Look at what I got today!

[laurab]

A lovely pair of Cape Sparrows :razz:

[PAUL HEARN]

Very nice Laura,

Only the one pair?:lol:

Paul.:wink:

[laurab]

Hi Paul


I was hoping you were going to buy a pair....or two :razz: :wink:

[Gary]

very nice laura, are they a african sp

[laurab]

Hi Gary, yes they are.


Apparently, they are one of the earliest recorded species of Sparrow!!

I must thank Paul for letting me know they were available;-) , although my husband might not be so pleased now his wallet is bare :razz: :razz:

[kenny]

hi laura what a smashing pair of birds they are they look fit aswell


ken

[laurab]

Hi Kenny, they are lovely;-) ....I can't believe I have them.....pinch me someone...:grin:

[Waxbillman]

hello Laura

what glovely birds they are, they look grand, where did you get them from and how much dare i ask?
:)

matthew

[laurab]

Hi Matthew, I got them from Dorset Birds for £70. There are a couple more pairs, in case you are interested;-)

According to Alan (Dorset Birds), they are pretty hard to get hold of.

[Waxbillman]

hello laura

bit far away from me is Dorset birds

matthew

[laurab]

Just as well, it has saved you a few quid :razz: :razz: They also have some lovely Bee-Eaters in....too rich for me though!

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Laura,

I'm sorry to let you down by not buying any Cape Sparrows mate, but you know what I'm buying in the next week, Scaly Crowned Weavers!!:D!!:D!!
The only problem at the moment is dosh, I would dearly love a minnimum of two pairs, all I can do is buy a pair this week and hope there are some left a week or so later.
What do you reckon my chances are that I will end up with two pairs?

Anyway it will be a pleasure to own these Birds again after an absense of 8 or 9 years.:D

Paul.:D

[laurab]

I want some!!!

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Laura,

So what gives mate, Hecks, Bengalese or all of them?

Paul.:grin:

[kenny]

hi paul,

from what i can remember scaly crowned weavers are very similar in colour and markings to cape sparrows are they not?

ken

[jimmy]

Here they are Ken :) :)

http://www.feathered-friends.co.uk/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=66&stc=1

[chris]

hmmmmmm,

they look familiar:? can't think where i've seen them

Chris

[kenny]

they look like a couple of old mexican gentlemen

ken

[kenny]

hi all ,

i went to a bird sale/auction tonight about 20 miles outside from where i live and came back with(pictures to follow tommorrow as i came home late) a pair of cpq 1 fawn and 1 silver dont even know which is which as the sale was a bit of a rush but i got them for £5 the pair and a pair of dark eyed white java youngsters i dont think they are a pair as they are to young at the moment but i can wait as i have other whites that i can pair them with next year i dont normally go to auctions or sales near where i livr but no one knew me there so it was ok,since i had my birds nicked i am paranoid i am afraid but the javas only cost £12 the pair and they have got potential so i am quite pleased when i heard there were javas for sale i took £50 and expected to spend the thick end of it but i didnt expect to get them that cheap and i got the c p q as they were all on there own and i was only saying i havent had any for years

ken

[PAUL HEARN]

Hello everyone,

I did get two pairs of Scaly Crowned Weavers but I still owe Allan for a pair payable this weekend:roll:, don't tell anyone though:lol:.

The Birds have settled into a 6ft long X 6ft high X 3ft wide Aviary all to themselves with Conifer, nest boxes and baskets available which they have taken to, but I'm looking at any breeding (if any?:roll: ) taking place next year.

Paul.:wink:

[kenny]

great stuff there paul youve given them enough space to get nicely fit for next year and hope you have some luck with them mate

ken

[Waxbillman]

good luck Paul,

its always exciting getting new birds, like you say, if anything is going to happen it will be next year, but you never know do you know some who got 2 pair of red avadavats from dorset birds in october of last year and within 2 months both pairs had chicks!
by the way do you know Dorset birds web site? as i can't remeber what it is, nor can i find it anywhere.

matthew

[laurab]

Have I gone mad?.......maybe!

Look what I got today!

Obviously they are not in tip top condition, but I hope with a bit of TLC they will soon start to look better;-)

The first thing they did when I got them home was to have a bath followed by loads of mealworms.

[Waxbillman]

wow, i've never seem then before Laura, they are the very rare vultar headed starling!! :lol: , only kidding.


what are they supposed to be, i have my suspitions. where did you get them for and for how much?

matthew

[laurab]

Hi Matthew

LOL, I paid £30 for the pair and they are Amethyst Starlings....although your description was pretty good! :razz: :razz:

[Waxbillman]

lol, i hope the feathers grow back soon, are they an Asiatic bird? if so, i spose you are lucky to get them, i knowing your good luck they'll breed like billio.
did you get them from doset birds by any chance?

matthew

[laurab]

Hi Matthew, phew that feels better, I have just been for a swim!


The Amethyst is another African bird, most of my collection seem to be African these days :roll: There was a time when all I had were Australian species.

I got the birds from an acquaintance in New Milton. I spoke to him yesterday and he told me about the Amethysts and their condition, although they are not as bad as first thought, still £30 is good when they normally retail for approx. £70!

I enjoy a challenge and I think this is going to be one.

I will take photos' again next week (all being well), and post them here. Hopefully you will see a transformation. :razz:

[Waxbillman]

oh rite, you saved yourself some money then., though i don't know whether i would buy raggy birds unless they were rare, but every birds deserves a chance in life i suppose.

well you people in dorset may have to sea to cool down, but up here in Yorkshire all we need to do is stand outside, as its cold, and absolutely ..ssing it down!

matthew

[laurab]

It's raining here too Matthew, but the baths are just down the road from where I live.

I have wanted a pair of starlings for ages but have not been able to afford them, I am hoping that lots of TLC will make them apreciate me more :razz:

[Waxbillman]

i wish you look Laura, i hope they are young enough to breed and not old duffers.

matthew

[chris]

Hi laura,

so what do you plan to add to your aviary next week?:lol:

seriously tho, they'll be nice birds after the moult and i wish you the best of luck with breeding them in the future

Chris:grin:

[laurab]

Well, I was also offered a Prairie Dog......LOL

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Laura,

I see I failed in trying to talk you out of buying Amethysts then:roll: :grin:.

I assumed you bought them from Jamie, but then I saw the price you paid and the mention of a Prairie Dog, did you buy the Starlings from Tony?

Anyway I'm sure you will manage to get them in great condition for next year, by the way they love Crickets and Waxworms.

Paul.:wink:

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Matthew,

Dorset Birds don't have a Website, but Laura has a listing of the Birds available on the Homepage and they advertise in Cage and Aviary.

You mentioned the fact that we have the sea down here, well it's great for some but whenever I lay the beach it attracts a crowd of Muppets with buckets of water, which they throw over me, roll me down to the sea and tell me to join the rest of my Pod:-|.

Paul.

[laurab]

Hi Paul

Tony? Oh! what was Sway?

You were right first time......Jamie!

I know you tried to persuade me away from Starlings, but it is something I have to do.... I am already writing about my experience! LOL :razz: And it is only day one!!

[Waxbillman]

:lol: :lol: nice one Paul!!

thats strange about Dorset birds as last year i visited some site or other, and some link or other they was dorset birds, thats where i bought 7 pairs of red avadavats for the WFS members, he brought them up to stafford for me last october:?
strange.

matthew

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Laura,

Now you have really surprised me mate, Jamie offering a cheap deal!:shock:

So he knows of someone selling Parairie Dogs now does he? I'll have to ask him just how many and how much.:grin:

Good luck with the Starlings mate it was a great deal and from Jamie.:shock:

Paul.:wink:

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Matthew,

If it was last year the advert for Dorset Birds could have been on the old Birds Buddy Website, but currently it is on the Feathered Friends Homepage.:grin:

Paul.:wink:

[Waxbillman]

i have finally managed to find the advert, though it wasn't exactly easy to find.

matthew

[dave85]

hey paul,

Where is the Dorset birds price list page? could you link me to it?

Thanks
Dave H

[laurab]

Here you go Dave...http://www.feathered-friends.co.uk/news/news/139/ARTICLE/1056/2005-05-16.html

[PAUL HEARN]

Nice one Laura,

It looks like the list needs some updating as the stock available now is quite different at the moment.:grin:

Paul.:wink:

[kenny]

hi all

well i am well pleased as the javas i bought at the sale last week have turned out to be a true pair i wasn`t sure when i brought them back as you know they are a bit hard to sex even if you hold them upside down to look at their beaks and i thought at £12 you cant grumble as they were fit as lops and this morning i heard an unfamiliar cock song you know the way it is when your stood in your birdplace and you here something different well it took some catching but it was rung as a cock bird today ,and the quail turned out to be silver cock bird and fawn hen i have been going round all my dhalias today getting earwigs for them just to start to feed them up

ken

[PAUL HEARN]

Well done Kenny,

I'm pleased you have true pairs mate.

Paul.:wink:

[kenny]

hi paul
thanks its nice to have a pair of decent birds cheap but a true pair was even better
ken

[PAUL HEARN]

:grin: I agree Kenny,

Please keep us posted with any progress mate.

Paul.:grin:

[kenny]

hi paul

will do i think there is plenty of time left for me to get them fit enough,they were a bit rough round the edges but i have been feeding them up and its surprising what a bath will do

ken

[laurab]

Here are some shots of the Amethyst Starlings, they are looking better don't you think?

[kenny]

hi laura

they are looking a heck of a lot better than the last photo good on you thay are really starting to take shape now,by the way here are my 2 white javas that i got for £12 and i think they are showing promise and they are a true pair so thats another bonus.

ken
http://www.feathered-friends.co.uk/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=118&stc=1

[laurab]

Hi Ken, they are great too. :razz:


I had Javas for a while, but they were disruptive to the Weavers and they ate a lot!:-)

[kenny]

hi laura

they do eat a lot i admit but they are the only ones apart from my bengies zebs and quail that i can manage a long time ago i did have weavers and all sorts of other stuff but my mobility only lets me do so much and i have always held the beleif that if i cant give them all of my attention i would not kep them so i just keep the virtually easy to breed stuff only some times they like to prove me wrong:grin: :grin:

ken

[laurab]

Hiya

remember those awful looking Amethyst Starlings I bought last year? Well I have finally released them into an aviary. Here is a picture of the hen, what a difference! I can't photo the cock bird yeat as he won't stand still. :-x

[jimmy]

Wow, A credit to your care of these birds Laura :wink:

[laurab]

Thank you Jimmy.

[kenny]

hi laura
she is a real beauty!well done mate

ken8-)

[Waxbillman]

stunning bird Laura, well done

Matthew

[PAUL HEARN]

Nice one Laura,

That is a vast improvement on how she looked when you bought her.:D

Paul.;)

[cooltom28]

Hi Laura,

Now you have really surprised me mate, Jamie offering a cheap deal!

So he knows of someone selling Parairie Dogs now does he? I'll have to ask him just how many and how much.:grin:

Good luck with the Starlings mate it was a great deal and from Jamie.:shock:

Paul.:wink:


yer jamie offering a cheap deal id have probably fallen over if i were there myself!!!!! he said we dont deals know we own a shop! i said its ok i wont buy anyhting then lol he can spot a gouldian in a cage of canaries though and only want to pay £7 for it! :-o

[PAUL HEARN]

Hello Tom,

Jamie does know a good deal when he see's one, and you can either label him tight or shrewd,:roll: but at the end of the day the right approach with Jamie is the key mate.;)

Jamie may be registered blind, arrogant and rude at times, but that doesn't mean he isn't willing to cut a good deal with the right people at times.:D

Jamies World can be a fair one if you are willing to play by the rules, a favour deserves a favour, but if you only wish to gain from Jamie then you will always lose.

Paul.;-)

[josoll]

Hi,I keep seing Jamie's name mentioned,for those of us who dont know ho's jamie:-?

[kenny]

hi jo
search me! i know as much as you do!

ken:shock:

[Waxbillman]

well i got a very good deal indeed today, a white-headed nun for £5

not bad at all, obviously this bird will be passed on to a friend of minewho has a colony of them

Matthew

[kenny]

hi matt
thats not the famous white headed nun of pauls is it?
ken:lol:

[laurab]

Famous story? How come I missed that one?

[Waxbillman]

:lol: nar mate, this one can fly pretty with - in the upwards direction

Matthew

[kenny]

matt
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

ken

[laurab]

Forget it, I don't want to know :-|

[kenny]

i forgot its the 1st of April today. how could you do that to me :cry: build my hopes up then rip them down, are well at least i didn't spend £150 on 2 birds with wonky wings, if you want some real red-crested finches theres are breeder on the continent that has them, and these can fly.still you must have a pretty good collection of birds that can only fly in the downwards direction (white headed nun, ring any bells?) :lol: :lol:

green avadavats at £42 each 2005 bred, lol, what was i thinking in believing that, did the man also keep flying pigs?

:-|[/quote]sorry laura this is all i know