Hallo all: I put up the painters' tape showing the dimensions of the various flat-screen tellys (tellies?) we're looking at and now we're thinking maybe we don't need a really big one.
Auntie: Great that you had a lovely day at Pohtiolampi; how fun to see ospreys in action.
OG: I say put Loch Garten for sure on your trip north! We expect a full report! OMG: That python/gator photo was fascinatingly gross. Talk about his eyes being bigger than his belly!! Eeeeuw! Why did I think orchids were a hot-weather plant.... Well - if you go to Caerlaverock, hope you enjoy it. Are "kissing gates" the same as stiles? All I can remember is "Would you rather run a mile, jump a stile, or eat a pancake in a field?" Oh dear. Talk about regressing...... Thanks for update on Big Rig Steve; haven't been on the computer all day. Had earnest discussion with vines, who have promised to behave, and gave some encouragement to the tomatoes, which are being a bit shy. Currently, our ailing Navel Orange tree is getting a lot of TLC in the form of deep watering followed by nutritional snack that will make it feel better (and we hope, look and and taste better).
AQ: Universal laws transcend borders. :-)
It's July 4 - Independence Day - tomorrow; will start off the day shortly after 6 a.m.(!) with live Wimbledon coverage (on our normal channel - just checked!), then will putter about before picking up daughter in late afternoon to go to Mission Santa Ynez, where we'll watch July 4 fireworks display. OH not thrilled with fireworks, so he'll stay home and keep Lightning company (she doesn't like them either).
In the meantime, off to check on osprey cams.
When we arrived at Caerlaverock, we first ate lunch (one must get one’s priorities right!), which was macaroni tomato cheese with salad followed by a cherry scone which we couldn’t resist! We ate while watching the Ospreys on the big screen.
Then we saw Optics Man who identified the rattle as a loose screw and told OH how to fix it himself so it cost us nothing (he’s done it this evening).
We walked the Peter Scott Centenary Trail - a new accessible wet woodland area (I was on foot today). It was completed late this spring due to winter/spring weather, and I think it needs a full year to settle, but you can appreciate its potential as a different habitat. There is a bird-viewing screen part way round (holes cut into it) to watch mainly tits and finches at a group of feeders.
Next we went to the Swan Pond where there remains one sole Whooper Swan who didn’t return to Iceland, along with a number of Mute Swans and Mallard ducks. We went into the beginning of the meadow walk, where we heard a lot of twittering (reed buntings and such) in the wetter borders and enjoyed the wildflowers. We didn’t do the whole walk - decided it was too much for me.
After a snack (carrot cake and hot chocolate and more of the ospreys) we went to the Folly Pond. It is looking quite dry right now, never seen the water level so low (but did later learn that they are rearranging some of their water courses to attract other wader species). There is a non-breeding Black tailed Godwit there – been ringed in Iceland, so they are going to report it and obtain its tracking record. I tried to take a photo and zoom it further on my computer, but it looks like a cross between a Goose and RoadRunner! There was also a Sandpiper, and plenty of Oyster Catchers, Lapwing and Pied Wagtails.
On the way out, we chatted with Mike Youdale, who does the sightings report on the website, and takes most of the photos. He asked me to suggest photos I would like to see, so I asked for a good one of the B T Godwit, and he will see what he can do. I’ve sent him mine for a laugh!
When we got home, we had an extra treat: a Redpoll came to the catch tray of the nyger feeder, and it came back later and actually fed properly from the feeder. Next surprise was to see that one of our Woodpigeons has completely lost its tail – I guess cat injury.
So I have lots of photos. I don’t think the ones of the Ospreys will work because of the screen definition together with camera – I’ll put one on now to try. I will add other pictures when I can, unless you tell me you are bored!
One youngster wingercising - obliterating the third one!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Jeanette, thank you. It is great to hear about your time as a LG volunteer.
Re Steve’s travels in Washington. I saw his pic and thought "That looks like our South-East". Then realized our forests are plantations of Pinus Radiata (aka Monterey pine).
So Wimbledon is finished. I have my doubts that it was the real Wimbledon as I didn't see any rain. LOL. Now for the Tour de France. More late bedtimes!!!!
Lindybird said: Here is a bit of a poem written for myself, but it is dedicated to Diane. as it was inspired by her wonderful pics of her very own Dust Bunnies....
Here is a bit of a poem written for myself, but it is dedicated to Diane. as it was inspired by her wonderful pics of her very own Dust Bunnies....
Lindybird: Oh, my stars, that poem is WONDERFUL!!! I had such a big laugh when I read it. It truly made my evening. Thanks, Lindybird!!!!!!!!!
LOL LOL LOL
Auntie: Thanks for your terrific 4th of July card for those of us in the U.S. Great expression on the bird's face! Just loved it!
And thanks to all of you who wished us a happy 4th of July.
Hi, all. Very loud fireworks display just ended at our local lake. I couldn't see them (our trees are too tall). I felt really sorry for the birds and other wildlife. Very hard day for them here as everyone around is setting off noisy fireworks.
OG: Sounds like you had a lovely day, despite the wind. Glad Optics Guy was helpful, and your OH only had a screw loose. ;-) Cherry scone -- yummy!!! Wonder why the one swan didn't return to Iceland? A young one? Old one? Thanks for the osprey pic and I look forward to more photos! You never bore me with your pictures. I think you're a very talented photographer.
Wattle: If you're around, I wanted to wish you a really lovely and safe trip. Hope you and AQ have a great time together.
Jeanette: I enjoyed reading about your time as an LG volunteer. Thanks for posting.
Alan: Such a great photo of handsome Hamish, Canine King of Scotland.
Lindybird: Really liked your water feature. Just lovely.
Annette: Poor Lightening, poor you, poor carpet... I loved your comment in jest to Cirrus: If we hadn't fought the Revolutionary War, we might now have a National Health Service. LOL I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July and enjoyed the day with your daughter. By the way: what size range of TV are you thinking about getting now? Do you have a favorite brand? I was looking at them today on several websites. I might get a laptop and an LCD TV that I can use as a large computer monitor. That way, I'd have the portability of a laptop as well as the large screen for editing, plus I'd have a TV for my room. And I wouldn't have to buy a desktop system. :-) Hope you find exactly what you want.
Everyone have a nice Monday!
Hallo all: Well, change of plan at this end of the freeway. Daughter felt "off" this morning and decided to rest up, then didn't feel motivated enough to deal with the crowds at the fireworks, which was fine with me. OH and I were invited to a "watch the fireworks" get together down here in Santa Barbara, but turns out we aren't feeling motivated enough to get cleaned up and go socialize (and hope the fog doesn't hide the show!). So poured myself a nice glass of wine and put on comfy clothes and socks and here I am, with some of that leftover ice cream still in the freezer. What a couple of party poopers, eh? Chicks look magnificent; better go see what's up on Daily Update.
OK. Just had a chance to read today's (Sunday's) posts.
Lindybird: Cat had better not wee and dig all over the plants we'll be putting in come September (right - and how am I going to stop her!).
OG: Glad to hear that carrot cake and hot chocolate played a part in your day out and that OH's binocs were easily fixed.
AQ: Oh, interesting that the Pacific Northwest looks like Oz's Southeast! I shall have to visit the latter on Google Earth. Good luck with the Tour de France (you mean they have teams other than the U.S. and Lance Armstrong!?) :-)
Diane: We're about 25 minutes away from loud bangs and bright lights. The cat is currently snoozing peacefully under the coffee table; we'll see if she wakes up. Then, of course, there are the usual people who watch the main shows before shooting off their own supply of fireworks, which are illegal here due to the fire risk. We're looking at 40" (sounds huge) Samsung, Sony and Panasonic, which seem to have done well per Consumer Reports. If you want to know about a particular brand, let me know and I can look it up. We'll probably get an edge-lit LED LCD TV, which shows more detail in dark images. Have got one eye on National Geographic's "Drain the Oceans" , which is brilliant at mapping everything we can't see.
Take care all.
OK, well another Fourth more or less over (20 minutes of muffled bangs; cat didn't bat an eye; I popped outside but saw only a flickering streetlamp). Diane: I think this must be the program you were talking about last week. I love it when they talk about extreme geographic conditions and then say "The biggest/most active, etc., etc., .....is in California." Hmmm. They mentioned the Carrizo Plain which is just a couple of hours east and very spooky and desolate...
About to sign off. Happy Monday all.
Looks like I missed the Night Shift. I fell asleep after lunch - too many late nights watching tennis. Lovely calm day, blue sky, 12 C. And washing didn't dry. Grrr.
Annette - I'm trying to think of SE forest towns. Penola & Nangwarry. When brain gets into gear, I may add more. Area also known as Green Triangle apparently. Slight diversion - We have a program Postcards SA on late Sun pm. Some of the stories are on www.postcards.sa.com.au .
Warm, sunny, breezy. Woke up reasonably early this morning. Thanks for "night shift" comments here and on daily update. Diane - thanks for kind comments on photos. Annette - we often opt out of celebrations these days - I think a lot of stuff has lost its "specialness" because there is so much hype of quite ordinary things these days.
Here is RoadRunner - sorry, the Icelandic Black Tailed Godwit . I think the total of four rings do nothing for it's legs! Please ignore photo quality - this was max zoom on the camera and then some on computer: