Welcome to another week. Do check back lest you miss the pics of many and varied birds plus a certain Toffee. And lots of news of course. Diane had another thunderstorm.
Diane - Uncontrollable children in olden days. Children were sent out to "service" as young as 10. Of course they ran away, thus breaking "Masters & Servants Act". Probably broke other laws as humans do. There were probationary school from which they also ran away. I found some twigs on my family tree who were regularly in trouble with the law - for playing the wicked game of two-up in pubs! Their 13 year old brother went one better (ahem), he broke into a school.
Patriciat - So sorry your OH has fallen again. Don’t worry about moaning to us. We do understand. I’m sending blue skies and healing thoughts to your house.
Our spring bulbs are appearing - confused by the unseasonal rain a few weeks ago. Poor things, there’s another possible 3 weeks of hot weather (34C so far today) and winter rains are not usual until May.
Whoo hoo. Less than 3 weeks to OR Day (Osprey Return day). I wonder what soap opera saga they have for us this year!
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Hi, all. Lindy is off on holiday, so I thought someone should post a Monday Smile before the day is over. These are copyright-free photos taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. I wrote the captions myself. Hope I don't get into trouble! LOLOLOL Feel free to substitute your own captions.
Actually, in the first picture, the park photographer said that the whooping crane was angry that the little deer was in its territory, and the crane was telling off the little fawn. Didn't hurt it; just gave it an earful of verbal abuse. Very territorial!!! Back later to catch up with everyone.
For new people: Ironing and everyone's hatred for the task is a common subject on this thread.
Thanks, Diane, for the Monday Smiles. How about "What! You can't fly?" for the first?
Thanks, Trish, I shall pass on your cat allergy suggestion to Dau2. I just hope it is as simple.
Annette. Wishing your grand-dau all the best for her big event. Don't worry, things will work out whether or no, her OH supports.
How things change. It's raining, steadily. Has been since mid-night. Still low 20s and so quite humid. We've had just over an inch of rain. Now my spring bulbs will definitely not listen when I tell them it is too early for their leaves to appear. Either Lizarda has become acrobatic or we are being visited by a possum. Something is eating my tomatoes high on the bushes. I shouldn't complain, I shouldn't be so greedy, as I have frozen a dozen packs for winter cooking
Auntie - I just saw on the forum this query- "Has anyone been to northern Finland and Arctic Norway?"http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/forums/t/37532.aspxYou would be the closest!!!!
Evening all: Wild windy weather here today but seems to have died down a bit now. Went to gym as usual in the morning, then visited Brit fellow-whale-counter and had long cuppa tea and nice natter, then came home and did a bit of work in garden.
Trish2: Oh my - that's a big jump in water bill!
Wendy: How wonderful to have free clean water from the hills. Can't remember when you're heading "down south" but have a lovely trip.
Alan: Lovely eagle rescue story, especially since the couple who reported it were so excited and so thrilled by the happy ending.
patricia: Oh dear, the situation with your OH sounds very difficult. I'm sending big hugs to you and very best hopes that something can be done to make things better. (In the meantime, good luck shopping for furniture covers.)
OG: It's so nice to get the garden organized isn't it? I took some cuttings of a geranium today - it's a lovely deep burgundy variety and it would be nice to have it repeated in various parts of the garden. . Also picked one of the Satsuma tangerines off our new little tree and it's the sweetest one so far. And, naughty me, bought a quilted hammock with Christmas gift certificate that OH gave me. There's nothing quite as relaxing or conducive to napping as lolling in a hammock with a book (I'm thinking ahead to the summer!).
Diane: Love that photo of the crane; the fawn really does look like he/she's getting a telling off! Was driving back from Home Depot yesterday and by the very busy onramp to the freeway, right on the other side of the barrier was a Great Egret, peering quizzically over at the traffic and seemingly unperturbed by all the noise and bustle.
AQ: Would your tomato bushes hold a possum's weight? Funny they'd disappear from the top of the bushes; assume lower tomatoes are still intact?
Thanks all for reassuring comments re granddaughter - she's such a good kid! I'll be seeing her bro this week - he has a doc's appointment down this way and likely will show up hungry and maybe even with a load or two of laundry - how unusual! Take care everyone.
Hi, all. Well, I officially closed my garage door for the season and sealed any holes. I decided that I'm not going to let those Eastern Kingbirds nest in my garage again this year! Those are the aggressive birds with the alarm call that sounds like a downed power line or an electric fence. They terrorized me all summer and wouldn't let me anywhere near my garage, so this year they have to nest in the woods with the other birds. :-) I felt kind of mean, but I'm remodeling now, and I need access to my garage. LOL I walked all around the building indoors looking in all the rafters and corners, as well as yelling at the top of my lungs, to make sure that I didn't trap any critters in there when I closed it up. I'm sure anyone would have thought I was quite daft. LOLOLOL
Sheila: The Eastern Kingbirds are worse than the Terror Birds on Primevil. LOL!
Annette: So you will be a great-grandmother soon! Congrats! You should be so proud of your granddaughter. It must have taken a lot of courage and dedication for her to get re-certified for her job right now. What a strong woman! I'm sure she'll be a great mother. Glad that your daughter can be near her at this time. Hope everything works out for the best with the husband. Wonderful that you got your quilted hammock. Now you will have an excuse to relax a lot this summer. :-) Lovely to see a Great Egret. I photographed a bunch of them years ago in Florida. I'll have to get my new scanner/printer hooked up and post a photo. Thanks for the heads up about the Spy on the Ice program!
Patricia: I'm so very sorry that your husband is continuing to fall. I'm glad that you had help to pick him up. My thoughts are with you. I hope that the situation can be made easier some how.
Trish2: Oh, dear. That's so awful when all the big bills arrive at once. So sorry. Hope you can find a way to lower the water bill.
Wendy: That's wonderful that you can have spring water. We used to have a fresh spring near here. The water was unforgettable. My grandparents got all of their drinking water there. But I regret that it's been closed for several years. The state found terrible toxins in the water and it's no longer drinkable. :-( Humans should be ashamed of the way we've tortured this planet. Glad that your water is still so good.
AQ: Didn't realize that you have possums in Australia! Maybe Lizarda has grown wings to reach the tomatoes. LOL
dibnlib: Such a lovely story about the birds collecting Fingal's hair.
OG: You're well ahead in this year's gardening efforts. I thought I might try some gardening next year. I won't be as adept as you are, though. I'm not sure how I will keep the deer and rabbits out of it, too. I hope you like your new minister very much. Would you change churches if you don't?
TerryM: I see that Defenders of Wildlife won the $200,000 prize. They will put the funding to good use. We have some critical bills coming up before our federal government, as well as some potentially devastating local efforts. The Defenders of Wildlife group is putting up the good fight.
dibnlib: I forgot to say that I'm glad your family members in NZ were not seriously injured.AQ: Poor Jasper cat looks a little pitiful in that pic. Hope he gets better.Alan: Good journey and best wishes to Beatrice!!! Yay!
Tiger: I'm so glad that you had the gallstones removed and you're recovering fully. I know they are very painful. So sorry that it took so long to have the condition resolved. Welcome back.
Chloe: So good to see you back after hiatus! I'm doing well now, thanks. I look forward to your posts now that the osprey season is almost underway!
Alicat: I hope you have a wonderful trip to Scotland.
Margo: I'm so glad that Billy Whizz is looking so much better. He has you to thank for his improvement. It sounds like you're making great progress with him. He's growing much more comfortable with you.
Paul/Heron77: As usual, your post made my laugh! I love the term "pleasantly humbling feeling." I will have to use that.Brenda: I hope you aren't too upset that your son may be moving to Geneva. Glad you had a nice visit with family.Gary: An hour and a half in the pet store. LOL!!!
Auntie: So good to "see" you. I hope you aren't working too hard. Thank you sooo much for the owl link. That is just stunning!
Joan: I had sent a screen capture to the BOT. Got an email back saying that they are now seeing courtship behavior, and they now have heightened hope that the owls may have a successful season. Yay!
Sorry I've posted so much tonight, but I won't be on much this week. I'm working on the house and also involved in political stuff.
Welcome to all the new people. And welcome back to all the new old people. :-) LOL
Good morning all
Diane What fabulous pics and I love the captions!
Dogs had to have worming tablets administered this morning - what a job! I try giving the tabs with tasty treats but some dogs are hard to fool - Nell's was hidden in her food, in tiny pieces but she's now in the habit of leaving some food and having it later, so not all of her medication has gone down. Oh well, at over 15 (and a half) she's entitled to be a bit awkward.
PATRICIAT Really sad for you and OH. It must be hard when you are out not to worry about him and hard for him wondering when you will be home to help. Hope someone can come up with idea to help you both.
ALICAT Try and have lunch at corner on the Square in Beauly. Can highly recommend the fish chowder. Also house of Beauly worth a visit. food is good there too. Off out shortly for appt then light lunch at Snowgoose before OH goes to work. He won't be home till after 10 o'clock so will be delaying pancakes for another day. He then has 17 days off so we will hope for nice weather and day trips and possibly a short stay at Airth Castle near Stirling. We don't often go away but just have lots of day trips and meals out.
Morning all,
Diane : Thanks for the monday smile in Linda s absence.
Annette : Sorry the whale count was cancelled.
Lynette : Thanks for all the latest screen captures.
3 osprey sightings yesterday to add to the previous 2 this year although 2 of them were probably the same bird so we are ahead of last years total of 1 sighting at this stage. It was such a lovely morning today that I decided to get up early and drive the 13 miles to the nearest Scottish barber and have a haircut. Very frosty to start with and the bird bath was completely frozen but wall to wall sunshine for the 2nd day in a row. Temps at 4c but expected to get into double figures later.
2 eggs for Alice & Virgilio:
http://www.birdcam.it/index.php?act=cam&cam=36
Nesting calendar has been updated for US falcons:
http://peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=202&t=864
International falcons:
http://peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=202&t=859