Weekly Chat, Sunday November 8

Off to watch/video that in a minute, Sandy, thanks.

Cold and foggy here today.  The fog hung over the fields near us, all day, without lifting much.

Margobird:   Don't worry about housework- just get yourself better (and enjoy the concert).

george g:      Nice to hear from you again, hope you can get the fire sorted out in time for the depths of winter. These thing s never seem to happen at a convenient time, do they?

auntie:   Thanks for the info about the music, will investigate!

Alan:  See Thunderbirds have infiltrated 'Strictly' now, even Craig knows about it!  Wasn't it enjoyable to see the lovely ballroom in Blackpool?

Diane:   thanks for the link to the Nat ~Geogr. site, enjoyed the Owls, Condors & Ospreys!  So sorry to hear that you are still poorly, and your Dad, hope you can feel better soon.

Just come back on, to report that the "Life" episode was most enjoyable, and included the bit about the hummingbird mentioned a couple of days ago, you remember the one who did make such an effort to 'woo fair lady' ?  Unfortunately, it seemed to be a bit inconclusive about his success- she appeared to just hop off, but I like to think that maybe she returned later! That's women for you!  Hope you overseas bloggers get to see the series before long.

For the dog lovers out there, a couple of lines from Ogden Nash:

THE DOG        The truth I do not stretch or shove

When I state the dog is full of love.

I've also proved, by actual test,

A wet dog is the lovingest.

Love the Ogden Nash dog quote - so true!

Way behind with catching up on Autumn Watch, Life etc - keep getting busy with voluntary tasks, and this evening decided to clear out some books - tabletop sale for homeless drop-in this coming weekend.

So ... now to bed.

Here's a doggie quote from Will Rogers (a Cherokee-American cowboy, social commentator, and actor among other things who was popular in the early 1900s):  "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."

O. Goldfinch: Thanks for the flowers. Those are extraordinarily gorgeous! Just beautiful!!!

I so appreciate everyone's kind words and concern.

Hey, Annette: On that National Geographic video site, take a look at the Pileated Woodpecker video. Look under "Woodpeckers" on the menu on the left. I went outside yesterday to get the mail, and my Pileated Woodpecker squawked loudly at me. He sat in a tree and told me off proper, absolutely indignant that I dared to disturb him. LOL They are so big and prehistoric looking. I also liked that "Hoot Cuisine" video, where the owlet is trying to eat that bizarrely dusty moth.

Take care, everyone.

Good Night/Morning All!

I took a trip to our local home center store early this afternoon and I was scanning the sky as usual, it's a wonder I haven't fallen in to a hole yet, when my eye spied a very large bird perched on a billboard; a Red-tailed Hawk! We almost never see these hawks in the city and it turned out there was a pair of them. I was just beside myself and watched them for nearly half an hour but wished to have stayed all day.

Diane: Thanks very much for the Nat'l Geo link, more birds to watch is always a good thing! And a you have a pet Pileated you say? Tres cool!

Auntie: Your music suggestion sounds interesting and I will definitely check it out.

I haven't checked the blog yet! I'd better fly off and see what our girls have been up to. 

Lindybird: So our lady hummingbird was playing hard to get, eh? What a tease!

Diane: Just watched those videos - Hoot Cuisine was a hoot - I half-expected the owlet to cough up dusty bits of feathers when it finally choked down the moth. Those Pileated Woodpeckers certainly have somewhat discomfiting profiles - you can see the resemblance to their dinosaur-era forebears;  I also watched both Acorn Woodpecker videos since they're in our neighborhood;  the "Power Struggle" one showed another side of nature we have to accept (stepmoms killing off their stepchicks!)  Lovely!

Hey Caerann:  It'd be interesting to know if the red-tailed hawks are being seen more frequently in the city. In fact, I Googled "red-tailed hawks in Chicago" and came up with this amazing photo, printed in the UK's Daily Mail of all places, showing a kingbird atop one such hawk. Did you read about this when it happened (was in late October of this year)?  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1224181/How-little-bird-David-defended-young-Goliath-red-tailed-hawk-mid-flight-peck-head.html

Hadn't had a chance to post this yet: