Weekly Chat, Sunday 28 November 2010

Afternoon Alan they are cute little things, have just been watching thr pair I get in my garden.  Need to go out and top the bird feeders up but Billy Whizz is eating his food at the moment and don't want to scare him off.

OH gone back to bank with some papers – cleaner here.  Warmer today – one whole positive degree!

Alicat – so sorry about your OH.  You take care, pop in when you can and we’ll be thinking of you.

Lindy – lovely names for “Sweetpea”.  If they do get home today, I hope it won’t be too late into the evening.

Alan – good to see your pied wagtails.  Ours haven’t appeared yet this winter, but there is the usual evidence of them using their regular roosting tree in town.

Dibnlib – puppies are accidental cross!  Mother is Golden Retriever, looks like father was Collie – they are black and white but retriever shape (if you can tell at six weeks old!) with Retriever ears (unfortunately).  Coming from Muir of Ord – owners were away when it “happened”.  First time mother at eight years old – they and vet couldn’t believe it was happening – thought she was really sick when she got round and lumpy!  She produced seven, one stillborn, one lived a few days and yet another “runt”, but four really healthy.  If we get photos, I’ll post one.  Will you be able to visit your Mum before or during Christmas?

 Some birds from yesterday (strange white dots are falling snow):

 Mr B seems to be asking a question:

This Mrs rules the roost among all the male and female Blackbirds - today she rolled one of the males over, held him down with her foot and was pecking at him!

Just caught up with all your news and to the fantastic news that Linda(Grannybird) is now officially a Grandma to Tomasz Adam - thats super and great pics of Tomasz, and Tomasz and mum.  You must be very proud Linda - Congratulations.

Thanks for all your news, both interesting and funny.

OG love those pics of your birds visiting the garden - not getting too many visitors although when I look out I've probably missed them.  Put a .new seed feeder out the other day and its taking a bit of time for them to get used to it.  Fat balls and cakes and coconuts are out but I think with this freezing weather they harden ande the birds find it harder to get the food.  Still only a shallow covering of snow here although we did have a light fall again this morning.

Alan - sighting of Ospreys - so late in the year, these must be young ones late developing and setting off, wonder whether they will ever get to warmer climes!!!!!!!!!

We had a quick choir practice last night as it was so cold in church and then a few of us adjourned to the local pub for a drink.

iT WORKED - TO ALL YOU SNOWBOUND PEOPLE HE'S HERE TO CHEER YOU UP.

Morning all:

Lindybird: Happy Mom; snoozy baby; tired Dad, excited grandparents - all good. Welcome Thomasz Adam!

Thanks everyone else for posts and pix of birds and cats and puppies.  Do stay warm.

Had new visitor to our birdfeeder (the "new" one)  - a small sleek black bird with a long tail; it flew away in the time it took to raise the binocs to my eyes.

I have an update on the osprey nest at Dunedin in Florida - it looks like better news:

"Update on my last post 

The cam should be back on line very soon. This afternoon Sparky said everything looks good for the cam!!! The City of Dunedin is taking care of everything…they arranged access to the cam, and are paying the internet expenses for this season. 

Sparky went out to the cam with a Dunedin IT crew today, she said  "They accessed the camera and it works fine!!!!! In fact the lens was even clean and the female landed in the nest as if she knew the camera was on her"

A working, clean cam, and the female concerned about the nest....very, very good!!!

Sparky will let me know when the cam is going on line, but I'm working on a waterfowl survey  so I may not be able to post on time. Check the cam...almost as good as waiting for an egg, hatch or fledge 

The people in Dunedin should be very proud of their city....  I am!!

Linda (Grannybird) and family very many congratulations of the safe arrival of Tomasz Adam.  I am delighted for your all!

Many thanks for concern for my aunt.  She is safely tucked up in hospital at present.  She lives in Shirley, Croydon and given the amount of snow in the area which has fallen only over the past few days it is the best place for her.  She lives in a first floor maisonette and at 92 does everything for herself with no central heating or a washing machine.  I feel that this is now the time to consider a change, but it won't be easy to persuade her otherwise!

I thought of you jsb when I was in Shirley on Sunday - there was a most unusual noise and a fly past of one largish bird, and then two came squawking back.  It was a pair of ring necked parakeets!

I hear that Russia is to host the 2018 Footie World Cup.  Am I bovvered, no, not really, but given all the revelations of the corruption within the Committee and talk of same within the country (allegedly!) one wonders what went on.  England lost out at the first round stage.

I was very surprised to hear that osprey have been sighted.  I do so hope they are coping in the cold and frozen water.

I feel I am really fortunate here as we still have had very little snow to speak of.  Some of the news items, and indeed your and my friends' photos make me appreciate the sprinkle I do have.  I do rather like it when there is some snow on the fields - it makes the hare stand out very well.  Usually they are difficult to see and I don't really realise how many we have around.  I think they are a delight.  Have also seen small groups of fallow and roe deer around too.

Do take care everyone who is enduring the weather, whether in the UK or overseas.

just thought i would have a catch up while OH is sat quite  keeps pacing up and down asking if im ok every few minutes woke me up at 3.30 am to tell me that he loves me had him at doctors this morning they have put him back on his tablets and also gave him some sleeping tablets for night time so hopfuly they will work tonight and that we get a good nights sleep,its snowing heaven high againg here,also thanks for your kind thoughts

and congrats to the happy Grandparents and Parents.