Wednesday 25 December 2013

Tilly - the pup

A few weeks ago  introduced you to Tilly, the puppy that my family were getting on the I.O.W..  Well she has arrived now and is just over 7 weeks old.  She has already been to her first class, is learning to sit and wait and can manage that quite well and is pretty good at using the toilet outside.  Needless to say she is adorable.  My grand daughter Anna took the last 6 photos and video on her IPad so the quality is not so good.  Enjoy.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I hope you enjoyed seeing her.  I will take some more photographs over the Christmas period with my camera.

There is a short vdeo howevver Anna turned the Ipad the wrong way up so it is long and thin.

The video can be accessed at

http://youtu.be/9JkNuTKQxLQ

If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.
 


Thank you for visiting and for leaving any comments.
 
MERRY CHRISTMAS

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Dark bellied Brent Geese at Yarmouth

This is my final post from birding with Eileen on the Isle of Wight and is shows the Dark bellied Brent Geese at Yarmouth.  You will see in both the stills and video at the end, they are eating eel grass.
 
I think it is time for a cuppa, sit back, put into slide mode and enjoy.
 
  
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I hope you are relaxed now having enjoyed watching the Brent geese feeding.

Now the video can be accessed at

 http://youtu.be/lSY61ew-cr0

If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.



 I hope you enjoyed this post.
 
Thank you for visiting and especially to those who left comments.
 
  Tomorrow, is CHRISTMAS DAY and (hopefully) if there is not too many early risers and over the top excitment, I will post a "SPECIAL" post for you.

Monday 23 December 2013

Black Swan among Mute Swans

My friend Eileen who lives on the Isle of Wight sent me these photographs the other day.  A short while ago while I was birding with her on the I.O.W. I showed you a post entitled, "Swan Lake" and this is where she found this Black swan among the Mute Swans.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 



It is apity it did not turn up when I was there although I am back on the island now with my family so you never know.
 
Thanks to Eileen for the photographs.
 
Thank you for visiting and also for leaving comments.

Sunday 22 December 2013

Christmas in Belfast Centre

I just thought I would show you some Christmas lights in Belfast.  As I was walking to the Victoria centre, I spotted these statues.  They were brilliant especially when I realised they where real people.  They never moved a muscle.
 
 
I was taking 14 people to see the Nutcracker ballet which was being video linked from the Royal Opera House, Covent Gardens, London, not only to Belfast but to 30 countries around the world.  It was a wonderful way to start Christmas with friends and below are some of the decorations in the centre. Enjoy and have a good day/evening.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This centre has a fantastic dome and someday I will show you it and the view of Belfast from the top.
 
We have a Carol service to attend tonight and then there are 50 people 'droppping' in afterwards, so I better get on and help the family with the preparations!!!
 
Thank you for visiting and for anyone who left comments , a big "thanks".

Saturday 21 December 2013

Robin

Today I have picked the ROBIN that we have in the UK for the Saturdays post as it is the bird that is traditionally on Christmas cards.  So let me wish all bloggers, those on facebook, and other friends who follow my blog a
 
VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS
 

 

ROBIN -  Erithacus rubecula - Length  13cm   The red breast of course makes identification easy but it can be told even in silhouette or in its blotchy brown juvenile plumage, by its plump shape, upright stance and habit of making abrupt movements.


Voice  Their 'tick tick' calls are distinctive especially when repeated quickly, like a clockwork toy being wound up. The melancholy warbling song is also easily remembered; 'dwiddle-oo, dwiddle eedee, dwiddle-oo, dwiddle'.  You will hear the Robin singing at the end of this post on a short video.

 
 
 

 

Nests  Builds a domed nest of leaves lined with roots and hairs. Nest is usually well concealed in ivy banks, at the base of trees and, occasionally, in garden sheds.
Eggs  5-6, white with reddish speckles, laid in April to June.
Incubation takes 12-15 days.  
 
 
May have up to 4 broods a year.
 

Juveniles are brown with much buff spotting, appearing very scaly. After moulting in August-October they look just like adults.

                                             Sexes are similar. 
They eat insects and small seeds.


Robins sing throughout the year because each bird, male or female, will occupy its own territory during the winter. In order to defend their winter territories, the females have to sing and display just like males do. In spring the females have to persuade the males to stop fighting them and start co-operating with them in the raising of a family. To do this, when they encroach into the males territory they behave like young birds begging for food, thus stimulating the males to feed them rather than fight them.
 
 
Migration  Northernmost birds will winter south of their summer range, from western Europe as far south as the Sahara while southern populations are largely resident.  Females disperse to find their own territories , a small percentage of British females winter abroad.  Large numbers of birds from northern Europe pass through Britain before continuing 'en route' to Iberia and north Africa.

 
Population numbers have recently increased in western Europe, perhaps helped by the run of mild winters. In the UK, the population increased by 42% between 1970 and 2005.

Population in Britain and Ireland  There are an estimated 5.9 million territories throughout Britain with a further 1.0-2.5 million in Ireland.

Where in Britain and Ireland   An abundant resident bird across Britain, except on the Shetland Isles.

 
 Territorial fights cause 10% of Robin’s deaths.  
 

Some robins in winter are shy and skulking and these ones come from the continent.  Will nest anywhere, so leave out your old kettles.
 
 
 
 Centuries ago when we had wild boar, Robins would stay close to them, picking up food, now they follow the digging gardener.  It is the best loved British bird – used on Christmas cards.   This started in Victorian times when postmen were called robins (red outfit) and often on a Christmas Card they would be shown on a letterbox. 
 

I hope you enjoyed this "Christmas" post. 
 
I will not be posting as many posts or posting comments over the Christmas period as I will be with my family.

The video can be accessed at

http://youtu.be/UPpdJqx1L1I

If there is a black space below, click it and the video will appear.



Thank you for visiting and to all of those people who left comments.