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Caption competition.....

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Voting is over.

In First place with eight votes is Anne. Congratulations Anne.
Second place goes to Esses with five votes. Very well done Esses.
With two votes each Pat, Martha, Carol and Nan share Third place. Well done all.

Here is the list of all the entries....
Is that Top Cat Pizza - Can I have a 6" pizza with anchovies, chicken, and extra topping of anchovies... - Pat
Midnight! By the laptop! Bring the mousetraps! - Cathie C
I can hardly raise a paw I'm so hungry. - Tricia
One large salmon, no kibbles as soon as you can please. - Jess
For goodness' sake, what time to you call this? - Nuphar
Is that the plumber? Can we have a group discount for . . . ? - Derektherev
Yes - this is Glad, the rag doll speaking! - Sheila
All I can hear is heavy breathing. The beagle from next door must be chewing on the phone again. - Martha
Just cat chat! - Carol
......and can we have an extra portion of Bonito Flakes with that order please ? - Marion
Party was great... good food,..fish mousse...but the tail tickled all the way down..... - Mary
No! I DON'T want double glazing. - Esses
Can I call you later ? I'm havin' a nap right now. - Carmac France
Asked Dr what I should do as i've been feeling a bit giddy, his reply was to lie low for a while, so guess that means i've to stay on the floor. - Cas
CataPhonic - Anne
Of course I've voted for FFRC. - Nan


Well done to those who entered and thank you to all those who voted.

Anne run away winner
Esses very well done
Pat, Martha and Carol well done.
Well done to everyone who put a caption in.

Excellent caption Anne - on Top Spot
Esses - for Second

Nan, Carol, Pat and Martha
Thanks to all who entered for great entertainment.

Good morning all.
0 degrees here. Just had to share my joy to hear the robin singing just after 7 a.m. !! Can he be full of the joys of Spring? The days are stretching but I look to the week ahead and it is full of low low temperatures. Wonderful to have the hope and expectation of Spring not to far off I can hear him still. Thank you mr robin.
Enjoy your Sunday everyone!

Well done Cataphonic!!

Anne
well done Esses
Nan, Carol, Pat and Martha
Just off for the Sunday stroll, overcast day but fine and no wind.

ANNE 1st place
ESSES Very well done 2nd place
NAN MARTHA and PAT Well Done

Thankyou for my votes

Good morning to all.
Here is the link to vote for a bear organisation, friends of Doc and Sue.
Sure there are more importened things to vote for but thinking of Lily and Hope it would be nice to help them.

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Morning all

back to dull, wet and dreich here. Ah well, at least yesterday was cold and dry.

Thank you for my votes Congratulations to Esses, Carol, Martha, Pat and Nan

Off to get the camera and see who was around last night

Good morning all, it is a quietvillage this morning.
It ia dry but dull and overcast here and 0.5C.
Hope the sun gets through and it could be a nice day.
Ursula thanks for posting the link.
Carol hope you slept last night as I'm sure your head was buzzing. Am I right in thinking you had to replace your phone not too long ago?
Sheila glad you had such a lovely start to your day. Haven't heard my robins singing yet.

Well done Anne! A person with a wonderful intelligence! Derek will confirm that when I saw the pic I said Oh Catatonic, then couldnt for the life of me think how I could adapt it. Cathie C

Here is another link who could interess you

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hagd Ursula

Very well done to all the caption competition winners. It was very hard to choose this week.
Dull, cold and misty here today, loads of birds around on the feeders, did my bird watch early on and it was very successful and I have had another visit to my bird box.

Watching the tennis at the moment, Go Rafa go !!

Have a great day everyone whatever you are up to. xx

Late on this morning and not caught up with the posts as we've been doing the birdwatch.
The last half was a complete waste of time as we only saw 1 pied wagtail which we had already counted.
to Anne for winning this week comp.
to Pat, Martha Carol and Nan for 3rd place.
A big big to everyone who voted for us and put us in 2nd place.
Makes up for not seeing many birds.
Will now catch up on the posts.
Mrs Esse

Brrr. was decidedly raw out there this morning. Although the snow/ice is thawing and it is 2C, the damp air makes it feel much colder. Called in at the garden centre for some vouchers for my brothers birthday and bought a window feeder for us, duly installed and stocked.

congrats o all winners this week fantastic captions


cold damp perthshire here today not nice so indoors cosy hope every one else is too..

not a lot of birds by me today

weve had the presence of a hawk lately which never had before

l caught up with jean Millie and Marion Yesterday which was great hadnt seen Jean or Millie since Nov. so it was more rewarding[ we do keep in touch by phone most days but to see is better]

well must b away tidy up n ready for all thhis SNOW???? hope not

Afternoon, seems even quieter today on the bird front Was misty to start but now lifted, just grey.

Anne for winning. Was favourite from the beginning.
Esses on second place
Well Done Pat, Martha, Carol & Nan for third place
Ursula thank you for links. Hope all is well with you

Watched earlier as Pixi, quickly followed by Fizz (avatar) chased a fox away from the old cat food. Fizz stayed fully fluffed on the grass watching whilst Pixi stalked towards it along the fence top. Didn't realise she was so brave(foolish). Eventually the fox gave up and went next door.

Black bear update - Faith is using her voice

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Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday

Carol - so sorry to hear about the theft of your phone last night. Sickening isn't it that you cannot trust, wherever you go ......

I hadn't read the overnight posts so missed about Carol and her phone. How very mean.
Also meant to say how lovely to hear your wee robing singing away Sheila.

Possibly fly day has just been posted on cranecam. I do hope so

Anne nice to see the video of red bellied woodpecker that you captured. It's great to see so many different birds.
Liz what an extraordinary thing for that cat to do.
Sheila that was a great bird count for the BTO.
Carol sorry that you've had your phone stolen. Know what I'd like to do to those people

I see there's snow forecast for Wales today so hope everyone is safe and warm at home.

to those feeling under the weather

OM - that they get aloft today

Afternoon all, where has the days gone just finished putting out Christmas cards, don't panic they haven't been up all this time lol, so that's my list written out for next year
Oops forgot to say Very well done to Anne
2nd place to Esses
Joint 2rd for Pat, Martha, Nan and Carol, lovely to see one of our overseas friends winning as well
Big thanks to everyone who entered and voted, they never get any easier do they
Thanks to Pete for yet another competiton
Ursula nice to read your posts, I'm sure we are only too happy to vote for the bears, I did yesterday but it said i'd receive email but never so not sure if my vote ws counted, will try again the now,
lovely video of baby giraffe ebing born, think we all were waiting for the youngster to drop onto ground and ready with our ahhs, what a lovely experience for all, even the youngsters, anxious time for keepers wondering if birth would go well
Carol, so sorry about your phone, what a dampener on what was a lovely evening for you, hope you have a copy of all your contact numbers
Well done to everyone with birds in their garden, no use asking if i've seen any lol
Sheila hope you have a terrific time down in London, I was only there once but couldn't wait to get home to breathe clean air again sorry to those in big cities who cannot enjoy the fresh air of the countryside
Enjoy your day, off to do more cleaning and see what else I can get rid off, not going so well though
Hope everyone under weather feeling bit better today
Mary hope Perth doesn't get hit with too much snow, we have been so lucky so far, let's hope for a mild 3 months Always nice to chat with folks face to face, hope it won't be too long til your altogether again

Trike just took off for test flight. Joe is pilot of lead trike today. Keep your fingers crossed.

thanks Cas wthr been great up here cold frosty but nothing to stop me getting out so far forcast not so good for this week though but will see how it goes you might get more than me the way it looks

It was really nice to see Jean miss her terribly when l cant get down but we sspeak often n Millie doing great with her leg [l think weve got so used to seeing her in plaster over the years is been one thing or another l dont mean that in a bad way just didnt sound rite as im typing] but she wont be so long till it comes off and can really get on the move again Jean is coping admarbly well with every thing as she always does which is a great credit to her l just wish l could do more to help

1:26 HeatherRayOM: JD has all birds

1:27 HeatherRayOM: two broke away

Yes.....pics of cranes in flight

In the air & on their way

well done to Cranes, hope they travel more than 4 miles
Mary, I'm sure Jean will miss Millie and Millie47 and Misha once it's time to go home, hope the operation is a complete success for Millie and doesn't have to worry about her ankle right time to get on, thought my bear vote didn't go through but it has

Rodeo

Rodeo

JD has them back

Come on birds fly.
Going out to visit brother back later, hope the birds get a good fly today with no more messing about.

EarlyBird e-bulletin

January 29, 2012

The almost total calm and clear skies of 4AM remained virtually unchanged by sunrise. Hoping to find the forecast 5mph NNW winds aloft, the cranes and planes took to the air at 7:22.

Destination Walker County, AL here we come - - - - we hope!

1:43 HeatherRayOM: he's going to land and pull #7 - trouble bird

1:52 HeatherRayOM: he's returning to the pen to pull out #7

Joe survived another rodeo. Amazing

Joe returning to pen to get #7 crated. He's a problem child that has to much influence on the way the rest fly.

2:42 HeatherRayOM: is it too early for Tequila?

Hi all just joined and thopught I would say hello

Hello Collettes...great to have you with us

Collettes

Collettes - hope you will have a great time here with us all. It is a wonderful community and there is so much to enjoy. Have fun looking around!

Crane camera battery died so we can't see any more flying. Unsure whether they've actually progressed (have been in the air for 2 hours now): Joe seemed to have to chaes after #7 a lot. More news when it comes in

Collettes - nice photos - really like the bee Thank you for sharing them with us. Are you based in France?

Colletes Nice pics Where are you located?

Just doing a quick catch up.
Colletes, hope you enjoy village life. Nice photos.
Hope OM is going well.
BBL

COLLETES,

Brilliant Because I am a nosey so and so, I thought I'd look up Colletes solitary Bees and I HAVE FOUND THIS AMAZING SITE

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OM Update

Date: January 29, 2012 Reporter: Liz Condie
Subject: UNTOLD AIR MILES BUT ZERO PROGRESS Location: Winston County, AL

After more than two hours of crane rodeo, and countless turn backs by the birds, the pilots finally managed to get all of the Class of 2011 back on the ground. All nine are in their pen where they started from just before 7:30 this morning.

It was an unbelievable migration morning, one never experienced before. Hopefully sometime later this afternoon today's lead pilot Joe will shed some light on the action that took place out of our sight and hearing. It will undoubtedly be one for the record books.

Think that strange noise before the camera died was, indeed, a scream of frustration from Joe

Arrgh Anne So frustrating to find they haven't got anywhere today.

Anne - what a nightmare for the OM team FRUSTRATION.....

You might be right about them having some instinct not to fly now......

Liked your photos Collettes

Peregrine on Derby cam. now

Hello there..!!
Anne Congrats for winning and same to all entrants..

Did anyone see that tennis match.? Epustuflant.. wow.. They both won...

Welcome to our new member Colettes.

FFRC is really going to town there with all the moving..
Poor kitties,though theyy don't seem the slightest bit affected. [/b]

A warm welcome to you Colettes you will enjoy this little village lm sure,very friendly inmates

Watched a glorious rainbow at sunrise this morning. I knew if I left to get my camera, it would be gone. Now it is pouring down rain. I had hoped for a dry day to get some things down outside.

Have been sitting here listening to blue jays squawking outside. And the scolding of squirrels. Warning calls because I think the neighbor's cat has come to my deck to wait for birds. Then the sound changed and I went out. There was a tiny baby squirrel on the railing of the deck. It ran off but I put some food out for it, nuts and corn. They are so cute. Picture one of the babies from the squirrel rescue cam sitting on your railing. I ysaw a pair of goldfinches yesterday. The male is in full, brightly colored yellow breeding finery. Beautiful to see. Someone is on the hanging feeder. Probably an adult squirrel but wish it would eat what I put on the railing and let the birds go for the tray.

Have finally put together m y Daylight lamp. For anyone needing good, white light to read by or do needlework by, this is the lamp. It is far superior in quality of light to the ott lights. Don't know if they are in the UK, maybe online. I got the floor model but now think in a couple of months I will get a table model as well. My eyes calm down right away....Nuphar, check it out.

Must get back to work. Have had two cup of tea, breakfast and shared my banana with the dogs.

Skay - baby squirrel sounds delightful...as do your range of birds. Can I ask the name of the lamp you use?

Did my Big Garden Birdwatch in past hour as dusk was falling. Cheated a bit by scattering handfuls of mealworms, then counting who came to get them 10 robins! 10 blackies; 1 solitary Mr Thrush; 4 dunnocks, 2 wrens (beautiful); 23 chaffies; 4 blue tits; 2 coal tits; 13 great tits. Nae partridge

Robins have started their evening "I'm the best" songs. Saw another wee pair today: that makes 3 pairs so far.

Hope everyone's BGB went well

Thanks all , I am from the UK, pity the Osprey pic didnt look so good when I posted it but I doubt your short of a pic or two of Ospreys on here

Skay, despite the rain, I like the sound of the start of your day.

Thanks, Skay, we had a good old natter about needing good light last year.

Anne - cute caption

Well done. Esses

Well done Pat, Martha, Carol, Nan

It is a sunny and windy day here on the island. Time for me to wander outside and continue clearing the ice and slush off the driveway.

Evening all
Collettes Lots to look at here. Lovely photo's of your osprey and bee. Can I ask where the Osprey photo was taken?
Skay Sounds as if you had a lovely start to your day, watching the birds and the baby squirrel.
I thought the cranes were doing well today when I had to go out, then had a shock when I got back to read they were back where they started. Feel really sorry for the team and all the hard work they put in.
Don't know if its sort of cheating but decided to do another 1/2 hour of birdwatch after this morning, but all we saw was an extra robin.
Very disappointing results to send in.
Anne saw as many chaffies as we saw in the whole time. We did see more species though.
Mrs Esse

Mrs Esse - mealworms cheat is the key

Have put up a short video from crane flight today

Ah...missed the changeover from Esses (always tough to type) to Esses. Congratulations, newborns Mind you, probably happened ages ago and I didn't notice

Now I look daft! I typed "a southern softie" with no spaces and it got changed to Esses

Anne: Here is the link to the lamp I bought. While it is not a light box for SAD, the light it gives off is wonderful. I bought it at a large fabric store but they are in many places, just got it on sale. And there are severaal models but since I had used this one at my friends, I knew what I was getting. Maybe Amazon would have them.

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Plus, while I don't need the magnifier now, one day I will.

Colletes: Welcome to our group, diverse in knowledge, embracing in care and worldwide. It is a wonderful place to visit.

Thanks Skay - will have a look over here

Congratulations to all the winners of the caption contest. I had a hard time choosing. Such a cute picture.

My day start was very nice and I so appreciate moments like that. The baby squirrel was back. I was outside and it was on the deck floor. I am very worried about it with the neighbor's cat that lurks around. Unless the parent will send out alarm calls for it, I don't know if it will survive. I clicked to it and it sat up on its haunches,, sooooo cute.

Those cranes need to get on with it or the migration team needs to find a nice marsh area to let them go. I know they want them in Florida but it may not happen and to prepare for the worst case scenario might be an ace in the pocket. I sure hope all will work out for them. I was so enraptured when I watched them fly last weekend for the first tiem in real time. Wow is all I can say.

Time to get back to work, the clock waits for no one and I have things I must accomplish today. Plus, my connection is terrible and very slow today. Must be something about the heavy rain. There isn't any wind but something is interfering with the signal wafting across the street.

Nuphar (or anyone interested) - Skay's daylight lamp can be found here:

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bird count not as high as some days
10 blue tits, 7 great tits, 5 coal [CENSORED] and 8 long tailed tits.
20 chaffinches and 4 greenfinches.
11 tree sparrows , 3 dunnocks and 6 house sparrows.
7 blackbirds.
2 wood pigeons.
1 great spotted woodpecker.
3 yellowhammers.
2 carrion crows and 2 robins.
No thrushes, siskins, gold finches, wrens or gold crest.

Anne: No, hunting is allowed everywhere except for wildlife refuges. Even on them, sometimes there is hunting allowed for different reasons. I can't understand why one would hunt a crane. They are not something people eat, Upsetting, I know.

Here is a link for the lamp on Amazon.uk. Nuphar, it rolls about and you could have it right over your bed when you are sitting there all snuggle in, doing your research reading.

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I hope that works. I shortened it and hope I didn't take off too much.
OK, I am gone...whoosh away.

So the link doesn't work. Maybe this

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That doesn't work, either. Sorry...Pete, take this off if it is too long.

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Excellent Nan!!!

Our complete list was:
Dunnock -1
Starling -46
Robin-1
Blackbird-3
Chaffinch-56
Goldfinch-8
House Sparrow-8
Bluetit-1
Great tit-1
Magpie-1
Jackdaw-5
Greenfinch-2
Carrion crow-1
Collared dove-2
Sparrowhawk-1
Siskin-1

Sheila - 46 starlings!!! Did they not eat everything in sight before anyone else had a chance to get there? And 5 Jackdaws! never seen one here, nor sparrows - sadly
A really wonderful count

Great counts from Anne and Sheila. I don't get starlings in winter, only in spring. Have had a magpie every other day this week. Sparrowhawk hasn't been seen for a few days. Bet the fieldfare will be eating crab apples tomorrow.

Sorry, didn't realise it had posted twice. Has been very slow .

Just had a quick glimpse of a noisy little cub.
All quiet at the Beaver Pool - other than Mr Rat - water level seems very low tonight.

Just had the Hackers message.
Mrs Esse

Anne, Skay, thank you for the links, skay and I had long talks about lamps and eco lamps etc, so this is valued.

I had it as well when I ended up with the double post.
Has anyone managed to get any of the SWT webcams recently?
Esses you have a good variety of birds, not poor at all.

Skay, Nuphar I've just replied to an offer on freecycle for a table top modelling lamp with magnifier. Will wait to see if I'm successful.

I missed doing the bird count as I had visitors and we were talking about how septic tanks worked and are constructed, I found it fascinating. They had dug their own.Colletes, are sure you want to be here? Just jokng, welcome, you will find topics varied, I can assure you of that!!

No go on any of the SWT cameras either

Nuphar, we have one and the fact it is 76 years old worries me.

Thanks Derek, I sent an email through the week asking if there were problems but had had no answer. Wondered if it was my laptop.

Anne - fortunately the starlings were very obliging and came towards the end! We frequently have jackdaws - they love the fat balls. Always feel it is a family that comes....
Mrs Esse - that is a very respectable list! No worries.....!!

I think blue [CENSORED] and coal [CENSORED] are just awkward little beasts. There are either 50 of each in my garden or somewhere in the region of 6 coal [CENSORED] and 8 blue [CENSORED] at any feeding time. They are the very devil to count!!! Oddly enough there are four blackbirds visiting at the one time. Two male two female. That is pretty unusual. They usually see each other off.Had my goldfinches and siskins today so that's fine. The sparrows all roost in the shrubbery outside my garden so was unable to count any of them today. Ah me!
There was a ginormous helicopter directly over our house this afternoon. Not the usual Copper Chopper. This was one of the really big ones with the engines at both ends....double helpings of rotors. It was circling, looking for something. A bit OTT for the big garden birdwatch don't you think. Cathie C

Derek, have not had a problem with Martin Mere but Caerlaverock was freezing all the time on Friday night, I think.

Nan, it is not age that counts but whether it is still working ...so they tell me.!

Well done to Djokovic on his win today. Didn't see the full match but what I did see had some tremendous tennis. Friend was cutting down the trees which were leaning and hanging. Fed the family at lunchtime. Now have the clearing up to do.
Anne we only have the smaller ones checking the lines.

Evening Folks. Had a busy couple of days so just catching up.

Collets to our Village. Wonderful friendly place well looked after by our lovely Pete

Anne on an caption

Esses on second place

Pat, Martha, Carol and Nan on third spot

Badger at Caerlaverock.

Evening all. We have just heard that our next-door neighbour has passed away. He went for a hernia operation on Tuesday, unfortunately he suffered internal bleeding and had two more operations, sadly to no avail. We have been neighbours for 25 years.
I'll just wish you all goodnight.

Evening all
Welcome to Colletes, hope you enjoy your time here, i'm sure you will bee happy
Just read this and short video, all you photographers will know what is meant

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Cathie, not sure if the helocipter had anything to do with the power cut in Hamilton as I received an email from a friend who said an "electric box" was out and affected gas and electric supplies, folks were moving out think frightened incase of any explosions, this would be this morning , he said it affected the county Buildings as well

Kath , so sorry to read your post

Doubt if the big helicopter was electricty board - it was well away from the main switching station which is just along the road from us - and all the power lines come from the south and the chopper was west and north of them. Strange though, for it did three circuits of the area and was well away from Cumbernduald Airport [yes such a place exists - I have flown from it!]

Kath Condolences to you and your neighbours family

Kath - sorry to read you post -

Kath so sorry.

Kath - please pas s thoughts for your neighbor

Kath Sorry to read your sad news. Please pass on our condolences.
Esses

Skay - baby squirrel photos...awww

Kath I'm sorry you neighbour has passed away. My condoleances to the family. Only in for hernia...something really bad went wrong.

Quick glimpse of a beaver - the channel to the right seems too narrow and too shallow for them to drag the branches away tonight. Image frozen again.
Off to bed.
Son-in-law sent his shifts for this week - no early get-ups for us getting the the kids this week. two days will not get them until 3, and he has two days off - so that is two kiddiwinkle free days.

See FFRC...wonderful idea from Jacci.. a surprise.

Kath: My condolences to you and your neighbor's family.

Kath, do hope you had a nice time with your brother, hope he had a nice birthday
Skay, do hope the little squirrel survives the winter
Tricia, hope the fox gets peace to eat some food lol
The white light lamp is terrific, I bought one about 5 yers ago but found it ever so difficult to find a bulb and ended up with an ordinary one, but no good for crafting at night time

Anne: Thanks, I was just going to say I posted them. You bet me to it. I think it is a female...just a cutie pie. Is out there on the bird tray eating away, I can hear it hitting the sit of the house. Poor birds won't get anything now.

Skay, lovely baby squirrel.

Sheila, had to explain to Derek that Ragdoll is a breed of cat! Afraid ours are "just" beautiful moggies. Daughter dear has one which is a large part Bengal while the other is quite similar. Cathie C

Posted very short clip of Jewel washing one of the cubs

time to say goodnight x

time to say goodnight x

Carmac and Marion thanks for posting clips of the cubs.
Cas sleep well.

Good evening all.

Kath - So sorry to hear about your neighbour.

Hope everyone is able to keep dry and warm, particularly those with bad weather forecast.

Pete have you had rain or snow today?

Internet playing up.
Sheila We had a good variety of birds, it was just lack of numbers compared with last year.
Cas Sleep well.
Skay Cute photo's of your squirrels.
Just off to look at video's of the cubs.
Mrs Esse