Starting to feather

Swan nest

Mute swans nesting on Ormsgill reservoir.

and Buster at the park. Time for stripping I think.

3 chicks

Only 3 chicks, I expected more! However, there is still time for the other eggs to hatch. Note the light eyelids of the chick in front, which indicates that this is a cinnamon.

1st blog in a long time

My two male turks are in excellent condition this year.  The yellow opaline is now an established breeder with a very productive cinnamon split yellow hen and already have chicks.  Hopefully his son, the yellow split opaline, will also be as productive.

Yellow split opaline (son)....

Yellow opaline (dad)......

1st chicks of 2016, hatched yesterday.

Last young of 2014

Just fledged

Some more photos

A few late ones

I haven't posted for a while as the all the parakeets stopped breeding in the summer, which was a bit of a let down. However, pair 3 decided to have the second round very late in the season and now have 3 chicks feathering up nicely....

Sold some of the 1st round chicks, but may be keeping some of the ones below....

Had an unwelcome visit from a sparrowhawk a month ago....

Yellow

I have a yellow. Mother must be split.

Pair 3's single chick

Latest

Pair 2 chicks all fledged. 3 green opaline cocks, 1 cinnamon hen and 1 cinnamon opaline with a good bit of orangey red. The last one was a bit of a behind the others, but hopefully will grow.

Not sure if pair 3's single chick is a yellow or cinnamon. Could be yellow as hen is possibly split. Also its eyes look dark.

Pair 1's chicks are doing well. I quite like this one.Very yellow for a cinnamon.

Bengalese taking advantage

Even though the bengalese finches can now feed themselves, they won't turn down a free meal.

I've now moved them. From now on they'll have to fend for themselves

First parakeet fledglings

Pair 1's 4 chicks have fledged, 3 cinnamon opaline hens and 1 green opaline hen

shows how much the red can vary

Pair 2's chicks are growing up very fast, apart from one (the red back).  I expect them to leave the nest soon and when they do I'll have to throw the little one out to ensure that she gets fed and not killed by an over-keen hen that may be ready to lay again.

The bengalese chicks are finally starting to get a bit stronger