Good morning everyone...

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Caption competition.....

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Time to pick a winner.
You may vote for any ONE but not your own.

Good day, everyone,

Good captions from which to choose again. Another hard choice.

We had a nice, though rather cool, day here today. I was involved in the domestic trivia round for most of the day, but I don't think I really accomplished anything other than buying ingredients for beef bourguignon for a dinner with my daughter-in-law tomorrow night. It's her favorite meal. We're going to watch Midnight In Paris on DVD at her house. I got my grandson a new bucket of Legos and my son a grown-up Lego set to build a Star Wars fighter, so we should be left in peace. One of my friends is coming along with a chocolate dessert. Should be a nice evening. My grandson is almost 6, and he's actually good company most of the time. Like most only children, he amuses himself pretty well.

Cas--good news about Ollie. I hope he continues to be well.
Jean--I hope your tummy is better now. Sounds like one of those mystery viruses that strikes for a few hours and leaves you weak and wobbley for a while.
Anne--maybe the mystery of the hazelnut bandit will be revealed on tomorrow's video of your garden.

To everyone I've missed, I hope you sleep well and that your Saturday is good.

Morning/evening all

lovely frosty morning. -3C and dry. A joy. Hope others have good weather too

Quick hello for now: taking Ian to the Glasgow bus then have to do some work. Am hoping cranes get to fly today. Will post EarlyBird when it arrives

Hope the day goes well

Morning all, think i'm going to be one of the warmest areas, it's -1 but feels like -3,
Anne, hope Ian enjoys his time away
Martha, enjoy your time with your family, sounds like your son will have as much as your Grandson
Ollie still
HOping everyone enjoys their Saturday
Wonder how many birds will be counted in gardens, so far i've .... zilch

Good morning, everyone having a lie in today?

Everywhere white and frosty this morning.

Garden birds: Are there fewer this year?

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Wee one slept until nearly 8:30. Erin 'Hello Papa, can I have a bedtime story?'
Everyone up now.
Good captions as usual - both of us voted.
Breakfast calls.
Very frosty - everything white.
One of Jewel's cubs protesting just now.
Drop the kids off at home - then quick trip to Glasgow to the Rohan shop. Have a voucher to use before the end of the month.

Morning all
Lucky here, no frost, 3C.
Martha Have a great evening with the family.
Cas Pleased that Ollie is still OK. We can just beat you on the bird count (not that we are doing it at present) 1 pied wagtail and 1 starling. Nothing at this moment.
Pete There was an article in our local paper on Thurs about lack of birds and it gave the same reason as the article you posted. Was going to say then about it but decided against it as it was snowing up North at the time.
Now over to Mother's
Mrs Esse

Good morning all. -2C and lovely, not a breath of wind. The snow has part melted the frozen making the pavements very bad to walk on. Done the shop and now having a Sainsbugs coffee
Great captions today.

Wonder with the next few days to get that little bit colder whether we will see some birds as the ground will be hard, def think the milder weather has had some affect ,
Kath, could you get some bits and pieces for me when your out
Derek don't overspend
Right, looked at bear cams and nothing to report, Lily and Faith fast asleep, would be nice if Jewel's woodpecker pecked a little quieter
Time for breakfast

Good morning all.
Bright and very frosty overnight. Temperature has just risen from -3 to -1.
The birds two large water baths had solid ice today. Miss seeing the starlings bathing en masse as they used to do no matter what the weather. Put it down to fear of cats and possibly the amount of rain they have had this past few months. The cleanest starlings ever perhaps..... Let's hope for plenty species this weekend for the BGBW
Great selection of captions again this week
I have a visit to the hairdresser later this morning for a general tidy up. Need to look respectable for the visit to "the Big Smoke".
Hope you all enjoy your Saturday!

Had a good night, hope I have not passed on my bug, kept using alcohol hand gel and Tesco's medication prevented coffing and sneezing totally. When my head has cleared, oh, do it now..Anne, you will never guess, there was a long conversation going on about who pinched the nuts!!! There is a breed of invisible nut thief up here too. they use night cameras as well. The people, not the thief.. And can anyone remember what the conclusion finally was about the backbilled blackbirds, yes, juvie males, but a dark form from Scandinavia? apparently it was eventually poo poohed. if it was I was not listening...Esses cormorant came up!! someone had a beautiful illustration of it.

I need some good old Highland cattle beef from the community market today to beef me up, best go soon. any one else with the lurgy... keep warm.. and I am so glad , like looking at the stars in the universe, I do not have asthma, etc.... I am not very tolerant of ails.

Goodmorning all, everything still white with frost, temp up now to -1.7C. No wind, sun not made an appearance yet but hope it will soon. Off to fill all the feeders again, not sure when I'll do the count, maybe just after the feeders are filled. I'm working this afternoon so wont be here for the frenzy in the hour before dusk.
Cas good news about Ollie.
Good captions again this week.
Martha enjoy your evening with the family.
Anne, hope you have a good day.
Nuphar so glad you enjoyed your night out. Sounds as if the conversation was wide ranging, a bit like on here.
Esses I wont say enjoy puting things away, Just think of how good it will look.
Hope everyone has a good day.

Good morning, late on today and guess what not many birds when I did a watch - typical. May do it again tomorrow before I submit Surprised that there wasn't a frost when we woke.
Martha have a great family get together. I remember having the old rubber Lego bricks and there weren't any boys in the family
Anne hope your weather continues to be dry and hopefully sunny today.
Good captions again, seems to be a favourite all ready.

Black bear update - can we vote for Black Bear Rescue

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Hoping that everyone has a good day

Anne great that the stove was a 'simple' problem and that you had a spare. Were you going to plant it up, that was the thing a little while ago. on 4000+ posts
Phyl hope you have a nice relaxing weekend. Glad seminar went well
Cas brilliant news about Ollie he continues to keep his food down.
Hope all is well with Skay, Marjorie & Sheona and those closer to home who we haven't heard from for a while.

Went to pick up my little Pixi and jammed a finger against the floor - OUCH! Painful when I bend it to type so must have bruised it

Looks like we are going to fly

Cranecam up...poor signal

Correction: test trike going up. Wind from south

Edit: too windy. Down again

That was a real shame Anne, The flight looked so promising.
I suppose I'll HAVE to do the ironing now

Nan, unusually the conversation was so wide ranging I cannot put it on open forum...it is a very lively minded group of 'characters'. After the feast we more or less settled to some sort of order and reviewed the results of surveys and plans and dates for future ones, they will be getting up very early to look for blackcock and leks, then pearl bordered fritillaries, a work shop on aquatic mammals, mink, water voles and water shrews, then shield bugs, grasshhoppers and lady birds.
No beef lady at the market so got turkey pieces from a bird that had run round a hill overlooking the dolphins, lovely life.
I was given a whole pot of tea to myself at the tea tables in a rainbow teapot, it was just what I needed and I drained the whole pot. In aid of compassionate farming today.

Had a prospective tenant viewing my birdbox......

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Here's hoping he rents !!

Jess, sold, surely!!

Nuphar: Hope you are feeling better. The turkey sounds good. I have a lamb shoulder steak to cook today.
Jean: Your bug came over here and joined me for a few hours last night. Don't know why but I surely am drained this morning. Nothing sounds good but chicken broth or turkey broth and water. Not the way I like to spend my time off work. Hope you are feeling better.
No plans but to try and be a domestic goddess today. Have some things I must get to, including replacing light bulbs.
Tricia: Keeping my fingers crossed for you new tenent to be moving in.
Cas: Good news about Ollie
Anne: Hope the cranes are flying as I write.

I have seen so few birds this winter. But when I walk back into my yard, they are there. They do not come to the feeders but are feeding on the ground and around in the garden. Mild winter, I guess, had just let them take care of them selves. I did see a flock of robins up at the school eating in the grass. It has been a long time since I have seen that. We used to have large flocks all winter but their numbers have declined so much in the last few years. I think there must have been 30, tried counting but they were skittish. Saw one of the resident bald eagles soaring over the freeway Thursday when I was driving home from work. Only two months and one week until the osprey will be back. Wonder if there will be two nests or one, what kinds of battles there may be, hoping for good weather this year so they can hunt.

Off to make a cup of tea. Maybe that will help me feel more put together.

Sorry, I meant Jess.....on your birdbox.

Jess: video was darling. Played it twice because the dogs came over to check it out.

Tricia: Thanks for asking about me. Hope your fingers is doing o.k.

Anne: I just now read your post about it being too windy for the cranes. Sure wish they were catch a break so they could make headway on the migration. It will be soon time for the cranes to go back north.

Skay , wrap up warm, wonder how your cousin is?

Afternoon all

have managed out for a short walk. Twas very cold but still and dry. Feel the better for it though cold now gone into chest Hope Nuphar and Nan colds are getting better. Sorry that both Jean and Skay have been unwell. Hope it passes soon

Nuphar - fascinating range of wildlife conversations amongst the wild ladies last night. Sounds like a very interesting evening.
Martha - The change of position of the nightcam has made no difference, apart from fewer shots. Hazelnuts away again.......phantom thief.
Skay - our robins never flock. They are extremely territorial and chase any other robin approaching. The do find a wee pal to mate with (we have 2 wee pairs in the garden now) but your flock sounds really interesting. Your robins look different too, I think
Jess - early interest: should be good breeding season for you
Kath - so close but not close enough for the cranes. Think they would have gone but for risk of losing birds in inevitable rodeo. Also mentioned that they would not have been able to turn back into strong NW winds
Tricia - ouch: I felt that
Nan - hope the roads are not too icy for you coming home
Sheila - you sound thrilled about the upcoming visit to the "big smoke" Enjoy
Esses - I do hope more birds appear for you tomorrow

Many of you seem to have fewer birds around. Not the case here, though siskins and greenfinches absent. Plenty of robins, tits, Mr Thrush and an abundance of blackies. Mind you, our winter has not been quite so mild. Very wet and very windy, yes. Feeders are emptied every day by lunchtime.

Apologies to those I have missed. Time to put camera out again. Video again, I think

Just had a look into FFRC. Leenie came online from the plane, 30,000ft over North Dakota, both Weasley and Dhana are fast asleep in their carriers and doing fine. Some of the chatters are tracking the flight.
Sadly Gregg has lost one of his cats today (think he had 8) so he's not going in to FFRC.

Aww Kath, I wondered if it would pull through when I caught the chat yesterday, i'm sure Gregg has either 16/18 cats, he named them all for the chatters, i'm sure the one he has lost was called Little Girl,will be a difficult time for him
I'll have to borrow some birds just so I can say i've had one visitor , still no birds, cannot even hear any singing and bread/seed put out this morning is till there, even the piegeons and seagulls don't want it either, oh well, will see what tomorrow will bring

Liz...... the bird in my nest box was just seeing what is on the market, he has been back 3 days on the run now !!
It is a bit early for nesting yet, they usually start about the end of February in our part of the UK (ie North West England) although this year our very mild winter has caused a lot of birds to show nesting behaviour. We are, however forecast a very cold snap over the next few weeks so it remains to be seen what will happen. xx

Beatiful bird has been sitting on the Dunedin osprey perch. Got a video: have put in Videos-other birds. Can any of our North American friends identify? Is it a Flicker?? Thanks

Here is a cute cat video. No idea why it does this, wierd

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Anne: I think it is a Red bellied woodpecker. I have some pictures in my file under personal photos of a Downey woodpeck. We have them around here quite alot. Their red is just at the nape of the neck and back of the head. Good video capture.
Cas: I haven't heard how my cousin is doing. tomorrow. She is in Canada and don't have international calling so can't call. I am thinking I will just write a letter and maybe email one of their sons. She said she will write when she can come out of the fog from the pain meds and surgery but I know that will be a long time, yet. I am trying to stay open and hopeful.
Feeling a little less washing out now I have had some plain yogurt and a nice cup of strong black tea with a little cream and sugar. Now time to do some domestic chores.

Pete - amazing co-incidence. In today's Guardian:

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Thanks Jill and Skay Wouldn't have known where to look if not for Pete's suggesting woodpecker. Thanks Pete

Evening all
Just catching up with the posts.
Ended up going out this afternoon.
Nuphar Sounds as if you had an enjoyable and interesting evening last night.
Jess Cute video of the bird at the Bluegrass Festival and hope your prospective tenant takes up residence. Cute dormouse.
Tricia Hope your finger is feeling better. Thanks for the Estonian video.
Anne Sorry to hear it was another down day. Good to see you got out for a walk. Watched the Dunedin video and Mr Esse said it looked woodpeckerish and was quite chuffed when he saw Pete had identified it.
Skay Sorry to see you were unwell yesterday. Try to have a relaxing weekend. Hope is your cousin is OK after her op.
Kath Sorry to see that Gregg has lost one of his cats. As Cas says he has 18 and was saying yesterday how one was unwell. He was looking very emotional when he left yesterday after reading the good wishes from the chatters.
Liz Great video of the cat going up the stairs. Wonder if it has been trained to do that.
Mrs Esse

Jess - great video of your prospective tenant! As you say, quite early in the light of the chill weather but I suppose they have to start searching for the best properties early!
Sorry to hear about more villagers who are poorly - Skay and Jean. Anne hope cold into your chest today does not linger. Glad you enjoyed your trip out. Nan and Nuphar - hope you are better today?
Did the garden bird watch around lunch time. Quite delighted to record 16 species. Thrilled to have a siskin and ....... a sparrow hawk ( fortunately just at the end of the hour) - it landed on one of our trees and then it and the remaining birds went zooming away from our garden...... It landed in a neighbour's garden later so I trust it did not have lunch from our diners! Had 56 chaffinches and 46 starlings!! Our 8 goldfinches were in attendance too! The dunnock obliged too! However only 8 sparrows were counted - we usually have a lot more.
Hope others enjoyed their watching and good luck for those doing it tomorrow.

Sheila - brilliant Big Garden Birdwatch! Think we'll possibly find that - Cas apart (sorry Cas ) - results from Scotland, and perhaps Northern England and Northern Ireland, are not down this year. Hope so, anyway. Doing mine tomorrow

Gregg at FFRC. Getting very emotional and upset.
Mrs Esse

Just been catching up and thanks to everyone for links and clips.
Jess looks as if you will soon have a tenent in residence.
Skay sorry to read you have had the lurgy, hope you are feeling better now.
Anne hope you also feel better soon.
My cold seems to be advancing and retreating, one day sore throat, sniffles and sneezes they better for a couple of days then it comes back. Wish it would make up its mind.
Good day at work today with folk from the Kingdom, Kintyre, Drumnadrochit, Dumfries, Ayrshire, Dundee and Glasgow as well as locals. Lots had walked up to the Falls ( looking really good) and some who had walked right round the circle. (Think it's about 13 miles) Hotel has some good offers on just now.
Off to have a look at cams.

Thanks Anne. It was exciting doing it!
Meant to say to you on 4000 posts - quite an achievement !
Yes - looking forward to 2 day London trip later in the week - will be happier when we book a hotel!!
Tricia - sorry to hear about your poor finger. Sympathise My thumb area of soreness and stiffness is extending daily

Guess who never seen one bird in their garden will try tomorrow. well done to everyone who had visitors

Bitsy is here

Cas - I'm sure the birds will be there in abundance tomorrow!!

Cas, you had an unseen visitor, moggy under hedge, great deterrent.

Nan, the sneezing fits held off till today, after my soiree. it was not really wild, though one lady said she loves these nights out with her 'wild ladies of the wildlife group', so we wind each other upjust a bit to live up to the name, harmless and relaxing interlude. Then they decide which animals/plants will get their attention.
Hope you have a sneeze free Sunday

Greetings villagers - the sun has appeared today. The birds are busy at the feeders and tha squirrels are racing through the yard. Hope those feeling unwell will soon feel better.
Anne - I have photos of a red-bellied woodpecker in my photos section (the normal size, not in the large)

Hello Anne - these birds do have a wide range. I have a resident pair .... they visit my feeders regularly. I also have a pair of downy woodpeckers in the area. I am finally relaxing after tending to several errands today. Hope the clear weather here will wander your way.

Hi everyone... sorry some of you are ill as yo-yos..
We haven't done the birdcount yet.
Couldn't see any of the video links... its all go-slow,twitling thingammy.. will look later. Even the photos from Guardian..
Weather here fine,haven't seen sight of a snowflake. Temps are down tho.. 4° from 8° yesterday.
Nearly didn't have dinner tonight..I had put some spicey sausages by for dinner...when she got there the cubbard was bare........ That grumpy man who lives here had eaten them all. Was old Mother Hubbard in a tizzy... you bet she was.

Carmac - beans on toast?

Phyl Do you remember the ad on TV years ago that had Josephine, The Plumber in it? Well, just call me Josephine. I did 2 washes today & as the 2nd was finishing, my tenant downstairs called to say her kitchen ceiling was leaking. I thought, "Oh no, not again." We just had that problem a few weeks ago & I ended up getting a new kitchen faucet that my brother installed for me. I looked under my sink & found lots of water there again too. Anyway, I found that the collar that attaches the sink drain to the plumbing was really loose. My brother couldn't have tightened it properly when he did the installation. Anyway, I tightened it & it seems to have done the trick. I'm right proud of myself. Won't tell my brother unless it leaks again. My neighbour & I are going to keep the secret

Well done Liz.
Carol hope you managed to get a plumber and the leak is fixed.
Sandy hope you and Mr S are ok.

Liz, what a kind understanding neighbour. Ceilings usually come down when that happens to me.

Liz - I do remember Josephine!! Sorry you had the leak, but great you were able to fix the problem. I am in the midst of re-taping my ceiling after the upstairs dishwasher decided to have a slow leak......at least the ceiling did not collapse. Just saw a red-bellied woodpecker at my feeder.

2 beavers at Martin Mere

Edit: oh..now gone

Just catching up again and to vote for the caption comp and FFRC.
Sheila Have a great time in London.
Phyl Good to see you can finally have a relaxing time after your busy week.
Anne Great to see that Bitsy is still visiting as well as Scottie.
Liz May Well done for fixing your leak.
Nan I was wondering about Sandy as well.
Going to do the birdwatch tomorrow. Just hope there are more birds then, than we noticed today.
Mrs Esse

Badger at Caerlaverock.
Edit gone

Anne - I had a practice taping session with my bathroom ceiling, so was quite prepared. Also saw the pair of nuthatches at the suet feeders. Had missed seeing the birds this week.

Anyone see the Duchess..such quiet dignity and none of the coldness of Downton.

Sandy is kept busy being a good wife lol, oh's bruises are fading, still has her son and gf staying week days so is kept busy, i'm sure Sandy will be back as soon as she can

Thanks, Cas, for update on Sandy.

I had late tea tonight and falling asleep here , so will bid everyone a good night, x

Night Cas, pleasant dreams.

Sleep well Cas

Mrs. Esse - how is the cabinet refilling project progressing?

Badger back at Caerlaverock.

Phyl, hope you and Breeze are relaxing today.

Good evening, just caught up with all todays links.
Some very good videos today, doormouse, spiral cat, househunting bluetit and red bellied woodpecker.
Looks like a runaway caption winner this week.
I bid you all a goodnight and lovely dreams.

Night Kath, sleep well.

Sleep well Kath

Nan - after completing my errands, I managed to sit and read outside while Breeze had a long nap (it has been hard work telling me about her week )

Cas and Kath Both sleep well.
Cas Thanks for letting us know about Sandy
Phyl Cabinet refilling going slowly.
Saw one of the bear cubs earlier.
Mrs Esse

Phyl, it's conning the cat sitter which is exhausting.

Well things certainly go in threes Computer, power shower pump and tonight while at a Village Hall panto someone stole my mobile phone from my handbag

Nan - and she managed to get an entire packet of treats in three days......

Carol - how awful for you to lose your phone. I always wonder why people take phones - it seems to be quite common here in Maiine.

Carol -

Carol sorry to hear that. You don't think of things like that happening at a village event.

Mrs Esse Yes had to have new power shower pump.fitted. Haven't looked for computer yet. Phoned Orange and barred phone. Can't believe how low some people sink!

Going to sign of for the night.
Goodnight everyone.
Mrs Esse

Night Mrs Esse, hope you both sleep well.

Pete Yes. Orange were very helpfull and zapped the phone.
Thanks All

Carol hope this is an end to your misfortunes.

Sleep well Esses

Goodnight all.

Sleep well Pete

Night Pete, sleep well.

Goodnight everyone,sleep well,sweet dreams.

Night all .