February started out to be another bad month. Keith's son was injured in a serious car accident; Willow and Fish were inundated with almost as many days of rain as Noah himself and Fish suffered some roof damage; while I was blocked in my own home for over three weeks. However within a few days, Keith was assured that his son had not suffered any serious permanent damage. Fish and Willow have both had some sunshine. Fish's roof is repaired and Willow's container raspberries, far from being drowned, are showing new leaves. I still have freezing weather with snow predicted for the weekend, but it did get warm enough for about three days that the ice and snow melted, so I was freed from imprisonment in my own home. Breagha is still content on the banks of the Casamance. So all in all, things are looking up as another month opens
MARCH: The osprey roller coaster ride for 2014 has started. As each day draws us nearer to the arrival of EJ and Odin, so the anticipation gets higher and the roller coaster is on its long, slow ascent to the top and the excitement builds. By the end of March some of our birds probably will have arrived at their home nests in the UK. As one of my children once said "I hope this turns out like we hope it turns out".
A nice start to March, June. It feels like I've been waiting forever for March to arrive! It will be so good to see our birds return.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
June, I can see you've been busy investigating:
You would like Felixstowe as they try to plant flowers everywhere they can! Our Town Hall is actually on the sea front, not in the town centre. It's a nice location.
This is the view from the front of the Town Hall:
Clare said: Our Town Hall is actually on the sea front, not in the town centre. It's a nice location.
And so it is Clare. I was strolling along the sea front, looking for the best snippit, when the Town Hall caught my eye. That that to be it for that time. There are many lovely scenes so maybe another snippit or two later.
JUNE - You Herald the coming of Spring in your intro.
Spring of course brings back the ospreys as well as the blooming of the spring flowers and dancing lambs in the fields.
Spring is the resurection of life in all aspects and a great season.
Well it is spring like today in Scotland - the Snowdrops been in flower some time and the Crocus and Daffodils in bud ready to burst early.
Now all we need is an osprey in our view but feel that could be three weeks ago before one of our well known names is home - I will be gone the opposite way by then.
COUNT THE DAYS
23 DAYS until the expected arrival of EJ on March 24
33 DAYS until the expected arrival of Odin on April 3
To get the estimated arrival dates of 3-24 and 4-3 I took the actual arrival dates of the last two years (2013 and 2012) and selected a date halfway in between.
Morning, Keith You are sounding homesick already and you haven't even left home yet. As I said earlier, I hope you have good internet connections and time (and the desire :) to stay in touch with us.
I know you are looking forward to looking for a certain osprey while there (White 14 ?) and also reuniting with Oscar. Almost put that in the introduction. Anyway have a good trip.
Your northern spring sounds great. Well advanced over ours. There were some green shoots barely showing a few days ago. Haven't had a chance to walk out & check again. Nothing to be seen from the door, though.
KEITH, Has an actual departure date been set yet and when are you making your prediction for EJ's return on Tigers guessing game.?
May I send my warmest wishes to all our friends in Wales on St Davids Day.
HEN WLAD FY NHADAU
I am looking forward to your hospitality next week on my visit to Pembroke.
JUNE - I am in Wales all next week - home for a week then three weeks on Bioko Island. Probably leave Sat 15 March to EG with overnight in Paris as they fly early mornings Paris - Malabo.
No I have not put my bet on yet regarding EJ arrival - Plenty of time for that - I have a formulae to work it out :):).
EJ arrival = 3050 W x (T + Z) divided by (C x K x P1 x Kb) + M
All the symbols have a meaning for example 3050 is the mileage assuming she hangs around Senegal. Kb is the head wind factor so have to consult weather charts.
I think I may be better with Osprey Twitter and direct Tweets from EJ :):).
JUNE - have you turned over your Calendar this morning.
You may notice for March an osprey you may like or may not like and we will leave it at that.
Also the days have British Days of significance highlighted which includes this month St Davids Day - Shrove Tuesday - St Patricks Day - Mothers Day (UK).