Hallo all:
Soosin posted the following about her Saturday and various bird sightings, etc., at the very end of the last Daily Update, so I'm copying it here otherwise no-one will see them (she saw mating kingfishers!). And Alan posted some new links, which are also here (Hope that was okay Soosin and Alan).
From Soosin: Just in from a day in Galloway visiting rellies. What weather, fantastic, Saw mating kingfishers at Cumstoun Bridge, Kirkcudbright. and an Osprey on tje nest at Threave Castle our first house martins of the year and possible first swallow but in car and couldn't be sure. Spring definitely here. whooopeee Great to catch up with all your obs and pics from throughout day. So, they still seem to be sharing, aahh, how nice. Empty nest looking well padded with moss with the night vision on it. Someone mentioned a new blog. off to read that now. Be out all day again tomorrow. on the hill hoping for Ring Ousel
From Alan: Nesting calendars for Owls and Hawks, International falcons and US falcons have been updated. http://peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewforum.php?f=6
New Forest Goshawks have at least 2 eggs now. http://www.newforestgateway.org/Wildcam/LiveCameras/tabid/117/Default.aspx
jsb: Thanks for the link to to Capercaille call - was it you who said it wasn't one you could whistle to? Right!
Just started a new Daily Update and EJ is on the nest for the first time at this hour of night (3 a.m UK time). She's not doing anything; has her back to the cam and either peering into the darkness or snoozing (the latter I hope).
Stan: What a lovely day you had; perfect timing by the sounds of it.
ChrissyB: Thanks for the photos; streaming would be nice - but another cam to watch? :-)
I"m not posting much this week. We have a bunch of stuff going on and are also trying to empty more things out of the garage. Did not see any whales today during my (very short) shift. Was more than an hour late getting to the Point because en route, came up behind a car in the middle of the (narrow) road that goes around the bay and there was the driver, trying to coax a gull into a large plastic crate. The poor bird was wandering in the road with a 4-inch fishing lure stuck through it's beak. Just awful. It was very "tame," but wouldn't let us catch and we had to tiptoe about because it could still fly and we didn't want it flying off to where we couldn't help it. The guy eventually drove to his house to get a giant fishing net while I "guarded" the gull and directed traffic around it (not much traffic). We finally got it with the net - it wasn't happy, but it was safe - and he took it off to the Wildlife Rescue Center. So, one would hope a good chance for a happy ending. Take care all.
Annette - Love California poppies. I had some self-seeding many years ago, then they disappeared. So you’ve added Gull Rescuer to your CV. Well done.
Alan - I wish we had Osprey party here. When voting I am always tempted to draw an extra box "None of the above".
It has taken me a while to catch up as I had a bus trip Sunday and lunch with friend yesterday. The trip was a history tour by the WEA. Through Kapunda to Eudunda (lovely aboriginal names) where we spent an hour. A wonderful park with interesting walls with pics of olden days things.
When it started to rain my camera insisted on visiting the museum. Not enough time to browse, alas. Then on to a wee settlement of Mount Mary, now just a hotel, long-deserted shop and a few houses. This area is beyond reliable rainfall, no farming, just sheep grazing the saltbush and bluebush. Next stop 2 hours in Morgan, once an important river port with wool coming down the river from Queensland and NSW to the railway line. Returned home via an old settlement which once had 3 Lutheran churches (different synods) & 3 schools. Now only 3 buildings and cemetery remain. Last stop the bakery in Truro where they had sold out of the tastiest goodies and the coffee machine was turned off at 4 pm. !!!! This would be a regular and only stopping point for travellers for many miles. A very enjoyable day, but all that walking, my knees are still complaining.
In Morgan we heard, then saw 2 birds singing to each other. My friend who knows about birds said they were Singing Honeyeaters (Meliphaga virescens). A very happy sound. Can you see the second one?
Down by the River Murray it was noisy with speedboat and skiers. Despite the noise we spotted a single female wood duck (Chenonetta jubata). Gosh, pics are slow loading today.
Hey AQ; I found everything slow to load this evening. Lovely photos. The second Honey-eater is the middle of the photo behind that bushy bit, right? Very pretty wood duck. Sounds like you had a nice outing, but a cafe that was out of yummies and coffee/tea at 4 'o'clock? Take a thermos next time!
P.S. That last post of mine took ages to upload, then I got that message about not being able to connect to the server or something - but the post "posted" nevertheless.
Yes, the second singing honeyeater is behind the dead hanging branch (orange needles). Hey we always take a sandwich and bottle of water. But we get very hungry for coffee and cake! I only managed to add to my diet the whole day a small kitchener bun and a cheesecake slice. I was hoping for some bienenstich and/or/and streusel cake (Barossa specialties). My tummy roll is looking good. LOL
Water's fine, but I like a little caffeine/sugar pick-me-up after a long day (not that I do it; I just like it).
If I have caffeine after midday I can't sleep at night. I have been sleeping well last few nights. It has suddenly gotten cooler, min 7 C Early Mon morn. Blanket alert !!!! Now where did i put it?
Further news on the GBR. The ship has been removed and is being towed to a port. There is widespread damage to the reef - more than a kilometre. Paint that's scraped off on to the reef and anti-fouling stuff is killing corals. Horrible.