A fascinating and spectacular photo showing the snow cover over the UK today.
It is a large file / picture and can be found on the NASA site. I guess the cloud over Ireland and the Atlantic is the heavy rain heading our way tonight. For those on slow connections a smaller picture can be found on this NASA page.
My thanks to Storm Chase UK who put the link on Twitter.
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Thursday, 24 January 2013
RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch UK
Just a gentle reminder that the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch takes place this weekend - 26th-27th January 2013. It just takes one hour of your time to count the maximum number of each type of bird which visits your garden during whichever hour you choose. Full details can be found on the RSPB site.
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
The People vs Winter
One of my daily stopping points on the net is 'The Poke' website which is where I saw this video this morning: My favourite parts are; reporter v snow plough, the amorous bull and the music soundtrack:
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Winter Wonderland - Humph!
Days and days of snow are probably great for children, nice to look at through a window and interesting for the occasional photograph but it gets a bit wearing walking three times a day on compacted snow and ice. A good job that I finally got Round Tuit at last and bought a snow shovel before this weather started. I hadn't realised how much easier it would make keeping my paths clear. At one stage our four inches of snow had started to melt but a night with a further two inches soon made up for that.
It looks as though this cold spell will begin to lift around the end of the week, as long as the forecasters aren't telling porkies.
A view or three from this morning:
How much longer do I have to stand here freezing my paws?
It looks as though this cold spell will begin to lift around the end of the week, as long as the forecasters aren't telling porkies.
A view or three from this morning:
How much longer do I have to stand here freezing my paws?
Friday, 18 January 2013
Friday at the Flicks - Apple Lovers - Fieldfare
Confession time - I am now pretty sure that what I saw on the bird table a few days ago was not a Fieldfare but a female Blackbird like this one enjoying apple when the Starlings stopped barging in:
But - to make up for things - a lovely surprise this morning. A genuine Fieldfare spent hours under the Birdy Bistro defending and eating the apple it had found. It was alone so I guess it had been blow a bit off course as they usually arrive in flocks.
This one was obviously very hungry and vigorously chased off any Blackbird which got too close. Shirl (Shirl's Gardenwatch) wondered whether I would manage to capture any video - here it is, taken this morning:
Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you.
But - to make up for things - a lovely surprise this morning. A genuine Fieldfare spent hours under the Birdy Bistro defending and eating the apple it had found. It was alone so I guess it had been blow a bit off course as they usually arrive in flocks.
This one was obviously very hungry and vigorously chased off any Blackbird which got too close. Shirl (Shirl's Gardenwatch) wondered whether I would manage to capture any video - here it is, taken this morning:
Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you.
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Well Wrapped Up
It did manage to get above 0C, just, so Penny had her padded coat on when we went down the lane just before lunch:
As usual this time of year my lane is like a bumpy skating rink. Any snow is compressed by traffic and any melt can't run away so freezes again as soon as the temperature drops. I have been getting my moneys worth of use from my shoe spikes. Without them I would soon be going base over apex but with them I can safely have a brisk walk though Penny does tend to slide about a bit.
Amongst others there are about a dozen squabbling Blackbirds spending most of the day in the garden. The speed bird food is disappearing I think they all have hollow legs. The bird bath if frozen solid and covered in snow. Fortunately the pond pump is still working so the waterfall is their chosen spot for drinking and bathing.
As usual this time of year my lane is like a bumpy skating rink. Any snow is compressed by traffic and any melt can't run away so freezes again as soon as the temperature drops. I have been getting my moneys worth of use from my shoe spikes. Without them I would soon be going base over apex but with them I can safely have a brisk walk though Penny does tend to slide about a bit.
Amongst others there are about a dozen squabbling Blackbirds spending most of the day in the garden. The speed bird food is disappearing I think they all have hollow legs. The bird bath if frozen solid and covered in snow. Fortunately the pond pump is still working so the waterfall is their chosen spot for drinking and bathing.
A Bit on the Cold Side Today
Outdoor temperatures so far this week:
Forecasts indicate that temperatures will struggle to get up to 0C during the daytime until late Sunday. It was about -6C when we went for our early morning walk-about. Fortunately there was no wind or it would have felt much colder. The birds are getting through seed like it is going out of fashion. A good job a new supply was delivered yesterday.
Forecasts indicate that temperatures will struggle to get up to 0C during the daytime until late Sunday. It was about -6C when we went for our early morning walk-about. Fortunately there was no wind or it would have felt much colder. The birds are getting through seed like it is going out of fashion. A good job a new supply was delivered yesterday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
