Weekly Chat, Sunday, December 20 2009

TerryM : just checked the Abernethy feeder cam and I have never seen so many coal tits. They are buzzing round the feeders like hummingbirds.

Weather here today has been very cold but no more snow. It was sunny earlier but now overcast.

Temp -0.7c Feels like -2c Uncomfortably cold Sunrise 08:09 Sunset 15:49.

Paul : No nuthatches here but this is a photo I took of one when on holiday in Wales

Hello everyone.

Margobird:  I know exactly what you mean about birds eating as fast as you can put the food out.  Sometimes the ground feed can be gone in just an hour or two.  But at least I know it's money well spent.

OG:  Sorry to hear your travel plans got scuppered.  Hope it all works out for you tommorrow.

DjoanS:  Icy pavements are a nightmare.  I find in situations like that a lot of journeys on foot seem to take forever and I'm always on the verge of becoming a temporary inspector of pavements.

TerryM:  Thanks for posting the Abernethy feedercam link.  Lots of coal tits, and a robin to add a festive touch. 

Annette: Poor birds could do with a hot-water bottle in the weather where I am.

Alan:  Brilliant nuthatch picture.  Thanks for posting it.

Stay warm and safe everyone.

Paul.

morning all.

OG, sorry about your distruped plans, hope it is better for you tomorrow

Margobird, hope you feel better soon

Alan/Paul, great pictures, thanks for putting them on.

Running around today as I'm sure most people are.

Take care all those traveling, even into the garden.

Had a heavy fall of snow during the night and the snow is about six inches deep now so have had a day inside today and wrapped presents and cooked the red cabbage for christmas day now it just has to be heated up.  I am lucky that I have only about 300 yards to walk to my sister in law's for my christmas dinner as the road reports for anyone who has any distance to travel isn't very promising. Had a visit from some starlings, blackbirds and robin this morning but they don't stay long as the gulls and the pidgeons seem to frighten them when they dive down.  Hope all keep safe and warm during this cold spell. 

Morning all: Quick hallo before zoom off again. Plan to finish all food/pressie shopping today. Must also go to Costco to buy a couple of their fab (Christmasy) flower bouquets. Also to Vons for ice cream and brussel sprouts (not to eat together though).  Alan: Nuthatch looks a lot like our jays (noisy egomaniacs). Heron, heating pad might be more welcome - and easier since you wouldn't have to keep refilling it.  George: Sounds like the ideal travel plan for Christmas dinner!  Off I go...

Hi, Annette.   Glad to hear you're not eating the sprouts with the ice-cream!  Did my last shop this am. also collected our turkey, so can relax now (ha ha).

george g   How nice that you don't have to go far for your festivities. It sounds as if an awful lot of people are going to have to change their plans for travel, what a shame. (including OG:   hope your trip is not spoilt & all works out in the end...)

Heron77:   Thanks for the garden pic, looks like our patch of lawn where we throw the scraps- lots of larger birds swoop in & bag them quickly.

Margobird;    Glad you are keeping indoors, safe dry warm & upright!  Don't get a head cold- take some whisky to drown the germs.

Alan:  Thanks for links, will look later, busy just now....

AQ:   Seems strange to hear of your temperatures when we are all wearing 3/4 layers of clothing! Do let us know the outcome of your interesting sounding puds.

Tiger;  That Palemale site is just amazing, I find myself gasping out loud at the quality of the pics.

Dog is asleep in the hall (as usual) as I write.  He prefers to drink the green slimey water collected in the bases of trees when we are out, goodness knows what's in it.  Have had to hide his Christmas presents under the stairs, as even when wrapped, they smell of "petshop" & he knows its for him!

Today's bird sightings.

Inside Knights Garden Centre, Betchworth, Surrey, a robin (very festive looking) singing in the greenery of the orchid department. Apparently, over the last three months, has taken up residence indoors, waiting to be let in at opening time and leaves just before closing time. He/she is actually watching the customers shopping, whilst giving them a full rendition of the song repertoire.

In the garden at home, hopping around the paving, which is not covered in ice, two wagtails, probably the yellow variety, but difficult to tell in the poor light as they don't stay still for a second.

With best wishes for a Happy Christmas,

jsb.

OG sounds like a good decision not to go away today, hope tomorrow brings better news, but I am sure you will not risk anything.

Some good birdie photos -thank you. Must remember to take our camera into Culloden forest tomorrow. It looks stunning with the snow still lying heavy on the trees. In our housing estate the only place to walk is the road. The pavements are really hard work.

JSB  I love that story of the robin in the garden centre. He sounds a real wee cutie. Wouldn't it be a good idea if those who listen to his song could donate to the RSPB? We had a robin years ago when we lived in Fife who knew that I would always open the kitchen door to put bird food out at 7. 30 in the morning and he was always there waiting for me on the fence. I do hope that the new incumbants continued to do the same.

Thanks for your good wishes, patriciat.  Mad in or near our shops, too. Not going anywhere tomorrow! all day doing preparations (family coming Christmas Day, drinks party - only small- Boxing Day, family slob-about after a dog walk, Sunday.)  A lot of work for all, but still enjoy it & we are very lucky to have families who love to visit us.

As someone else said, and in case a lot of you are going to be travelling or too busy to get on this blog tomorrow, I send my little offering today instead of tomorrow:

        xxxxXXX              A  CHRISTMAS  WISH         XXXxxxx

I send to you a Christmas wish

O, Osprey Friends of mine.

I hope that all your holidays

Are restful, fun and fine.

==================

I've so enjoyed the daily chat,

Of things mundane, of this & that-

The penguins, dogs and leafblowers, too:

The pandas in the distant zoo,

New plumbing, galahs, & horses neat,

Kittens with their noses sweet-

The hummers, & the garden birds,

The things which others find absurd

Like llamas, cats & tearooms in the sun

Or finding silly things to pun.

===========

So now the end of year is nigh

I say, with tear just in my eye:

"I hope that All is good for you, &

Wish you Good Health

For next year, too."