Weekly Chat, Sunday, January 3, 2010!!

 Tiger thanks for the link very moving when it is set to music.  Don't know if I am right but thinks it comes from the following web site which will be up and running again in March April. There are 6 different cams all of the highest quality and I spent many a happy hour watching things unfold.

http://www.beleefdelente.nl/slechtvalk

Margobird     Yes and no. It cerainly is the same nest but in 2007 the service was provided by Planet. I think they withdrew at the end of 2007 and there was no real coverage of the 2008 season when Pa did the practical thing and settled down with S2 and raised  four eyases with S2. Then the provider you gave the link to took over in 2009 and once again Pa and S2 raised a family (4?)

Oh that link is one of my all time favs. It was so fascinating last year. I never knew that kestrels v doves v jackdaws could be so interesting. I am sure the videos must still be available.

There is also a Dutch forum that goes with the cam. They rather helpfully provide a sub forum in English.

Not sure if you heard of Froona? She was big on peregrine webcams. Sadly she died last March and it was very sad.

Tiger : Thanks for the link and it reminded me of BigRabs videos from last summer.

Margobird : Thanks for the Netherlands link. Another one to add to my ever growing favourites.

Still snowing off and on. Will wait until later until I attempt to clear the paths as it would be a losing battle at the moment.

Weather : Overcast and gloomy,dry , Temp 0.9c , Uncomfortably cold , Wind NE 4mph , Sunrise 08:09 , Sunset 16:03.   

Seasonal topic .......UK energy demand. We have heard concerns about our power supply situation during this cold weather period that we are experiencing. I am interested in following the UK demand in real time. As I write this we are using over 55 Gigawatts of electricity, that's 55 thousand thousand kilowatts. Also we are exporting to France at present, Scotland is exporting to England, the North is exporting to the South and the UK is exporting the Northern Ireland. With live data, by the time you read this the data will have changed, you can view the live data on the National Grid website........

http://www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/Data/Realtime/Demand/Demand60.htm

However I cannot find the corresponding website for gas, only historic reports and news items in the press. If anyone else is interested and can find the gas data, please post the link.

oooOOOooo

I hope everyone is keeping warm. I found that after feeding the birds in the garden this morning I could turn the heating down a bit, as I found the house too warm. Nothing like some snow, to get the cardiovascular system going. My neighbours ragdoll cat was resting in the snow, after having climbed a tree to chase away some comatose pigeons. The cat was cold to touch, with his fur all puffed up, but he must have been feeling quite hot as his ears were roasting. :o))

Tiger you are right the site is very entertaining and I did now about Froona, it was through her site that I found quite a few web cams.  Tragic that she died at such an early age.  I like to think she is flying high wither her beloved peregrines.

margobird said:

Tiger you are right the site is very entertaining and I did now about Froona, it was through her site that I found quite a few web cams.  Tragic that she died at such an early age.  I like to think she is flying high wither her beloved peregrines.

Check out the post by Giovanna on the Italian forum about Froona. I found it one of the most moving things I have ever read. See http://www.birdcam.it/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3950

Very moving Tiger she was so popular and people so sad when she died.  I must admit when Ifirst read the news I was in tears.  It makes you wonder why the good die so young.

Hello & Good Afternoon All.   Just wrote a long post, then lost the whole lot because I pressed some key or other by mistake **%<**+%* !!!

Just back from walking into our town shops, (took a stick to steady myself, so felt about 120 yrs old). We have still got a lot of snow here & daren't get the car out in case we can't get it back into the driveway as our road is not really a through road so not much traffic to clear it. Wrapped up in several layers of clothes & enjoyed some fresh air as not been out of the house much lately due to the weather. Filled up the bird feeders hanging on our apple tree, which is our main feeding station, the birds were all queueing up in the tree even though every now & again there is a huge slithering sound followed by a crash, as the snow melts & falls from the conservatory roof in great clumps.

Diane:   loved your description of "Tigers of the Sky", & thanks for the info.

Alan:  Have watched the clip of the hummingbird laying the egg several times, she is so beautiful & that nest is a work of art.  What a lovely pic of Lady P that was!  See that Thunderbirds was a question last night on the Mastermind Programme:  I was shouting out the answer to the question about Parker, but the contestant didn't hear me! & couldn't answer.

jsb: Loved the story of the hot cat!  That breed have a lot of insulation.

Annette:   Hope your daughter is recovering well, it is a stressful time for you so hope youre taking some of the sensible advice on here & not forgetting to look after yourself, too. We are all thinking of you both.

Off I go to get some lunch, & find all those cardboard boxes under the stairs where we keep the rest of the Christmas decs. so we can get back to normal.  Take Care All.

Margobird, do take great care in the snowy garden.  It's so easy to fall!