Afternoon all: Geez. May already? This happens every year!
Sitting in garden with laptop! Under umbrella in shorts and trying to ID a pale pink hybrid rose I didn't think I'd bought but which is now blooming like mad. I went out to buy orange/apricot/peach and yellow roses and have no idea how this pale pink one got into the mix. Also, it doesn't have a little metal label, which the others do, and I'm wondering if it didn't get into the wrong bin at La Sumida, where I bought six bare roots. In the meantime, Amber Flower Carpet and Julia Child roses are doing brilliantly... Met friends for breakfast this morning: Had a egg-white and seasonal veggie mix - won't make that mistake again! Very boring and challenging since nothing stayed on my fork. Was forced to rectify the situation with a cafe au lait and a boysenberry and lemon scone!
Diane: I have a visor and a sweathshirt with a hood that I wear on windy days at the whale count. That's it! Daughter has several cowboy hats, including one with a woven decorative band she made from hair taken from Cimarron's tail (the horse she had to put down Feb 10). I'll check out Trucker Steve next.
Alicat: Bet you had fun with Bobbie. Have you sorted your naughty OH yet? :-)
Wendy: Dolphin visit sounds like fun.
Sheila: Argh! Take care of that knee. Geez. A 1.5 hour wait for food? Did everyone complain loudly? Apparently, several of our channels repeated the wedding video throughout the day yesterday; I'm watching the recording a bit at a time; can't stand to be inside on a lovely day.
OG: More fab azaleas! Good news that son is trying the part-time option; hope it works out for him. Really understand "more money than sense," which also applies to grandson who, sad to say, doesn't have much money, so .....! Still, he's young yet and as always, we live in hopes. Little vole looks awfully sweet.
Hallo also to Lynette. It's past 4; can now officially start new Weekly Chat!
Another despicable act of senselessness. A young, satellite-tagged golden eagle has been found poisoned at the Glenbuchat Estate in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. Tests have been carried out and established the presence of the pesticide carbofuran, a banned pesticide. I have said it before, but I really cannot understand anyone deliberately carrying out these acts. Castration would not be good enough.
I wonder whether it is one of Roy Dennis' birds?
Birdie's DU Summaries 2018 https://www.imagicat.com/
That's dreadful Sheila. I would hold the guns ready for the firing squad, myself......
Cam is back up at Dunedin and the 3 chicks are getting big. They will be ringing them soon.
http://ospreynest.info/ospreycam.php
Still awaiting next shower, so OH has mowed back lawn – that one didn’t get fed treated as he ran out of stuff. Atmosphere feels very heavy – really wish it would rain now.
Lots of confusion on here re pics and posts Goshawks, Eagles of various persuasions, Geese etc!
I’ll make it worse with my LotL Osprey pictures (now 2 whole weeks ago!)!
I did feel so uncomfortable there! When I had the camera at the picture window for the feeders, I was sure the monitoring woman, recording movements of Lady Marge and the Laird, was watching me like a Hawk (or Osprey) so I didn’t dare take a picture of her wonderful new HD screen! And I felt that nobody was as friendly as last year – didn’t see Peter at all. Anyway, the birds: Lady had just had a break and remained almost hidden (that nest cup is very deep), but Laird had just come off incubation duties and had a wee fly around the hills before I spotted him landing in a tree across the Loch.
She is so hidden that the top of her head is the little domed bump just below what I assume is the microphone baffle at right of nest:
Laird:
Stop Press: rain has just begun! Very gentle so far. Cleaner came and went - I think we'll get on okay with her.
Amazing Slo-Mo of Red Kites from Birdguides, Alan – thanks. I love the way the tail is used as a brake!
Lynette – picture doesn’t’ say “Lady” to me – but not expert at ID of individuals! Whoever it is, copyright will still belong to the artist or to SWT if he transferred it along with the image!!
Sheila – that young Goldie will probably be part of the current Raptor study – senseless slaughtering of the innocent!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Thank you, Alan
That's one great link . Golly the nest is swaying !!! Must be very windy there. That's another link booked marked. Now I Have to go out - won't be back until about 9 pm so I'll catch up with you all later.
OG we posted over each other. Yes, I can just make out Lady's head . The Laird looks supreme ! Thanks.
Now, I really do have to dash..............
Coincidence, as there was talk on here about Bowling as a sport, yesterday: here is an article which explains the sport:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12911969
My OH does the Crown Green kind, and has been playing since a young man. (the others were all 'old' to him, when he started!) This is played in the North of England mostly, and the Flat Green kind is played in the South. I have a set of bowls (2) but only play about once in a blue moon, as I'm not a Team Game type of person, and only play my OH now and then. He also plays golf, when he can, but can't find the time very often. There have been several closures of greens around this area in recent years - the pubs are just not interested in promoting the sport and often turn the Greens into car parks.
OG: You are the second person to remark about the atmosphere at LOTL's. I met a blogger from the other side last week in Inverness at she went there on the way up and you have summed up exactly her comments to me. Such a shame as feedback has normally been so good.
So sad about the loss of another satelite tracked bird of prey. Not sure castration is good enough!!!
Hip hip hooray we have rain today...sad to say this but I am happy, my garden is very happy and my farmer is very very very happy.
Visit to Mersehead 24th April.
This will be my last photo of Barnacle Geese until they come back in October – there are very few left on the Solway as most have set off to Svalbard:
Curlew on the marshes – probably a lot dryer after recent dry weather!
Gorse banks – loads of Gorse blooming around Dumfries and Galloway:
Still at RSPB Mersehead.
Male Greenfinch:
Male Chaffinch:
Female Greenfinch: