OH MY! What is going on?!

This BBC report says that fireworks could have been the cause.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12105157

Wow, Donna, what super pix from the nestbox this morning. Cannot wait to read what the experts think about this little turn-up! Being bad at ID-ing, I assume it is not Archer... and forgive me if this was answered before - but do we know anything about this new lad?

[Gelukkig Nieuwjaar Bonne Année Prosit Neujahr Hauoli Makahiki Hou L'Shannah Tovah Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit Felice anno nuovo ? ????? ????? Féliz Año Nuevo Happy New Year!!]

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
    Bonne Année
        Prosit Neujahr
            Hauoli Makahiki Hou
                L'Shannah Tovah
                    Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
                        Felice anno nuovo
                            ? ????? ?????
                                Féliz Año Nuevo
                                    Happy New Year!!
 

AND TO ALL OF YOU!

SLAINTE!

Bobbie
(Impressed with the Irish!)

MAK's activities:

Today we had a Tornado, hail the size of golf balls.

Here's the BBC report on those tornadoes... worrying! Mind yourselves, MAK and Sue!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12100240

Some of our fans have already entered the new year.  Happy New Year Australia! and any others that have reached the new year.  Here in Rochester, NY we still have 13 hours until the ball drops and it's 1/1/11!  Woo Hoo!

Thank you all for helping to make this the best darn Falconcam EVER! 

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!

 

Right back atcha, Carol! And everyone else who has made this Forum so much fun in 2010.

Here, when I say I will probably be "asleep before the ball drops", they have nooooooo idea what I'm talking about. There ya go. (Do I think rightly that "the ball" is made of Waterford crystal??)

 

We see a few every fall mixed in with Red-winged Blackbirds. I am in southern Ontario Canada. Toronto to be exact. They are not rare but certainly are uncommon. Thanks for this article its interesting to read and learn. I have been fortunate enough to view them on a yearly basis and photograph them too 

Wondering... are they related to blackbirds or to crow species? Looks very crow-like to me, and similar to our Jackdaw.

If you liked this, try to find the one that the Two Ronnies did re "Fork Handles". Splendid! (I am no good at finding things on YouTube or I would provide a link...)
[/quote]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz2-ukrd2VQ  here ya go! That is funny Bobbie!
[/quote]
__________

Isn't it just? These two were masters at language. Thanks for finding it, Donna. My old wind-up computer just cannot cope with anything too fancy...

How wonderful is that Bobbie, some good news!

(Hey, it was Bittern here yesterday...7 degrees) 

I know! About time there was something positive from these shores... except for the problems caused by the freezing weather and piles of snow. I was talking to a lady the other day as we viewed the bird-feeding supplies and she said: "Those birds are costing me a fortune! Some of them are going to have to get jobs."

Quite a funny video from the BBC

Ronnie Corbett and Harry Enfield star in this fruity sketch from The One Ronnie, written by Dawson Bros.

Ei

If you liked this, try to find the one that the Two Ronnies did re "Fork Handles". Splendid! (I am no good at finding things on YouTube or I would provide a link...)

Am I the only one who has never heard of this bird? Interesting piece, esp since it makes one wonder about the difficulties of other lesser-known species.

http://10000birds.com/blitzing-for-blackbirds.htm

[Shy bittern flies back to Irish shores after 150-year break]

From yesterday's Irish Times...

Shy bittern flies back to Irish shores after 150-year break

NICK BRAMHILL

A SECRETIVE bird believed to have become extinct in Ireland more than 150 years ago has returned to our shores and could start breeding here once again.

The bittern, a rare member of the heron family which is famous for its booming call, is believed to have sought refuge here from the bitter cold snap in continental Europe.

The brown-coloured bird, also known as the great bittern, died out in Ireland in the mid-19th century. But over the past week at least three of the well-camouflaged birds have been spotted at Lake Tacumshane in south Co Wexford, suggesting many more could have arrived here undetected because they are notoriously hard to track.

A leading ornithologist has described the news as “an incredibly exciting development�, adding that there is a possibility that bitterns might start breeding here for the first time since the 1850s.

Niall Hatch, development officer with Birdwatch Ireland, said: “This is tremendously exciting news because bitterns became extinct here in the mid-19th century. At least three have been spotted in reed beds at Lake Tacumshane, but there could be many more because it’s very difficult to spot them as they are so secretive.

“When they are frightened or startled they point their beak up to the sky, which camouflages them perfectly because their beak resembles a reed bed.

“There’s a small number of them in the UK, but I think the most likely scenario is that they came here to take refuge from the freezing temperatures in France and ended up in Ireland because it’s the last-ditch westerly land mass for them to escape to. It’s a unique experience, but more could follow and they may stay here and start breeding.�

While ornithologists celebrate the return of the bittern, the plight of other birds over the cold snap has caused concern.

A number of kingfishers have starved to death. Because so many streams have frozen over, their only food source has been wiped out, which will probably result in a drop in their population, according to Birdwatch Ireland. Birds like the wren, which feed on insects, have found the winter tough, as have seed-eaters like finches, which are unable to spot food under the heavy blanket of snow across the country.

[/quote]

The Haggis hunt goes on for a bit longer...

"The hunt begins at 12 noon on St Andrew’s Day, 30 November. The hunt ends at 3pm on Burns’ Night, 25 January."

I just spotted one in Times Square NYC



Ei
[/quote]

Get outa here!! Burns Night? Whoa!

Is anyone rehearsing the ole "wee timorous beastie" thingie??

And in case you care... I once had a vegetarian haggis. Kinda like not having the caffeine...

What fun, Ei! Wish I could attend... tho I would be bringing beverages with caffeine! (...and perhaps a wee dram? After all - it IS Hogmannay!) What does everyone get up to? Where do you meet? I love details, even when I cannot come!

Slainte to all!

BOBBIE

 

Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year

And... methinks... the last time anyone can catch a Haggis. As I am haggisly-challenged, I did not join in... Anyone have info on this??

This all is very exciting!

Sure is! I get confused about who is who, but I can still feel the breeze! Keep 'em coming!