See that Annette has been too busy perhaps, to start a new week, so I'm doing the honours. Rather wet in this part of the world this morning, so doing lots of tidying & Christmas preparing stuff.
Hazel b said: Annette. Are they not starlings?
Annette. Are they not starlings?
Yes they certainly are starlings Tiger. One of my favourite birds though not everyone will agree with my sentiments :)
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data
I thought they look a lot like starlings, but am a bit confused because they seem more colourful than ours, yet I heard somewhere that the starlings in Central Park were introduced by a naturalist who was convinced that America should have examples of all British birds - much to the annoyance of users of the park who get pooped on or tread in guano!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
you lot have been busy this afternoon:)
Enjoyed all the chat. I have a question for Alan or someone. What makes Boundary a "Mill" store? Looking at the wensite it doesn't seem to be near a river! Very impressive
Joan what a lovely weekend and so thoughtful. Puts the rest of us men (well, me!!) to shame!!
more about US starlings..
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/european_starling/id
Hello everyone.Thanks to everyone who's welcomed me. It's took my a wee while to join this group but I'm so glad I have.Maureen/ Hillary H. So sorry to hear about your news. It's fantastic you're being so postive. My thoughts are with you.Tiger. That's a brilliant list of sunrise and sunset times. Do you know any good websites where I could check sunrise/ sunset times?ChloeB. You can count me as a big fan of starlings. Fantastic birds.Gary. That's a wonderful picture. A beautiful winter scene.Happy saturday to everybody.
Paul.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
Alan – know Boundary Mill (and most of the A1) from trips down to Cambridge while father-in-law was alive – most usually visited the Garden Centre there for bird food/coffee/loo stop! By the way, have they finished all the A1 junction improvements yet? They were a nightmare when we went down for his funeral. Thanks for reminder of Mallachie – the one with the gentle-looking face! I often browse through my saved pictures of the three girls.
Annette – daisies photo at the Eden Project in Cornwall was 2002 when it was quite new. It was our last holiday to SW England as we moved here 2003. My parents had lived in Somerset so we visited their area, met up with a cousin and then went further down to “do” gardens in Cornwall.
Lindybird – couldn’t cope with “Strictly” with Alisha replacing the real dance expert Arlene – and I haven’t even heard of most of this year’s celebs anyway!!!
DjoanS – welcome back from Dublin and your Christmassy things – hope you have energy left for Christmas itself!! Pleased you enjoyed it.
Gary – I think it’s “Mill” as in cloth production – would have originated as a weaving company (maybe water-powered at first then later steam), but when they all started losing out as producers, many turned to retail – firstly textile related then latterly selling anything they can, and gradually leaving their old town premises and opening in retail parks! Thanks for link re starlings – I remember now, it wasn’t all British birds, but the introducer was a Shakespeare enthusiast and it was all birds mentioned in Shakespeare (I think starlings occur in one of the sonnets, but I will possibly be corrected!!!
Heron77 – so pleased you decided to join our weekly chat thread – we are all learning such a lot from one another, and count each other as friends. You will probably find this current thread will be replaced overnight Saturday and somebody, most likely Annette, will start a new one in the (British) early hours of Sunday morning – otherwise the thread gets very long and tangled!
Yes I know one of the very best. See http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/cgi-bin/srs_uk.cgi?Grid=1&Map.x=299&Map.y=415
This gives sunrise and sunset for any part of the British Isles. Just click the place you want.
For worldwide cam watching I like this one. See http://www.eeph.com/~matthew/world.gif
Tiger Signature
My google-finger got the better of me!
Shakespeare refers to a starling only once - in Henry IV part One, Act 1 Scene 3.
OG, you know much more about Shakespeare than I do!! Thanks for the info about the "Mills" business.
Heron77, glad you liked the picture. Joining a group is the hardest part but now you'll think you have been here for ages,
Off out to a low key party tonight so catch up later:)
Hello.
Tiger. Thanks for the link. It's very much appreciated.
Gary. I know exactly what you mean.
Paul