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NOVEMBER – Winter is setting in. With return to Standard Time the dark evenings are even longer. It will soon be dark by 6:00 p.m. here in southern Ohio. Many of our November days are just all-over grey, from grey skies to gray hills with leafless grey trees and grey atmosphere – just cold, damp and gloomy. Still too early to expect much, if any, snow. But on an occasional sunny day we might enjoy a heavy frost on lingering green leaves. And inside all is warm, colorful and cheery. All month (in my family, anyway) we are planning the Thanksgiving feast. Thanksgiving Day, a day set aside for giving thanks to God for all the blessings in our lives, is a national holiday and a major one for most of us.
Here at the Gabfest, we have the gloom of empty nests. But we also have the cheer of knowing that Millicent is settled in her warm winter home, while Breagha is enjoying his second winter not too far away. Our chat-room fires are kept burning brightly and our new TV/telly screen is always at the ready., so hopefully we can all keep our computers in working order and enjoy a little chit-chat, some music and maybe a bit of streetwalking. Special Events include the possibility of another Music Night with suggested Movie theme and a group streetwalk to some as yet mystery location.
So where is our Gabfest chat-room.? Have you ever wondered? Well of course, it is at some undisclosed cyberspace location in the beautiful Scottish Highlands, not too far from the Loch Garten nest, home of EJ and Odin.
Osprey Season has started in Florida. Over the next few weeks the ospreys around Florida will be settling on their nests and pairing again.
Today Pinella has been sitting on her nest at Dunedin and seems to be looking out for Stirling. She has been around a few days now.
Pictures from Dunedin Osprey Cam (c) - 8.11.2014
Another set of Autumn Transition from email: We've seen this scene before, haven't we.?
Keith, I remember when I was getting Dunedin cam, but you could not. Now it seems that the situation is reversed. I get the site of "Dunedin Osprey Cam", but all I see is a tiny X in a tiny box., with nothing to click to improve matters.
I am definitely interested in this nest and its occupants so any time you can update us, I will be deeply grateful.
Hi JUNE - Just got home from Cork today. Went to the quay in Cobh for dinner one evening where SS Titanic last berthed before setting off on that fatal journey carying hundreds of rich (1st Class) and also Irish migrants (Third Class) looking for a fututre on your side of The Atlantic.
I do not follow the nests from your side of the Atlantic but Florida nests are an exception as it is my second home.
I love visiting Sanibel and seeing all the ospreys and having visited Dunedin twice have always taken a keen interest in this nest - and the town a suberb of Clearwater is twinned with Stirling which is only 4 miles from my home in Dunblane. If you go to Dunedin and say you are from Stirling you then are a VIP. When I showed my wife pictures of Pinella at Dunedin tonight she said shall we go and see her after Christmas.
Glenfinnan looks stunning in its summer and fall coatings - it is amazing the transition from Summer to Autumn as also shown in the Welsh T Rooms. This is the picture I wanted last summer and next year will climb up there and capture the same when the Fort William to Mallaig steam loco passes over. I did find the route up the hills to get this capture as many were making the trek with tripods and camera when I last visited - This is the capture they all want.
Keith your photos of the Glenfinnan bridge looked fine to me. I see no need for improvement. Seems maybe it is a particular train you want.
The mouse pad on my computer bothers me tremendously when I type. So as I always use a regular mouse, I cover the pad with cardboard to deactivate it. At present I am using a postcard with scenes of Glenfinnan, including the bridge, to do the job.
Looking back at the pictures I see they call it a viaduct - not a bridge.
I do think Pinella at Dunedin maybe one of the "Sedentary" - Florida Ospreys and may be just hanging around her nest at present to make sure no one else occupies it. She likes to keep an eye on them golfers. Over half of the ospreys on Sanibel are Sedentary. If Stirling returns it could be any time from December through March before they actually mate and lay eggs. And remember FL can get cold snaps from December/January. I will keep an eye on this one and report any happenings.
Junne - Glenfinnan is a Viaduct.
A Viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans for crossing a valley or a gorge which this does.
Your postcard you are using as a mousepad should also show fantastic views of Loch Shiel and the Bonnie Prince Charlie monument and Glennfinan Church.
That it does, Keith. However did you guess?
Evening Everyone! Hope everyone is happy and healthy.
June, Apologies that I have not been keeping up with this thread--been busy with other things so have had little time to catch up here. I will check with my US birding expert and get back to you on that last bird ID--I think Bente may well be right but I really have no idea! Love your Mandevilla plant photos. Not familiar with that one, but will keep a look out for some next summer. And I seem to have received from a friend the same e-mail with colourful birds photos as you received--gorgeous, arent' they?
Willow, I love Chocolate Cosmos, too. They look beautiful and smell wonderful, like real chocolate.
Keith, Thanks for the Florida Osprey pics and information and your charts. I did not know that any American Ospreys stayed around all year (or is that not what is meant by sedentary with respect to Ospreys?)
Kind regards, Ann