Spring is on its way.....

Mum and Dad on a family outing.

To quote a well known song '....the weather outside is frightful...' Well, it is wet, cold and pretty miserable but unlike much of the UK. at least we don't have snow... yet. For me, the first signs that Spring is on the way are when the snowdrops start peeking through the soil in the gardens, hedgerows and woodlands, and when you suddenly realise that it is still light at 3.30 and, - on a good day- at 5 o'clock. While washing up this morning, I was watching the usual array of visitors on the bird feeders. There seem to be more than ever... siskins, redpolls, chaffinches, goldfinches, blue tits, coal tits etc to name but a few. Yesterday morning, I arrived at the window just in time to see my favourite long tail tits; they never stay long and it is always a treat to watch their acrobatics as they flit from feeder to feeder before disappearing at a rate of knots to their next anticipated feeding stations. We have always had resident blue tits in our nest box in the spring; but last year, I took down the old nest box to clean it out and decided to replace it with a new one before Spring took hold. Big mistake, the blue tits voted with their feet...(or wings to be precise) and turned their backs on their posh new residence. I had just started to think that maybe I should put the old box back up this year when I noticed the blue tits shooting in and out of the new box, so looks like I have been forgiven and they are 'tarting up' their home ready for Spring this year.

Residence open for inspection!

Whenever I start thinking it is time to put together a new blog, I am always worried that I won't have anything to say or that people won't be interested anyway, so it is always good to get feedback and to know that people enjoy reading what I write. Today was no exception, and when I started,I really didn't think I had much to say but it is amazing how you suddenly realise how many interesting things are going on around you if you just take the time to look.
I actually took the time yesterday afternoon, to sit and watch the pelvicachromis taeniatus and their fry in the aquarium. Cichlids are renowned for being wonderful parents. This is their third attempt at raising a family. Their first eggs never hatched, their second batch gave rise to 9 fry of which only one survived...at least until 2 days ago when dad chased it off when it came too close to the new family. I am sure it is ok and has just gone to ground somewhere amongst the plants and bogwood. There are more than 30 in this latest brood...too many and too fast to count properly. the parents are more confident this time and are escorting them around the tank more openly that previously- much to the discomfort of the other more curious residents who are seen off in no uncertain terms. These fish are not mouth brooders who will keep young fry in their mouths until the egg sacs have been absorbed, but I watched the female 'PT' gather up a couple of fry, who strayed from the 'pack', in her mouth, and return them by spitting them out into the main group.
I remember being told that, if my PT's bred, they would pin everything else in the tank in one corner and would be very aggressive, I can only assume that I have been very lucky in my choice of tank mates as life is generally very peaceful in the aquarium even with the fry around.

Pencil fish, Bolivian Ram and Oddessa Barb (L-R) -Tank Mates.

Bolivian Ram looking for female companion!

 -This poor boy lost his mate, one of the very few losses since setting up this aquarium. I have been looking out for a female for him but males are much commoner in the aquatic shops. Then again, maybe one pair of breeding cichlids in a tank is enough!
I also have another tank in which I have half a dozen Endlers Guppies. These are smaller and hardier than the larger more commonly seen Guppies that are found in pet shop tanks. When I fed them last night, I noticed that there are also fry in their tank. The guppies are live bearers not egg layers and unlike cichlids have no interest whatsoever in their offspring. These fry are quite well developed considering I didn't know they were there and haven't been feeding them any special fry food until today! I had put a third unused tank up for sale on ebay but have had to withdraw it from sale as I think I am going to need to use it. The only problem is, I don't know where I am going to put it; the tank was an unexpected present and I really never intended having a third set up on the go..it is very hard work.

My lovely girls

Where does the time go. Holly was 14 weeks old last Wednesday and Pepper will be 12 months old next Wednesday. They get on so well and I am just starting to get my wonderful relationship back with Pepper who has been totally besotted with Holly. I am now firmly of the belief that you are better off having two pups together rather than 8 months apart. I love both my girls but it has been and I am sure will continue to be very difficult training two youngsters who are so close in age but are at such different levels of training. It is easy to forget that Pepper is still a pup, and I had a sharp reminder this week when she ate Frank's watch. I found the face on the floor with the straps missing. Yesterday she vomitted up one strap...the other??? I guess time will tell.Getting my head round training the two of them is a major challenge for me and I am loving every minute of it. The support and help I have been getting from the trainers at Burnbank Dog Training Club while struggling through the last difficult couple of months with Pepper has been fantastic and I came home from training last night really feeling that we have turned a corner. No doubt things will change again by next week...I remember an old and very wise trainer, who is sadly nolonger with us, telling me once that dogs are great levellers. Never was a truer word spoken, it doesn't matter how old you are or how much experience you have, they will always find something new to challenge you with...but then that's part of the joy of dog owning and training.

Such a laid back wee Holly.