Happy new week folks! Don't foget to check the last few posts of the previous week. Heron posted a photo of a female reed bunting, AQ saw a "ginormous flock of corellas" (must Google that!), OG has found a nice B&B for her trip, Alan posted a nifty shot of the changing of the guard at the eagle nest, folks are wondering how Diane is doing with the storm the big storm back East, and much, much more! :-) We had almost 2 inches of rain in Santa Barbara today, which is brilliant. Still sorting files and likely to be doing so for a day or three to come. Take care all.
Hi Gary, the reports of the explosion look very serious and reports I have read vary on the number of people, who were killed. On a more cheerful subject, I am quite happy with England's win yesterday ( as long as they play better next match) but didn't want to comment on Scotland's result today as I 'think' there may be people on here, who support Scotland. I know you understand !!
Cirrus, have a wonderful week yourself
Diane, it does look very bad. They have now reported at least 2 killed but they think about 50 may have been in the damaged building at the time. Terrible
Brenda, I know exactly what you mean:))) Roll on the next game.
Hi Cirrus.
Just took this screenshot of Phoebe with the sun shining on her back:
Sunday evening – defo not allergy, now full-blown cold – temp, sneezing, running eyes and feel really grotty. Been watching and enjoying various cams most of the day – btw Pete’s Pond seems to be showing video loops, no live output, is it cos wot’s her name is on hols again?
Terry – pleased you enjoyed your time at Mersehead – haven’t been for ages – OH suggested snowdrops at Broughton House (Kirkcudbright) but I said I’m not going anywhere right now! So glad you saw our starlings too - I wondered why you didn’t wave!! I wish I could put address somewhere for a refreshment stop, but don’t want the world to know it!
Diane – sorry NASA disappointed you – does that mean another early morning when they reschedule? At risk of getting shot down in flames, ceilidhs these days are often like barn dances, but in the past they were more participatory, where many of the community did something, from the old folk telling stories, through all the traditional music, to the weans giving their latest party piece! I am sure they are still like that in parts of the Highlands and Islands. Your forest sounds so interesting, having so many species, and some of them such old trees too.
AQ – are your Corellas the Little Corellas (I think yellow) or the Western Slim-bill Corellas (can’t find pic of them only the Eastern species with red on their chests)?
Annette – hope you see some whales to count – are they on migration when you see them?
Alan – thanks for Eagle pics as usual – do you think W V eagle will lay any more eggs? And the Dunedin Osprey baby – a lovely thought that it’s only a few months away for Loch Garten! Phoebe is looking so good, but Sassy is still giving cause for concern.
Maureen/Hilary – hello again! I too am a fan of Ailsa the baby Rhino – a real attention seeker and a “handful” for her Mum!
Gary – so pleased to know you are safe – as Diane said, terrible for the workers and their families – I believe one report says they are having to search under part of the plant.
Brenda – can’t really pretend to be interested in rugby, but would have preferred a win for Scotland!
That may be all from me for today – unless I stay up late because I can’t lie down. Good night all!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Lots to read on here already. Thanks, as usual, to Alan for the great pics of both the eagles & the hummingbird.
Diane: Heard about the delay of the shuttle launch- how frustrating when you had risen so early. In the 'old days' my father and I used to stay up very late at night, or get up very early, to watch the launches of the early astronauts, with awe and wonder. When I see the launches now, I still get that shiver, to think what brave men/women they are to do such adventurous things. A bit sad to hear that the moon base is now not to be built, but then it would have cost such a lot, it would have been morally wrong to do it when there are so many people on earth in need. Loved hearing about the locust trees with their hummingbird laden vines!
Gary: The accident sounds very bad, hope there are not too many casualties.
DjoanS: Was interested to hear that you saw such a big flock of goldfinches, what a thrill.
Annette: Hope the weather is kind for your whale count. You will be getting plenty of fresh air, with that and the roses to see to, as well.
Caerann; Hope you are returned safely from your journey to the Wedding, and that you enjoyed yourselves.
We are fine, but our youngest son has had a bad case of flu all this week & now has given it to his spouse, we don't know if its swine flu or just the usual winter kind. Little Puppy Meg who you have all admired in the photos, has had a touch of cystitis & so it was off to the vets for a jab & some pills: she is already improving.
Enjoyed our walk through the fields this morning, didn't see many birds but it was nice to get some fresh air & admire the trees with their spidery arms up to the sky, before they get their new suits of clothes!
Hi everyone.Happy Sunday, and a happy new week to all. Had a fairly quiet day, listened to Celtic come from 2-1 down to get through a tricky Scottish Cup tie at Dumfermline by 4-2. Glad we're in the hat for the next round draw but can't understand why the draw won't be made until Wednesday. Then watched the rugby. To be honest I'm not really expecting too much from Scotland this year. I'd be happy with a couple of wins. I'm not sure there'll be a Grand Slam winner this year but think the championship will be a two possibly three horse race. Should be very interesting.Annette: Thanks for get us started in another new weekly thread. That's a lot of rain you're getting. Sounds more like Glasgow, in the Fair Fortnight, than Califonia. I hope the whale count goes well. Diane: Glad you missed out on the worst of the wintry weather, although I feel bad for the poor people subjected to the full severity of it. That's a lovely discription of the woods sounding like a giant set of wind chimes. Must've been great to hear.OG: I was absolutley delighted to have a visit from a reed bunting. Funilly enough I don't live that near any marshland. The nearest water body to the house is a small burn. Any marshland or larger water courses are a fair bit away. Her visit was a nice surprise. Although to be honest I'm not sure about a reed bunting's flight range. BTW that's wise words about why Sunday is the first day of the week. :-)TerryM: Glad you went to Mersehead to see the barnacle geese. We stayed in Dumfries last October (2009), and managed to get to Mersehead and Caerlaverock. I really enjoyed seeing the geese in such large numbers. That must've been great to see all those starlings on the way back.Alan: Thanks for the pics. Those eagles look magnificant. What a lovely shot of the osprey chick being fed. Thanks for the youtube link. Lovely pic of Pheobe.Gary: Glad you're okay. That power plant explosion sounds absolutely horrible. I just can't imagine what the poor workers and their families are going through.Stay safe everyone.Paul.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
OG, so sorry you feel so grotty. Hope you manage to get some sleep. I can understand why you wanted to stay in today, but I have noticed all the snowdrops seem to have opened around here the last couple of days. They look lovely along all the grass verges and gardens. Take care.
Hi Paul: Was just going to say, loved your pic of the Reed Bunting, what a pretty bird & how nice to have a new visitor. Men in my family have been busy watching both football & rugby this weekend, but I'm looking forward to next weekend,when the Winter Olympics start. (Although apparently, we have only one person to cheer for this time, & that's just a slip of a girl riding on a tea tray!)
Hi BrendaH: Just looked to see where you live,as only a few of our snowdrops are out yet. Theyre always welcome as the 1st flowers of the year.
Hi, Linda, we live in a very rural village but only about six miles from the coast. The snowdrops seemed to open suddenly after lying dormant for so long.