We had zero chicks at Loch Garten nest this summer, so there are none to follow this winter. EJ and Odin have migrated south and with neither tagged we cannot follow them. Sadly, we have lost Breagha, the last tagged LG offspring. Once again a healthy Loch Garten chick is “lost contact, presumed dead”. Even the camera is away for the winter. Thus we have lost all contact with the Loch Garten nest. For the first time since I found EJ and the Loch Garten nest, there is NOTHING LEFT. Nothing left, that is, except HOPE for a better season in 1916.
On this note of hope I will maintain The Gabfest in a semi-retired state. Thus we will be open for any osprey news which comes through, whether it be from UK or USA or Africa. Also any bird or wildlife photos or news are always appreciated here.
Over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve some may wish to share photos of their cakes, Christmas Trees and/or some music videos. Winter gardening, trains, anything goes here on the Gabfest that anyone wants to talk about.
So if anyone cares to come in for a wee chat, the Gabfest may be sleeping, but it is open.
Evening, Everyone. Thanks for all the pictures! If you would like to see an awwww-inducing good news wildlife story, have a look at this BBC report: The dogs that protect little penguins: www.bbc.co.uk/.../magazine-35039105
Kind regards, Ann
Willow, like you I wish osprey would not sit on electric lines. Worse yet, some even insist on making their nests on the poles.
I'm thinking maybe I should have saved this picture to start the Gabfest for January. Too late now.
Your Christmas trees are lovely. So colorful!
I usually avoid buying artificially colored flowers, But I was tempted the first of Dec with bright blue poincettia and likewise bright blue orchids. Inspired with the silver base for the poinsettia I decided to go with a blue and silver Christmas decorating theme this year. I'm kind of disappointed as the blue pretty much just turns dark and doesn't really show up. I took some pictures, which I haven't yet checked out, and which I was planning to post nearer to Christmas.
I baked a cake this afternoon - - NOT my Christmas cake. It was absolutely the easiest and quickest cake I have ever made in my life. I turned the oven on, got out the two ingredients (a box of angel food mix and a can of crushed pineapple), lined a pan with parchment paper, opened the ingredients & dumped them in the mixing bowl, mixed them together, put the batter in the pan. The oven was just signaling ready and that quickly the cake was in the oven.
Then I called a friend. When we hung up, LUCKILY I remembered the cake because I knew I had forgotten to set the timer and I had no idea how long we had been talking. The cake looked a lovely marbled golden brown, so I took it out and tested it. All seemed well.
This recipe was on facebook a while back. It seemed simple, and quick and fun as the instructions said it would foam up when mixed. It did, but not s much as I expected. And yes, it is quite tasty.
The picture looks a bit too dark, but it is not. It came out perfectly - as I said, luckily, with no credit to the cook.
Good morning all. Keith what a contrast in weather conditions! Its very mild here in Kent today and has been for about 2 weeks! We havent got daffodils yet but my irises are growing well.
June your cake looks lovely has it got icing on? I have yet to decorate and ice my Christmas cake. Its wrapped in foil and every 4 days I pour more brandy on it. I would not be able to have any while Im at work as there is a no alcohol policy LOL
Keith I often wonder about S1, S2 and S3 and hope at least one of them will be spotted in future. I wonder too if any of Monty and Noras and Glesni offspring have ever been sighted i dont believe there have been any reports. Thats not to say none have survived it must be very difficult to spot a leg ring! I think one of the most amazing find was when Keilders 7H was spotted after the tracker stopped sending signals! Those 2 did a brilliant job in finding her!
58WILLOW - I am sure one day we will hear of either S1 - S2 or S3 again. Until that time keep wondering and envisage them flying wild in Africa or in 18 month time maybe migrating north for the first time. Yes it is special to hear of a bird that you have visited and seen.
I do not think any of the Dyfi born have been sighted alive since they left the nest on migration. I would like to think if any of the original three had survived they would have been spotted home by now if they still had their antena attached.
7H from Kielder was interesting - first the migration. hitching a lift on the ship going the wrong way.
Then to go off radar in January only to be sighted by Pippa on holiday in Morocco in March and then for the tracker to to start working again.
Unfortunately "You only Live Twice" - and more recently six weeks ago her body was recovered with no conclusive conclusion to her demise.
Unknown said: Willow, like you I wish osprey would not sit on electric lines. Worse yet, some even insist on making their nests on the poles.
In Sanibel and Captiva Lee County Electric Compant provide utility dishes above the poles for them to nest in and also along the I-4. At one time they were regarded as a nisance and the Electric Company used to rip the nests down due to outages. George Campbell enlightened Lee County Electric and got them started on building Osprey platforms for both the good of the birds and the electric service on Sanibel.
Out of the demise of CU2 having colided with overhead electricity cables in Northy Wales - Scottish Power along with wildlife enthusiasts are making modifications to make the wires more safe and also erecting nests in an attempt to move them from the wooden electricity poles.
POWER LINES AND OSPREYS
When I visited Dyfi this year Blue 24 was sitting on her favourite electricity pole most of the day apart from a fly keeping her distance away from the nest.
Good morning all. Keith I read the article about the modification of power lines after the sad death of CU2 (Jimmy)and of course there are many more.
I look forward to see if Kielders UV returns next yeat ans also where he chooses to go or perhaps he might spend his time exploring all over the place like White 14 and Rothiemurchus.
My father wanted a drawing from me for Christmas so I found a lovely close up of Odin last year and drew from that. My Dad is very keen on birds and also he goes to art classes every week. Sadly I have not inherited his talent. Also found a lovely one of Dai Dots.