Evening all: Don't miss the last couple of pages of last week's chat. Gary's been at it again, posting incredibly cute puppy pix!
OG: Yes, Los Carneros means "the rams" in Spanish; while La Patera (the original ranch that Los Carneros was on) is "the place where the ducks gather." In the 1700s, after the Spanish settled here, it was cattle country; then in the 1860s,about a decade after California became a state, folks from back East started bringing in sheep, which survived periods of drought better than cattle and whose wool was in demand by eastern and southern states during the Civil War when the cotton industry was decimated. Anyway, in the 1870s, the American family that owned Rancho La Patera planted the first commercial lemon orchard in the state (or the Goleta Valley depending on which source you read). I drive to Costco along Cathedral Oaks Blvd - which runs north of Lake Los Carneros - past huge citrus orchards and the remaining acreage of Rancho La Patera. As for the vineyards, they're over the hills behind Santa Barbara in the higher, dryer Santa Ynez Valley. All very complicated.
Gary: Never been to Yellowstone - was heading that way one October but an early snowfall blocked the Western entry so had to "make do" with Grand Teton National park. Sigh. If you're looking for somewhere to stay, you can always visit TripAdvisor and read everyone's reviews of the options.
OK guys, off to do a crossword and watch some rubbish on telly. Take care ALL.
Well done to Andy Murray on getting through to the final. Difficult to watch but he got there in the end.
Update on the Dunedin , Florida nest:
"
1/27/11 - 2 ospreys have been seen at the nest but mating has not been seen yet. There are potentially to more ospreys still competing for the platform. A new camera has been ordered and installation is being pre-planned. We hope to restore the camera by February 7th thanks to generous funding by Progress Energy. This will work as long as eggs are not laid. Check the photos section over the weekend for a great story about a nest relocation. The ospreys on the railroad signal crossing will be moved tomorrow ! BW"
Paula : I have never heard such a ridiculous idea. It is bad farming practices that are causing the decrease in songbirds. This has been proved at Hope Farm near Cambridge where proper management of the land has shown an increase.
margobird said: Paula I am going to email the RSPB and ask whether they are going to have a petition which we could sign. I am sure there will be many people who will be horrified by this news.
Paula I am going to email the RSPB and ask whether they are going to have a petition which we could sign. I am sure there will be many people who will be horrified by this news.
http://pixiepaj.com/wildlifevillage/?page_id=782
There is the one above from the 'Village' blog of Loch of the Lowes if you can access it,
Let me know what the RSPB say Margobird please
Alan :- Is this the fault of the government listening to and being swayed by?????? Uncomprehendable, they'll be culling humans next!
Margobird :- dont know what happened to my previous message as the book Catch 22, "I say everything twice" Anyway you might need to sign up to the village to petition? Worth a try
Paula "~"
Paula thanks for the link to the petition which I have now signed. Will let you know when I get a reply from the RSPB but it may take a while as they are not usually too quick in responding.
Margobird
margobird said: Paula thanks for the link to the petition which I have now signed. Will let you know when I get a reply from the RSPB but it may take a while as they are not usually too quick in responding.
Thank you Margo, I really must get back to my knitting, winter will have passed before it is finished! lol
Thanks for the petition link Paula.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
Paula : There are dark forces at work behind this government but dont worry, when they fail George Osbourne willblame it on the snow. LOL
Hi - I wrote a fairly longish post on here at about 3.15, and it disappeared when I posted it!
Here is something for those of you fond of Robins....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-12276087
Morning disappeared dealing with post and deliveries. Grabbed a cereal bar then off to Tesco. Not many people there – and no screamers – but friends also took advantage of the lunchtime lull, so spent time talking with them! Home for late lunch and phonecall from Son, then a catch up of all the things we hadn’t done. Put a venison casserole in the oven (smells wonderful) and will eat dinner later than usual. Tomorrow is another day!
I can’t remember whether I posted since this morning, so need to look! … see that I did, so continuing from there.
Paula – I hadn’t heard about the proposed cull of Corvids and predators – strange that the news came via Australia. I am surprised it is to start in March, as they would need licences if they include any protected species as suggested, and yet we seem to have heard nothing about it. Can’t find any mention on RSPB main site.
Margo – I hope you will soon get a reply from RSPB about the shooting issue. I’d prefer if it was a RSPB petition we could sign rather than one set up on a blog.
Lindy - your problem posting and shortage of afternoon posts suggests we have gremlins again, although I got onto site without difficulty – now to see what happens when I post!!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!