've left get well comments on my site over the last few weeks - have much appreciated all your kind words and encouragement - my back is gradually mending which is a relief and have infact been out for my first proper walk today and how beautiful it was!

It appears that the winter weather has hit this area of France rather suddenly and with many people not really ready for it all - many spent over 11 hours stuck on the dual carriageways stuck in snow last night - not something you hear of very often over here.

All this beautiful wintry weather makes you feel like a child again - last night, wondering with anticipation just how much snow might have fallen over night - needless to say, I wasn't disappointed this morning - I was glad I'd topped up the bird tables as at 8.30am when I drew back the curtains the feeders were full with hungry birds and others were already forming a queue...

This poor female Blackbird was hoping that she might find something on a somewhat snowed up bird table!

The male Blackbird had more luck with the remaining Crab Apples!

It's important not to forget our feathered friends during all this cold weather especially - I'm sure our garden birds get rather spoilt but they need everything they can get during the very cold weather - a time when many don't make it with the freezing temperatures and a real shortage of their natural foods - if you've any apples in the fruit bowl that have passed their best - stick them on the top of a bamboo cane and if it's possible push the cane into some soil or into the grass - they love this and it really doesn't cost a lot - fat balls and fat squares or homeade fat mixes are also great as they give the birds some of that much needed energy to keep them going.  Also don't forget to provide them with water especially when  it is freezing.

Nesting boxes are also well used at this time of year for roosting in - providing year round sheltered housing!

Lucy much enjoyed her wintry jaunt this morning - with it being one of the first times out for a proper walk it was a time I so appreciated myself as well.

Here are some of the other shots I took of our house, garden and woodland area - all looking very pretty!

  

All in all a great day - do hope everyone who reads this is keeping warm wherever you are...

The last of the autumn colours...

What a rollercoaster the last 6 weeks have been for me and my apologies that I seemed to have abandoned ship somewhat regarding recent postings on my blog.  In brief I've been suffering with a herniated disc which came to a head about 3 weeks ago and I ended up enduring my first 4 day stay in a French hospital!  They haven't operated and I've been given strict instructions to rest which has been SO boring I can't tell you especially when all I've managed is lying down and pottering about the house ;-(  It's been a slow process and still is - luckily the pain is subsiding but I reckon I've a way to go and in my line of work it's not ideal but am sincerely hoping that I can get out to do much needed work in the next couple of weeks before the real enslaught of winter.

Before I hurt my back I'd taken these shots of the Red Admiral and as I've not had the chance to post these as yet thought I'd start with them...  I haven't seen any butterflies out for a little while now so I think these could be the last sightings before the spring... so enjoy!

As part of my recuperation I've been pottering around with my camera outside a bit - keeps my spirits up - the colours of autumn in our garden in Brittany this year have been quite amazing - one of the perks of my stay in hospital was the stunning views of the vibrant reds, yellows and oranges of the trees in the small park beyond - I was on the 6th floor so the view across Dinan was wonderful and I was also fortunate enough to have the bed by the window so at least I could leave the window open slightly too as it was SO hot in there (being an outdoor girl!).

These were leaves of Viburnum Opulus which caught my eye

and the Euphorbias are always vibrant

Late flowering plants are always a bonus and one of my favorites are the Gladioli

The birds are starting to feature more and more around the feeders now as the colder weather seems to be here and a first in our garden since we've been here were an early morning flock of Redwing turning over the leaves under our Walnut tree - sadly they just weren't here for long enough to get a shot but I'm hoping there might be a return visit... watch this space.

Do bear with me over the coming month or two - I'll do my best to post and visit your blogs but I'm not able to sit for very long as yet - but I will get there... bon weekend - Miranda x