HAPPY NEW WEEK!!!
Last week's chat thread is here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/lochgartenospreys/f/915/p/111088/854210.aspx#854210
The code for this week's thread is WC130414.
On Monday night through Tuesday morning (14-15 April), there's a TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE in the Americas and the Pacific. In the U.K., you'll see a PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE. Sky watchers in the U.S. have the chance to see a series of four total eclipses in the next 18 months, beginning with the one early Tuesday.
The moon will shine red during the eclipse. A vocal minority of folks here believe that this rare tetrad of total lunar eclipses -- the four "Blood Moons" -- will be a harbinger of doom and perhaps herald the apocalypse. Personally, I'm really looking forward to watching this first one. It should be beautiful!!!
Also on 14 April, Mars will make it's closest approach to Earth. It will be 10 times brighter than a star and will put on its best show in 6 years!
The Slooh Observatory is hosting a special online broadcast of both events. Check out the Slooh site for times: http://events.slooh.com/ I'm supposed to have thunderstorms, so I'll probably have to watch online. Dang it.
Also, the Lyrid Meteor Shower begins on Wednesday, 16 April, but it won't peak until 22 April.
Info: http://astronomy.com/observing/sky-this-week/2014/04/april-1120-2014
Info: http://www.space.com/25464-lunar-eclipse-tax-day-blood-moon.html
Info: http://www.space.com/25409-four-blood-moons-tetrad-lunar-eclipse.html
I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL week.
Hello all
Just a quick look in to say Thank you to all for your news. I am feeling much better today but as OH says 'fusionless'. I've never heard anyone but him use that expression but it sums things up well.
As RITA said it was very cold here last night but a great day followed.
Hope to be more chatty tomorrow, take care ALL
Good evening, all! I've just been looking at the Wellesley raven cam:
The baby can't yet hold its head up so it turns its body and then drags the head after!! It's eating well, though.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
Diane – I can feel your healing thoughts. I’m much better, thank you. What bad luck, another tree down.
A bit chilly (for us), temp dropped to 9 C last night. I’ve cleaned a few more windows. Some of you may remember we have those windows made up of roughly 8”x10” panes. And a pain they are to clean – too many corners. I am taking a short-cut and not cleaning the top row as I can’t be bothered tottering on a step to reach. Hey, I can’t see that high anyway!
Evening all: Busy day; will catch up in the a.m.
Take care all.
Good morning all another sunny day but still with the cool wind which has blighted us all week. OH went out early to get his haircut and it was only 3 degrees. He is now on his way to London to watch football. Early kick off so he will be back just after 6.00 tonight. He is supposed to be going to see Ken Dodd but will see how he feels when he gets home, as I have said before Ken Dodd's show lasts nearly 6 hours.
AQ pleased you are feeling a little better and managed to keep LM entertained while your daughter rested. Poor girl seems to be suffering.
Annette pleased you got phone problem sorted out, always easier when you talk to someone who knows what they are doing.
patriciat that sounds a bit dangerous driving on a ploughed field. Hope you got to see the stage of the Rally and a nice change for you to have some good weather. I think I have said before I was stationed in Lisburn when I was in the Army and it seemed to rain such a lot But everywhere was so green and lush.
Brenda I have been spending some time in the sun, with sunhat and plenty of sun block. Couldn't sit in the shade because the wind has been chilly all week.Hope you manage to get out today away from the decorating. You are lucky to have a couple of blackbird nests, we have a pair we see every day but not sure where the nest is. I thought blackbirds were very territorial so it I assume they are living in harmony with each other.
diane what a nuisance about your car. An essential part of your life as you live a fair way from a shopping centre. Pleased you are all stocked up again but I hope your weather will improve now. A relief for you that neighbours have taken responsibility for the fallen tree and it's removal..
Lindybird sorry your good deed backfired on you, I think a lot of us have been caught out with a foreign coin being slipped to us. So glad that the bird who flew into your window got away with it it. I hate it when you hear that thud. Hope you get time to decorate that gorgeous glass tree that you showed us and do have a lovely day today.
dibnlib thanks for the swan pics, they are so graceful.
OG hope you are not too ouch this morning and can visit the farmers market and pick,up some goodies.
Heather hope you are continuing to feel better. Know just what your OH means about being "fusionless". Take it easy and hopefully you will be back to full health soon,
Clare I love watching the raven family and that was such a lovely capture.
Happy Easter all and take care.
I hardly ever come to this thread so it must have been fate then drew me here a while ago. Thank you so much for mentioning the raven....it made me go and find them. Gorgeous I love corvids.
Do both parents feed the chick? The chick was alone when an adult flew in. As it approache the chick raised its head and seemed to be fed with something. Then the 2nd adult arrived, took something from the first ones beak and fed the baby!
http://www.shades-of-night.com/aviary/ravendoc.html#eating
patily above will give you an idea of what is being fed to the chick. This is a great nest to watch, such handsome birds.
Got what we needed at Farmers' Market - and good to see a few more people there this month. Window man cancelled and will come Monday instead, so the afternoon was spent tidying under and around the bird feeder in the back garden, including planting a Sambuca Niger "Black Lace" which had become too big for even our largest pot. Got a few other garden jobs done too, and have just done the under-glass watering after another day of full sunshine. Spring bulbs are still looking good - never known them last so long; I thought opening so wide in the sun would finish the Tulips but they are still hanging on. Later spring flowers are gradually coming into bloom now too, so the garden is looking rather good.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!