With this lovely video, I will say farewell to 2014 and welcome to 2015. Also best wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous year for all our Forum and Gabfest friends as well as all our feathered friends, especially EJ and Odin and their 2015 family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtajxo8d7js
Of course there is no streetwalking in Sierra Leone, but here are some photos from near Mayinda:
And more from the same area.
June, Thanks for the maps and the photos. Fingers crossed that Millie and Breagha stay safe.
Willow, We did not have Starlings in the garden for over 20 years until a couple years ago when 4 appeared. Since then they exploded to about 4 dozen at the highest point (partly thanks to our suet pellets!), though they almost never all show up at once and some have probably been taken by Sparrow Hawks or other predators. The local mini-murmuration is about 4 dozen--we have seen them a few times circling over the trees along the local river and gravel pits--the closest we have to reed beds near us. Our Goldcrest is a first for us but it appears regularly now, even though it rarely stays very long on any visit. Black Caps are very rare in our garden, but the few times we had them they loved the apples I had hung on large S hooks from a branch or feeder pole. Have you tried apples?
Kind regards, Ann
The question with Millicent now is: What next?? Will she return north to Richard Toll? Will she go further south? OR will she settle in this area???
The next report will be interesting regardless of which direction Millicent chooses. I anxiously await it and just pray for her continued safety wherever she might be. As well as that of Breagha.
HELLO, ANN
Hello to all. Thankyou June for the photos of Sierra Leone near to where Millie is. I always like to see where they are. I get a little worried when they make sudden large movements and wonder why!
I just wish them well and really hope to see Breagh back sometime soon! It will be interesting to see what she will do next!
Hope CC has escaped the terrible snow storms :(
Hello Ann, we occasionally have blackcaps in the garden in winter and they feed on the seed and have seen them in our beech hedge eating deadly night shade berries! They seem to love them. I leave them in the hedge during winter they look beautiful too. In the summer we have them singing in our hawthorn hedge and they have a beautiful song.
I haven't watched storm reports extensively but haven't heard of major power outages.
CC we all hope you are warm and cozy with your electricity and computer all in good working order. Xurly you got some snow. How Much? Some places I saw had as much as 20" (inches).
HI WILLOW
The latest from Fox news
June I have been listening to the radio and there was a bit of over reaction to the snow in New York and all cars banned and subway closed! The expected snow was not as bad as forecast! Mecifully for the people of New York!
Willow, News media frequently overreact to weather for several reasons:
1.They figure it is better to be accused of overacting than to be accused of being negligent in giving the public fair warning.
2. The more sensational the weather report the better for news agencies.
3. Sometimes the official weather report wasn't entirely accurate to start with or the weather changes midstream so to speak.
Thank goodness it was not as bad as predicted, but 20 to 24 inches is still a lot of snow and can cause bad roads, traffic delays, down power lines, etc.