Chat Extravaganza Sunday Feb 21st

Good afternoon Alan and thanks for the 2 links and the news that Phoebe has laid an egg.  You would think she would take a break for a while but she if obviously a lady in a hurry to produce more chicks.  really hope she is successful this time after the demise of both Storm and Sassy.

Don't know what sort of weather you have but once again it is throwing it down in Poole.  Feel so sorry for the birds keep trudging out and loading up their feeding trays for them.  Sparrows don't seem to mind the rain but the starlings only come when needs must.  The pair of pied wagtails come all day long whatever the weather.

We have just crossed in the post Alan so to speak.

Afternoon all - cold and gloomy here, but thankfully nothing of the awful snow conditions in Scotland. I looked at the Abernethy birdcam just now - looks bad.

I had a lovely day today - my friend & I went to the Pins & Needles craft show at the Newcastle Arena (I'm a cardmaker and scrapbooker) and then called for lunch on the way home (and yes ... that's twice in one week if you are counting!!)   

Last night I watched a DVD of Pale Male (2004edition) ... wonderful viewing. There was talk on here last week of the film and I took a chance and ordered it from Amazon as it said 'all regions'. It plays perfectly on my DVD player. If anyone is interested, I ordered it on Amazon from Uniqueplace-UK and it was shipped from Switzerland ... cost £11.47 including postage.

Thanks for all the chat/ info/ links (Phoebe is an amazing little bird!)

Take care all

Morning all: Brilliant sunshine here today and temps in the low 60sF.   Nice to see everyone - can't believe March will be here next week - do hope the weather gets more springlike for all you UK folks. Sounds dreary as all get out.  So Phoebe is at it again? A glutton for punishment if you ask me.  Off for breakfast and drive about with daughter and dog. Have a nice day all.

Hi Margobird, ditto with the rain. There can't be any more left up in the sky.

Thanks Alan, re ospreys and hummingbirds. I can't believe Phoebe has laid yet another egg so quickly. I have just read that hummingbirds live for an average 4 years. ( the oldest recorded is 20yrs.) I can get tired just watching them. Just don't know how they keep going as they fly at 25mph.

Annette, I would dearly love your sunny start to the day.  It seems to be something in my distant memory.

Evening all!  We've had a sleety, damp miserable day here (and some areas have had significant snowfall).  But Northern Scotland really sounds bad - OH (a Scot) has discovered he can watch Scottish news and weather and we're glad we're not in Nethy Bridge now.  Might be stuck there!

Further news on my mystery birds - I'm almost sure they are linnets and at least one is a male.  There were 4 of them at one stage and there was a very sweet display of beak touching - looked like kissing but I'm sure one of the experts can put me right on that.

Two lots of dog-walking, not as bad as the weather would have suggested.  I have two lots on days when none are training - 4 would be a pack and I don't know how good my control would be!

Well, off now to eat before heading for church choir practice.  'See' you all tomorrow.

Falcon at Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning:

Hi everyone.

Stopped snowing about 9 or 10 o'clock last night and has now been demoted to light rain (too heavy to be called drizzle).  The snow had been lying since before 7:30 yesterday morning but has now been mostly washed away, with just a few patches left along with a lot of slush.  I'd estimate there was about 2 to 4 inches of the stuff lying at its heaviest.  Mind you I'm wasn't going to subject any measuring tapes, to the elements during weather like that. ;-)  Temperature wise it's not that cold but the wind chill factor certainly increases the need to wrap up well.  Wouldn't have blamed the birds if they'd knocked the door and said: "Can we come in please mister."  Although after coming home from a brief outing yestarday afternoon, I noticed a couple of starlings splashing about in the bird bath.  I'm certain the phrase: "Come in! The water's lovely." was used.  New bird table trays arrived this morning.  Which was a very welcome occurrance, as the old ones had seen much better days.

Tiger:  That peregrine clip is absolutely magical.  Thanks so much for posting.

Margobird:  Yes I've heard of something called "the sun".  I may have even seen it one or twice in recent times but can't definately confirm because I'm not sure if there's a dreich, cold weather equivelant of a mirage.  These days I seem to be going outside with more layers than a fragile gift.  Hope the rough weather forecast from the Atlantic gets cold feet.

patriciat: I think you're probably right about female reed buntings being braver with regards to looking for food during rough weather.  I was really surprised when I was informed that it was a female reed bunting that had turned up in my garden a couple of weeks ago.  Thanks for the linnets update.

Emma Peel:  Sorry to hear your daughter missed her piano event, through being unwell.  Hope she gets well soon.

george g: Sorry to hear about your brother in law.  Hope the hospital can do something.  Wish I'd seen How Earth Made Us.  Sound like a real eye opener.  Even the thought of a company not plugging an oil drill hole is very frightening.

Alan:  So glad to hear Hamish the Thunderdog got the all clear.  The osprey video is brilliant.  The majesty of such fantastic raptors, and of course, the cheeky sparrows.  Great viewing.  Great osprey chick feeding link, and brilliant news about Pheobe the hummer.  Thanks for the red kite blog notification.  Brilliant falcon picture.

OG:  There's been a fair bit of rain today, so most of the snow has vanished.  Still a few bits lying about and the ground is a bit slushy in places.  70 starlings!  I counted about 30 yesterday morning but 70 must've been an amazing site.  I hope they stood in line in an orderly fashion.  ;-)  Glad your BP check turned out okay.

Annette:  Quite a few of the pictures seem to have dissapeared.  Noticed that earlier and just now.  Seems the gremlins pick and choose when they want to annoy us all.  It's amazing how we're so close to March already.

AQ:  Hope you enjoy the cooler weather.  High temps in the low 30s are somewhere between a heatwave and a blast furnace, where I live.  ;-)

auntie:  Hope you're enjoying having some free time.  Hope your weather gets warmer.

Brenda H:  I noticed that the perdicted snow in the Glasgow area (I always presume they mean the city and surrounding districts e.g. parts of Lanarkshire, Renfrewsire etc.) didn't materialise today.  I was replaced by light rain.

DjoanS:  Didn't get a chance to look at the Abernethy cam today but I can imagine conitions were pretty rough looking up there.  Thanks for the Pale Male DVD notice.

All the best to everyone.



Paul.

Hi.

I forgot to mention to metion Tiger's osprey attacking eagle pictures.  Amazing!

Paul.