Weekly Chat, Sunday, January 24 2010

P.S> Got this response from the RSPB web folks about the recent problems:

We are aware of the problem and are working on it as matter of priority,
unfortunately we are yet to get to the bottom of it. It's a strange
problem in that it only affects one of our servers (we have two) and
only between midday and midnight.

Liz LFW I sometimes go to Muddy Boots as I like their bread and the tablet they make is to die for. I also use Blankettyside farm which is just outside Leven as the vegtables there are always fresh. If I am at Vane Farm I sometimes go around to the other side of the loch to the Loch Leven Larder as they have a great selection of cheeses and  jams and they all do great home baking.  It is interesting to find out the different species of birds that are visiting the bloggers gardens and how there are some birds that are common to all parts of the country and even in some cases even other continents. When the same birds are in different continents and they are smaller than the british one does this mean that they haven't needed to fight for their food as much or what?  The sun was shinning again this morning but it is starting to dull over now and the forecast is to get colder in the next few days .  Congratulations to Andy Murray on reaching the final 

George g: I was just going to comment on Andy Murray reaching the final. I did not think he played as well as he did against Nadal but in the end got the job done with one or two magic moments.

I was unaware that kestrels were smaller in the US than they are here. I always thought everything was bigger there. LOL

Anyway you learn something new every day on this site. I just hope I can take it all in.

Auntie : Amazing picture of the sea eagle in Helsinki.

Margobird : I will check out that link later as there is a strange yellow orb in the sky today and I am about to go outside to investigate with my faithful companion the Thunderdog.

FAB 

Annette (and Liz)

Re: your query about use of the forum once the new season starts - I would suggest running separate threads here in the forum as follows:

Daily Update  For commenting/speculating on what's happening at LG. For me, the Forum is a much better place  to do this than the blog comments, as update is instant here and you can post screen shots, which was good last year. Restart as soon as an osprey is seen at the LG nest and/or the webcam is switched on.

Weekly Chat  Just continue as now, for all the social/off topic stuff - It might slow down once the Daily Updates begin, but we can see how it goes. 

I've wondered if we should have a rethink about how we use the "Tracking......." threads before northward migration starts, but will raise that over there.

As to the use of the LG blog comments area, the "purist" view would be that now we have a Forum, the blog comments should mainly be used for giving feedback to the LG staff. They don't need to know about fish deliveries etc as they're recording them onsite. Of course, it won't be like that in practice, as less frequent users and new arrivals tend to post on the blog comments first - but we can post messages/links there, to encourage them to come over to the Forum.  

Does that make sense? PS If we aren't "serious osprey fans"  - indeed obsessives - who is?    

Good afternoon Alan so pleased you have that strange yellow orb.  It has visitied here for a while this morning but clouds are winning now.  I agree Andy Murray did not play as well today and I think he will have to get himself together if he is to beat Roger Fedderer.

Hope you and Thunderdog enjoy your walk.

I agree with Sue C, in her reply to Annette.  I had been giving it some thought and had come to the same conclusion. It is fantastic that we are now thinking that the time is now so near for the return of 'our birds'.

We have had what the weather men call Sunny Intervals but they omit to say how short the intervals are!

Thanks for all the interesting blogs and links. I have enjoyed them.

Hi everyone.

Congratulations to Andy Murray of getting to the Australian Open final.  I done my bit by avoiding the game, so as not to jinx him.  I'll keep the same tactic up for the final.  There was a slight frost this morning but nothing to cause any havoc.  Don't know if I could handle another dose of really cold weather, and feel really bad for anyone who's suffering from rough weather.  I could do with a wee bit of sunshine now and again though.  Hold on, I'll just look out the window...

Sunlight did put up a good fight in the earlier rounds of the bout and looked like gaining an advantage by use of clever combinations and excellent body shots, much to the annoyance of pre-fight favourite, Cloud Cover.  However it was noticeable that after suffering a cut above the left eye, halfway through the fourth round, Sunlight began to lose confidence and although the cut might not have been the turning point, it's probably safe to say that cloud cover's vicious right hook, after great use of the left jab, certainly was.  Sunlight's cuts man Light Breeze, did frantic work on the wound but the Sunlight camp would've been glad that the cut was such that even if it did re-open, blood would run away from the eye, thus not affecting vision. 

With the words of veteran coach Heavy Showers, ringing in his ears, Cloud Cover charged out for round five, determined to finish the job.  His game plan of using the jab to deflate the opponent before moving inside was certainly proving to be effective.  It's only due to mountainous levels of courage, on the part of Sunlight, that the fight wasn't ended in the 5th.  Out for the sixth round and with the previous two rounds scored as 10-8 in favour of Cloud Cover, Sunlight's desperation was obvious, and foolish.  The smart combinations that saw him take advantage in the first three rounds were gone.  Replaced by frantic swings, mostly missing, and the ones that did manage to connect were largely grazing blows with no effect. 

Like an osprey knowing a fish is slow and weak, Cloud Cover moved up a gear to finish the fight with devastating aplomb.  A thunderous uppercut to the stomach of Sunlight was followed by an exquisite left and right combo that had the underdog swaying.  It was easy for all to see, and with the referee considering stopping the fight, with 53 seconds remaining of the 6th, Cloud Cover ended the bout with a ferocious left hook.  This caught the brave and unfortunate Sunlight square on the jaw, sending him plummeting to the canvas.  There was no question that the referee would reach the count of ten.  It was only after 12 seconds that Sunlight gingerly got to his feet and was helped to his corner, looking like a weather condition well beaten.  Cloud Cover celebrated with his corner team, and took the applause of the crowd, on a day's work that might not have started too well but most obviously finished in a manner to his liking.  It should be noted though that his next fight is likely to be against High Winds, a far tougher opponent.

Or to put it another way: It looked like it might get bright earlier but now it looks quite dreich.

Made the mistake of not posting yesterday, although I have enjoyed reading.  There are so many great pictures, links, stories, comments etc that it'd probably take too long to effectively reply to them all.  I like the idea of a thread dedicated to Loch Garten, when the season starts; in addition to the weekly chat thread.

Anyway, I'll finish my ramblings and wish everyone a safe and happy Thursday.

Here's one from the photo archives.  :-)

Paul.

Thanks Paul for the blow by blow account of todays weather. I think the sunlight will have more chance when the return bout comes up in the spring.

Sue C : I go along will all your comments re the daily and weekly threads.

And now for a more serious subject. On the French migration site there is a link to a petition to stop the illegal killing of protected birds in Malta. I have signed this petition and if you want to sign here is the link:

http://www.migraction.net/index.php?m_id=1164#N449

Auntie Wonderful picture of the sea eagle.  Sorry you are having horrible weather.  Stay indoors and spoil yourself with comfort eating!