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Skywatch

Blue sky sits above this recently ploughed field.















Wood pigeons grace the skies.

SKY PICTURES? VISIT SKYWATCH

















A Blue tit on the tree outside of my window. One of many different species to visit that tree today. More about that in tomorrow’s post. Incl film.


There'll be a more in depth account in the item I post tommorow.


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Acornwatch

I mentioned in a recent post that we would reinstate the Acornwatch feature, to mirror Autumnwatch, as we did in the spring with Springwatch. But that would mean we’d have to rely on the songbirds in my neighbourhood getting their act together and showing up (for the first time in about four months). Or at least showing up at the right times, when film is rolling. A lot of filming with disappointing returns.
Without a sighting of these little creatures to my feeder it looked as if Autumnwatch would have to go ahead without me, or so I thought…

High definition version of above film (click to play/right click to download)

(My opinion on this years Autumnwatch best kept to myself!).

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Blackbird or Blackduck

Better quality click here or rightclick "Save target as"

Excuse the poor quality, my rechargable batteries are refusing to charge to their full capacity.
The Situation should shortly be rectified as I'm currently shopping for more.
Blogger sucking out the pixels doesn't exactly help the matter.

Feeder News
The above film may be perplexing in terms of species identification.
What’s not confusing, but perfectly clear is the visit of Sparrows at last to my window feeder.
Through the wind and rain she braved, to fly to my feeder, only to be confronted by me, staring into space out of the window, she quickly abandoned the mission, never to return, not today anyway.
She’ll be back in the early hours to nourish her young.
There were signs today that there had been movement among the seed. Unfortunately there is no video evidence of there visit this time.
The Sparrows, in the year, little over a year since I’ve had the feeder have visited on video once, a fleeting visit by the adult male.

Blackbird or Blackduck, you decide.
The above film shows our Resident adult male Blackbird, bathing in a puddle in our courtyard earlier today, I say Blackbird, or should that be Blackduck, you decide!

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Howls, Owls and Dips

Didn't manage to see the Nuthatch on the trail today... I was hoping to get a photo. Signs that the kestrel had been around again, were in the form of a late sheep. It was tempting to just hang around for the return to get a shot of the Kestrel, but I thought better of it. The wind was wet, wild and cold and by this stage I was almost ready to head home but not before I stopped by the overgrown sheep dip to take a few pictures.
The dip didn't appear to be alive with life as I was hoping. My timing must have been off. I'll visit another time, I did see a bird in there, but it was too shy and fast for my lens.
Spotted a couple of Squirrels, one in the pasture with the sheep, the other scurrying across a large muddy, recently ploughed wheat field, both looked very much out of place, so I thought worth a mention.
I was also on the lookout for Owls, Barn Owls or a little Owl maybe? Also as dusk was starting to creep up on me, the more nocturnal Owls or mammals.
I only seemed to hear birds today, didn't really see any to speak of, apart from flocks of Wood Pigeons and a large flock of Starlings, and a family of song birds flying high in to a large tree, could only make out the silhouette, I think staying around to observe that situation would have taken a lot more effort, strength and time than I could afford.
Spotted some long-tailed tits on the way home, but the day was late, my arm tired, and there position now unknown, so it was impossible to attempt to rattle of some film. Plus the batteries in my camera were not very strong. I did hang around for a bit, just to get another glimpse, they were in flight previously, darting into the wood. But they were now long gone, as was I, enjoying a pleasant stroll home.

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SkyWatch

The Blue Skies over my neighbourhood at the weekend

































To view some great Skyscapes visit SkyWatch

Despite the wintry temperatures here, I still plan a trek at the weekend. Haven't checked the forecast as of yet.
You can't tell by these photos, but the hailstone today did make me think that maybe I'd be better off indoor at the weekend.

Hope you've read and enjoyed my recent posts, this post is a little shallow of depth. But hopefully I'll supply something nourishing and ideally suited soon.
Thank you, Geoff.

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Autumnwatch

A Squirrel hunting for acorns.

Off to watch the first night of Autumnwatch 2008 shortly.
Hopefully they can bring us something other than Deer this year (Only joking, I love deer, but If I have to sit through another Deer rutt! Simon King! Although you do, do a cracking impression of the deer).
They don't appear to be airing the night shift this year, haven't looked ahead, maybe another night? On-line?
I'll certainly be glued to the webcams:

• Barn Owls webcams
  
• Bird feeders webcams


• Mammals webcams
  
• Other wildlife webcams

I've been very busy, so my Autumnwatch research this year has not gone any further than ringing it in the Radio Times tonight, and linking to their website.
Hope you all enjoy it!
And in the run up to Halloween and in honour of the show, I'm carving my Halloween pumpkin this year with Oddie's features (Only kidding Bill!).

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above, a sprinkling of berries that lit up the trail.

Today’s trek didn’t bare much fruit, a meander into the empty halls brought home little to report.
To be truthful, the sheer coldness of the path already tred forced me into early retirement from the trail.
With mind already bound for the warmth of home, a large dog on my path weighted the argument… Home it were to be.
It gave me an opportunity to start my next podcast episode…
it wasn’t really a good idea, as I hadn’t really caught my breath from the trailing winds.
The mic of which I was to use to record and lengthen this post to words with sound was emitting an unwanted noise. A hiss on the line, that I get from time to time, but does clear as often as it does interfere.
So that’s ok for now, and doesn’t give me too much of a headache - tis not a job that needs immediate attention.
So the next Acorn episode may be delayed till the hissing ceases.


above, Fungus. One of many fungi that I observed today.

Hope you have enjoyed and will enjoy reading my words.
Thank you for the friendly comments you leave. Very much appreciated.
Thank you.
Geoff.

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SkyWatch

I can't take credit for the Rainbow in Whitby shot. That was supplied to me by my Mum. and taken by my Mum. She Hasn't a blog as yet (trying to talk her into it!) so I offered to publish it on my site. What do you think?

"Rainbow in Whitby" larger version

For a great collection of Skyscapes vist SkyWatch

Warm the trail...

I'd pencilled in a trek for this morning, but had to cancel due to the awful weather we've had today.
The bright climate I yearned for, to warm the trail and the soul, failed to materialise. Unlike yesterday's Autumn sun. But for other commimtments, I could have taken advantage of. During which I prayed for more of the same today.
Hopefully the weekend will bring the sun and the smile, and I can make good on my promises, of which I intend to, and want to.

Photo suppliedby Bird Watchers Digest.

First for Britain...
The Alder Flycatcher (above) which is native to North America and which Winters in the South of America has been seen on British shores this Autumn. This species of Flycatcher was discovered when migratory counts were gathered.


Window pane collisions - Bird fatalities:
Solutions ~

There are many ways to
reduce bird strikes at windows.
• Hang ribbons, wind chimes, or hawk
silhouettes the full length of the glass
outside windows, using a suction cup.
Movement is more effective in deterring
birds than static images on the glass.
• Move house plants away from windows.
• Place bird feeders, birdbaths, and plants
less than half a meter from windows, so
that birds are less likely to build up
enough momentum to harm themselves.
• Close curtains and blinds whenever
possible.
• Use window films that lessen the glare
and transparency of glass.
• Extinguish building lights or draw blinds
from dusk until dawn.

I hope some of this is helpful to you reluctantfarmchik, I'm sure not all.
You probably don't wish for anything to obstruct your windows especially not a window length hawk silhouette!

There's a PDF file with different information, you can source. I hope will be helpful.

Download PDF file (right click - "Save Target As")

Credit to the IMBD and the Journal of Field Ornithology for supplying the information.

You may also like to read this article by John Nielson.

Quote:

DANIEL KLEM, JR. (Department of Zoology):

“Eliminating bird attractants from the vicinity of windows will reduce or prevent strikes by reducing the number of birds near the glass hazard.”
So what do I do, reluctantfarmchik? I have a Window Feeder!

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Big Game Talk

Trail Plans...
Planning to head out tomorrow on the trail, hopefully bag more media goodies, with a bit of luck more than I've gotten recently, which has been a pretty poor return.
Only the one snap of our Sparrow pair today. I've been too busy elsewhere today to watch for fledgling sightings, of Sparrow, Thrush and Blackbird or to try and catch sight of our Wren and more.

Big Game, Big Talk...
Hopefully I'll get to see the Kestrel on the trail, or Foxes, maybe some Hares, or Deer.
Once I've reached the top of the trail I plan to set up camp for a bit.

I think that should afford me the opportunity to see something worth bagging.

Sparrows...
The interest with the Sparrows is due to the fact that:

1. Their numbers are dwindling and

2. They are the only pair in my courtyard.

I notice them year after year return to the same nest and rear a brood once or twice in that year.
They disappear off for months at a time. They've only just returned recently to nest and fledge their young.

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SkyWatch

Garden Birds...
No Wren watch today, but before I headed out for the day, I managed to see our Robin, Male Sparrow and Blue tit perching in one of the courtyard trees.
It's good to see them about again...
Hopefully they, and other species will be tempted to visit my feeder once again...
And in the build up to Autumnwatch, we can reinstate Acornwatch again, to run parallel with the show, as we did with Springwatch.
Autumnwatch begins Monday October 27 2008

Verses to the Moon...
I'm not too savy on the lunar timetable, so I'm not sure whether this was a complete full moon or not today, maybe you could let me know.
Any info on the subject would be highly welcome and much appreciated.
If you wish to see some spectacular photos of the sky visit SkyWatch











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Wren Watch

Did a bit of bird watching today, well a Wren watch to be more precise.
Set up the mic to capture the moment, for inclusion in the next podcast episode.
But alas the little chap was a tad camera shy, but at least I got to see him.
Think he's nesting in the shrubs below my window from were I observed him and a Robin, who I believe is also nesting in the same group of shrubs, right under my window.

So that's a Wren and a Nuthatch that have eluded my lens recently.
Speaking of the Nuthatch... Think I know where I might find the little guy, and more...
So next sunny day, I'll head out, flask of coffee, sandwiches and my foldy out stool, and set up watch, and hope for a bite and bring my fare home to Acorn Radio.

A couple of birds that didn't escape my lens...
A Blue tit yesterday and a Robin today, both very brief glimpses, and in the case of the Blue tit - obscured.












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Gunfire

Brief...
My brief today was simple... Wander into the countryside, bring home some media.
Maybe just some photos...
Quality dependent on how long I've got left in my rechargeable batteries, not till they need recharging... till they need replacing!
They are not charging up as well as they use to a year ago, when purchased. 2500 x 4 and 2700 x 4... the 7's have gone, can't use them any more. 5's going the same way!


Gunfire...
But, the day didn't bring anything I expected.
As we get closer to Halloween... maybe the odd phenomena will occur from time to time... even though all experiences today can be explained, there was a strange air.
I'm usually out there on my own, cept for the odd dog walker, who's curiosity may have furthered his journey, and onto the trail I use, and up to the farm.
For a start a large flock of what I thought were lost geese from a distance (they were in a recently harvested wheat field, and very little movement from them) turned out to be nothing more than artificial decoys for a chap gunning for pigeons. Whom I mistook for a birder, he was awaiting his prey, behind the camouflage of a hide.
And then I saw his shotgun, as I got closer to talk to him.
He was a little disappointed at the lack of pigeons in the area...
it's usually thick with pigeon, from my experiences.
I think maybe I can explain that one...
A Bird of prey, couldn't make out What, possibly a Kestrel. The Picture above may give you a clue. Managed to quickly turn and get this 1 snap as it flew away.
I spotted the BOP in an adjacent wheat field, it had seemingly spooked all the pigeons and evidence of a mini pigeon massacre littered the trail. As did horse shoe prints, which had been present from beginning to the end of my journey today, even through the narrow tree-lined grassy passageways. And from what I could make out, maybe a Horse and a cart, judging from the markings in the mud and upturned turf. I've never seen these markings in the 2 years I've been walking this trail, innocently explained.
Nor have I seen anyone shooting pigeons on this trail.
Or such pigeon bloodshed, all innocently explained.
There was a stray sheep too, wandering the wheat field, I believe the BOP was stalking it, till I came along and scared it away... and the Sheep, whom wandered back to the pasture from whence it came.
All Innocently explained... But in one visit?! The sun had gone in and dark clouds had emerged over proceedings, the farm seemed eerily silent.
my initial conversation with the pigeon guy was ended when he spotted a Pigeon, and proceeded to reel off a couple of rounds...
Gunfire, very loud, and only a few yards away!
Asked him on my return... He shot it.

Bird Sightings
Nuthatch...
Managed to spot for a very brief moment a Nuthatch, sitting on a mound of straw. First one I've seen, but unfortunately it was too quick for my lens as it flew from the straw to the hedgerow.
I had no luck in locating it, maybe next time, now I know where it is.

Butterflies
Red Admiral...
Suburbia restricted the opportunity to photograph it!
First Red Admiral I've seen in 2 years.

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Web of intrigue

Hoping to get out on the trail on Monday Morning.
The weekend has been a bit of a mad one, so postponing till then seems logical.
Monday may become the regular spot.


The two webs over my bedroom windows (Mummified) were disturbed and destroyed when the windows were having their fortnightly clean.
It has been interesting to see whether the Cave Spiders would rebuild.
They have rebuilt the webs in the exact same spots as before.
Now to try and get some covert coverage of the spider in action.
next time I'll attempt to extract footage of the rebuild.

Above photo is a pic I took of a Garden Spider, There aren't any Cave Spider pics taken by me available in my library.
Send some of your own Cave Spider pics in and I'll showcase them. Send them to acornradio@gmail.com.

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SkyWatch

There wasn’t much chance today to capture any wildlife to film, but it was very sunny and the sky was blue.

A perfect eve to a SkyWatch Friday

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Video Vote

No sneaking out of work today for a crafty meeting with Mother Nature, so no wildlife photos.
But I did see from my kitchen window yesterday the resident courtyard pair of Blackbirds, startled by something.
It was raining, I looked out and the pair appeared to be standing tall, staring straight at my window, they obviously weren’t, but you never know.
I did have some music on, maybe they were going to ask me to turn it down?
But truthfully, I think maybe that they’d sensed a Magpie loitering with intent…
the intent to have their eggs…
Don’t know whether she’s laid any eggs, but I think they are very sensitive after the last time.
I have a bit of that on video and stills, I think it’s a little inappropriate to show it.
Maybe I’ll put it to the vote, later.
Let me know if I should play the video or not, or put it to the vote… Leave a comment.












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SkyWatch

Monday morn didn’t bring the natural treasures I was hoping for.
I needed to call in at the village shop which took me totally off route, and off the trail, of course I’m not slave to any particular trails, I have my favourites, I have some I’d love to explore and I have some I’ll do when needs must, as was the case yesterday morning.
I decided to head home straight from the shop though, I felt a little jaded, and not in good form to hit the trail I planned following my shop visit.
I did a sort of roundabout journey back home, but not as far, and followed a totally camera-shy path. I’ll try again at the weekend, and also try to call in at my local park during the week, maybe Thursday… see what those Squirrels are up to, and bag myself some Acorn pics.

Please click on the above sky photo to see more sky photos at SkyWatch Friday

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Mummified…

Well, I didn’t make it out this weekend for any outdoor pursuits. The plan is to take some time off in the morning and go then… Have to scrub up me hiking boots… bit of a mess after my last saunter. Hope the weather’s as fine as it was today… about bringing some photos back… don’t think my current rechargeable batteries are up to the task. Have to think about getting some new stock. I’ll try and get something, but can’t promise anything worthy. As long as it documents the journey then that’s ok.


There are two cobwebs situated outside of my bedroom window… one on the far left and one on the far right… I believe the same Cave Spider is manning both traps. I have an excellent view of both and anything that occurs… ring side seat please! That’s if I’m lucky enough to see anything. A few days ago however, I watched our arachnid friend mummify a poor defenceless fly, it was an amazing sight, I watched as he dragged the fly to his hidden lair and larder I guess. Must look into the habits of Cave Spiders… one, is to only dwell in cave’s, or similar abode… yeah, well it looked like a Cave Spider to me!


New post at Acorn and Other Pursuits… Enjoy!

Feeder News...

Feeder News?
No visitors for a while… so why news? I think maybe the Sparrows are close to using it, they may have been visiting occasionally, early in the morning , but I’m not sure they’ve been at all, they haven’t been around, not our courtyard family anyway. At the end of lane where I live, there’s plenty of Sparrow life in the shrubs and hedges, and elsewhere in my area. But only the one family within the vicinity of my courtyard. They breed every year, and return to the same nest every year, but alas no sightings of them for a few months, till this morning… yes, my courtyard Sparrows have returned! And just in time to see the hailstone.

Hoping to get out on the trail this weekend, I’ll try and bring home some media goodies for your pleasure. Speaking of which, I hope you’ve had a chance to listen to Acorn 26. If not, click on the link. For those of you who have listened, I hope you enjoyed it. There’ll be another episode out soon. Keep reading this blog (subscribe if you wish) then I can let you know the status of the next show. Apologies for no other media from me today, other than my weak dialogue. Hopefully by the weekend the page will be flush with fare.

Podcast Acorn 26

Acorn 26
Podcast Sept 27 2008
running time: 34.51 mins
size: 39.8 mb @ 160 kbps

In episode 26 Geoff has more live video scanning. There’s studio chat, feeder news and he joins in with Google’s birthday celebrations. And much more.
More info:
Today’s Soundseeing tour… Slim Pickings blog post.

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