HAPPY NEW WEEK!
Time flies and so do ospreys! This week will usher in the month of March. The ospreys are starting to feel that little spark in their hearts that says, "It's time to go home!"
Don't forget to look back to last week's chat thread or you will miss some good comments, including a post from Emma Peel! Welcome back, Emma!
News for This Week
2012 is a Leap Year, and Wednesday, 29 February, is Leap Day. I intend to honor this day by re-evaluating my own life, leaving behind some negative, unproductive old habits and leaping forward with both feet into a brighter future.
"Don't be afraid to take a big step. You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps." -- David Lloyd George
_____________
Also: Watch for aurora activity -- Northern Lights -- starting today! On 24 February, an eruption on the sun created a "canyon of fire" that stretched 400,000 km from end to end (video here, scroll down on the page)! The energy cloud is expected to hit the Earth's atmosphere on 26 February at 1:30 p.m. U.K. time (13:30 UT/GMT). The Northern Lights will be visible much further south than normal and may be a good show.
Also: I had to include this link because I just love birds' nests. Check out this incredible U.S. House Finch nest, which includes a fake flower, sewing scraps, a twisty tie, cellaphane, plastic, paper, and all manner of household items. The photographer has created a book of birds' nests and eggs. You can see more of her gorgeous and interesting bird creations HERE. Just click on a thumbnail photo to start the slideshow. I loved these!!! (EDIT: The nests and eggs were part of collections in science and zoology museums; no current wild birds were disturbed.)
Also: Especially for Annette and AQ: Australian researchers have revealed that they've filmed a pod of rare Shepherd's beaked whales for the first time in history. These whales are so rare that no population estimates even exist. They've only been seen twice and never filmed at all!
Everyone have a great week! Roll on spring!
OG - what super pics, don't undermine yourself they are super and very handsome swans to boot.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
just been looking at the webcams. late afternoon at Harrison Bay, early evening at Norfolk and both eagles on board. Decorah - mum was at the side of the nest with the eggs exposed in a howling wind, flew off and then back and sat on the eggs - I suppose this is normal!!! For some reason it isn't playing ball for posting pics - will keep trying.
OG love your swan pictures. They are brilliant!
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data
OG: Glorious swans! Swans are so elegant and they're also so self-confident!
Evening all: Lovely day here; puttered in garden, took a nap, now watching the Academy Awards "Red Carpet" pre-show show where the hyperbole is flying thick and fast! :-) But darn it, I'm going to miss (ooh - there's gorgeous George Clooney arriving!) being part of the "Oscar Fashion Conversation" on Twitter (not being on Twitter). Amazing amounts of gushy compliments being indiscriminately bestowed on everyone. Will I be able to hang in until the bitter end?
Sandra: Looks like someone lost their head in that third shot.
Alan: What a shame about the eagle nest; let's hope that chick can hang in there.
OG: What lovely graceful creatures - love that third shot with the duck lurking... Have the silverware at the ready along with some nice clean rags. OH is getting take out tonight.
Lynette: Thanks for the bear links; will catch them later.
OH and I watched what seemed like a "plague" of finches descend on the feeders yesterday evening and scarf an entire bowl of seed! None of the other birds got a look in coz the finches jammed in everywhere. Of course, no camera at hand. But it was at hand for this dark stranger....
And, of course, the only reason we installed an automatic sprinkler system was so Lightning could have fresh water available in all parts of the garden!
Well, the Academy Awards ended on schedule; a fairly sedate show. Got all the silver polished and now The Old Curiosity Shop with Eric Jacobi is on, then off to bed. Have a good Monday all.
OG - Lovely swans. Such elegant ceatures. We wonder if we shall ever see the 'City of Adelaide' aka 'Carrick' . She was supposed to be here last Dec for 175th anniversary of colony's founding. Then, will we be able to look after her? For Jubilee150 in 1986 we built the 'One & All', a tall ship used for sail training. Alas her operator has gone into liquidation. Richard Branson has been asked to help.
Lynette & OG - I have been writing up my random memories for some time. I was very surprised that OH was willing to share. Must strike while the iron is hot!
Iron, what a horrid word. I have run out of cool clothes, until I iron I shall have to stay home. Not today. Sticky day, 32C max in city, only 28 here, no rain tho' humidity was as high as 72% when I checked earlier. Physio appt this morn. Oh, I am such a good student! Got such praise! Came home, had lunch, pottered a bit & slept the pm away. Dau#2 phoned this morn, her preamble was so long I thought she was wanting me up there <sigh> to help out. OK I am reasonably free this week, b-u-u-t I am so lethagic with this weather. Instead, she invited herself to tea (dinner) tomorrow night as her OH has a work dinner to attend. Yeay, cooking extra for her is easy, erm, when I decide what. She had always come home on Shrove Tues for pancakes (not this year), so I think it will be apple fritters for dessert. Now, main course? LittleMiss has graduated to minute quantites of baby rice or pumpkin & sweet potato.
EDIT - (Later). I had just hit "post" when Dau phoned to change date to Wed. OK.
I love watching Jewel and her Cubs. One of them was born with a temper! lol :-)
If nothing goes right, go left! :-)
Sandra P said: I love watching Jewel and her Cubs. One of them was born with a temper! lol :-)
Have they got names yet? I got really into the Lily/Hope story which as you probably know had a very sad ending.
Tiger Signature
Morning all. It's very wet and unpleasant here, again! Garden is waterlogged again, just when it was beginning to dry out. Oh well, we could be having AQ's horrible hot and clammy weather.
I haven't been watching Jewel and her cubs. The Lily and Hope story was so sad that I'd rather not get so involved this time.
Have just arranged to have hall, staircase and landing re-painted, starting Thursday. There will be a problem keeping dogs away from wet paint on skirting boards and architraves but at least the doors don't need done as they were all replaced not too long ago. It will be good to get it all freshened up. The young man who does our garden work is going to do it - I no longer have a head for heights (and always hated decorating anyway!) I'm in process of shopping for a new camera, using my Tesco vouchers to part-fund the purchase! I used to put them towards the cost of ferry fares to Scotland but can see no prospect of that this year and I'd love a digital SLr, so here goes. Don't be expecting masterpieces like thos posted by others on this site - you all know who! Osprey arrival time is getting very close, then how will we all get the dreaded HW and other necessary chores done?