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Springwatch

It's nearly June 1st - when is Spring officially over? :brows: I'd have thought that we were on the cusp of Summerwatch by now!
 
I don't know about the rest of the country, but 'they' reckon that these the second coldest conditions under which a test match has taken place - the coldest having been in the 60's (decade, not Fahrenheit). It was 8 degrees Celcius in Leeds today, with play stopped at one point for a hailstorm.
 
Dragged out the heater tonight to warm up me old bones, and this is the south coast! Yes - cannibowlism, is what it's called, Trips! (Sorreeee.... ) I really didn't know that birdies might eat members of their own family until tonight. I knew, as we've just discussed, that certain birds will eat others, but didn't think for a mo they'd nosh their own brother or sister!

Great shots, but the farm must be yards from a main road as there's lots of traffic noise. I thought I heard water near the sett, so wonder if they're near the Torridge, as per this afternoon? They're in Darkest Debbun somewhere.
 
They are in my back garden Krizon, :D It seemed like spring watch here yesterday with squirrels, pheasnats, hedgehogs, loads of birdlife and even a buzzard on the roof .
 
Fantastic! You can add otters when you visit Julie again, as she's spied a couple in her stream. I've never seen one. The best I managed was a rather surprised stoat, when I was sitting rock still watching nothing in particular in Shortacombe (Tavi/Okey road) in a previous lifetime, and rabbits (ditto) and woodpeckers in Wales. Oh, Julie's got buzzards, too, loads of 'em! I didn't realize that they can live up to 20 years if allowed to. The new flyers were making the most adorable, plaintive piping sound when I was there, and hunching themselves into servile positions, like baby gulls (which are bigger than their parents!) when trying to solicit a meal.

What about those barn owls and the voles! Crikey, how many voles did Mum and Dad bring in yesterday? I counted seven actually eaten, but the floor seemed to be littered with tiny corpses. And definitely no five portions of fruit and veg, either!
 
Aaar, moi dear, it do, it do!

Did you watch tonight? MORE cannibowlism AND 'assimilation' as Bill Oddie called it, of one baby buzzard by the bigger one! This is avian snuff!

It was priceless when BO was demonstrating how making 'pish-pish-pish' sounds (technically known as pishing!) attracted birds to the site, as they thought that other birdies were mobbing nasty ones. He began pishing and a nuthatch arrived on the scene, as if on cue. He pished some more, just as Kate Humble pressed the 'play' button on a recording of a buzzard. The look of 'I've done it!' on his face as he whipped round to see the buzzard was wonderful! Too bad, Bill, it's just a tape!

Last night's tree-climbing exploits by the badgers were hilarious, too. Far more ambition than ability as one gingerly climbed a curvaceous branch, teetered briefly, and fell off with a thump! It's got to be on 'Planet's Funniest Animals', surely? They're all as bouncy and fun as a bunch of puppies - I didn't realize they were so playful, to be honest. I thought they were rather earnest creatures, but Springwatch is showing that they're really a bunch of comedians in private.
 
That bit with BO and the buzzard sound was priceless. I think Kate wet herself laughing.
My favourite bit last night and how envious I am of BO was the clip of him watching the otter. I would give up the caravan to see an otter!
 
Dims, don't worry - Julie's going to soon start a caravan farm in the lower field by the stream, and you'll be able to see her pair of otters. (Ooooh, matron!)
 
Originally posted by Diminuendo@May 31 2007, 08:39 AM
That bit with BO and the buzzard sound was priceless. I think Kate wet herself laughing.
My favourite bit last night and how envious I am of BO was the clip of him watching the otter. I would give up the caravan to see an otter!
I'll arrange for YOU, DIMS to have a viewing of otters in the Welsh hills ...just as long as you give that caravan back or sell it?............. :P :P :D

I'M h-otter but that's another animal instinct-story........... :P :D
 
Thanks Merl, I am going to give Julies otters a try. In a couple of weeks time I am going to do a long walk with my father in the Somerset levels, around the wetlands. Hopefully we will see an otter there.
 
Just had a laugh. Prattling away on here, I was amazed and delighted to hear the distant sound of a barn owl hooting. Just as I got up to peer eagerly out of the bedroom window, I realised I'd left 'Springwatch' playing on the tv in the sitting-room... :shy:
 
The time we all spend on here probably provides carbon footprints the size of the Sasquatch, Colin! Mine was big enough to start with, too...
 
I do hope the moorhen manages to raise at least one chick. She's had very little luck so far althoguh her tendency to leave the nest at night certainly hasn't helped (just where is the father?)

I was rather taken too with last night's duck who had managed to nest above a shop so the only way out for her ducklings was to jump off the side and be caught.
 
This type of programme shows TV in its better light and the makers of Big Brother should be even more ashamed of themselves at what they produce in comparison.
 
I read in some paper that Springwatch nightime was getting better ratings than the late night BB shoes, which is heartening news. It's been fascinating. I loved the badgers last night both de-fleaing one of their tummies. The programme tonight in the pouring rain was good too, tho I could have without the 'sleeping' presenters - a bit too cute/coy
 

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