Weekly Chat, Sunday May 9, 2010

ALAN  wonderful pic of the Grebes, thank you

OH has spent a few hours painting the railings but it kept on raining in dribs and drab. Still over the last couple of days he has managed 4 panels with 7 still to go. I had a swim (just over 1/2 mile ) this am and came home to cook Sunday luch and then give Dillon his 2nd walk so don't feel too guilty about leaving him to do the painting work himself. I did offer to help and was declined so didn't insist 

So pleased Phoebe has had an egg hatch, let's hope for less drama this time.

Lost at the end of last week's thread, I asked if anyone could tell me what to look for to distinguish between male and female peregrine, anyone know? They seem to know which is which on the cam. Re goldfinches, I read elsewhere on this site how to tell, but my 8 or 9 goldies don't sit still long enough to see how far back the red bit goes.

Have just come back from a visit to Bassenthwaite. This is the first time this year I have gone to the upper viewpoint, usually I stop on the other side of the lake but it's further away and would be good if they were fishing but not for seeing the nest.  Had some good views through the telescopes provided of both birds on the nest.  I was there an hour and the male was on the eggs while the female sat to the side. She wasn't eating so not at all like EJ who likes to get back on the eggs asap. She flew around a little then returned and stood on the nest next to Mr No-ring but didn't try to nudge him off.  It was nice to see them both together there.  There was a buzzard which they kept an eye on.

dibnlib said:

Read a comment by the governor of the bank of England which went something like this.  Whoever gets into power will regret it soon afterwards. I think that the qualifications to be PM must be 1. supreme arrogance 2. a massive ego, 3 some form of mental disorder.       I wouldn't like to be the Queen either though she does not have the choice  so does not need the above qualifications.

Like this dibnlib, how true.

Unknown said:

Screenshot of Phoebe s chick:

Thanks Alan so tiny is that chick.

Unusually busy on here for a weekend!  Good that there is so much going on.  Dibnlib - I think 1,2 & 3 qualifications for PM sums it up very well – but I would think those attributes develop further in office.  Maybe the railings are a bit like a jigsaw puzzle – if he does it all himself, he will have a greater senses of achievement!   Alan – thanks for capturing baby Hummer.  Terry – glad you got to the upper viewpoint at Bassenthwaite and saw them both together there.

Hoed, sowed Carrot, and some more cut-and-come-again Lettuce.  Now going to pull some Radishes, pick the next two leaves on the existing Lettuce and some Lambs Lettuce from the greenhouse.  Might get a meal on time for once (not that it really matters!).

Phoebe s chick is called HOPE.

Alan I just read that the chick is called Hope and a lovely name and we hope that Hope\will make it for Phoebe.

Hi All, Thanks for all the links and photos.

TerryM, to answer your question about peregrines. As far as I know, the only difference in appearance  between male and female peregrines is size - the male is sometimes called a tiercel, as he's about a third smaller than the female. If you're asking about the Brighton pair specifically, the female isn't ringed but the male is - his colour ring, on the left leg, is "Black 15" indicating he is from the 2005 brood of the current pair at Chichester Cathedral. I haven't been down there to see them yet, but thanks for the report Brenda H - have been waiting for them to be a bit more visible, as there's no view of the nest from the ground and you can only see them on screen till they are about to fledge.  

Alan P thanks for news about Phoebe's latest hatch. I'm sure I'll start following that webcam again, though with some trepidation after what happened to her recent nests.

Has anyone else been following the other Hope - the bear cub that is - since she left the den? The Bear Centre post little Youtube videos nearly every day on their site - what a cutie! 

http://www.bear.org/website/lily-a-hope/den-cam-video-clips.html

Just been looking at ther Pale Male and Lola site and sad news about the Riverside parents.  They have lost their chicks due to a high wind  bringing the nest down.  The female is rebuilding the nest but maybe too late to lay any more eggs.  Just realise that the weather can bring so many problems for birds.