http://www.hometown-pages.com/main.asp?SectionID=14&SubSectionID=59&ArticleID=33903

Rattling, purring noises... and excited whoops... No, it's not the sound of a sick cat and cheering fans at a football game. Instead, try a sandhill crane and a whooping crane, respectively.

My babies! Fare thee well!

No, sorry I think a Curlew, Curlew babies.
greetings Aafke

Aafke is correct again..Curlew Chicks indeed. 

Funny thing re this one... here was I, saying to myself that the bill is not decurved, so Curlew is obviously wrong. Well! Haha on me again! AND... don't I hit another site and there is that very photo! ID'd as Curlew chicks - so of course I could not play. (At least that's my story...)

Very cool, would love to see one and the Whale shark...gentle giants. Thanks Bobbie.

Whale Sharks are amazing.  I saw a couple of them at the Atlanta Aquarium some years back.

Just thought of a story re Atlanta Aquarium... The Clan was in Atla a bit back for a niece's wedding, and some decided to visit. I declined as I hate the crowds. Anyway, off they go, and it was mad crowded, but they came back full of stories of the Deep, esp the Littles. Except for another niece - apparently, the only thing she was able to identify while there was David Duchovny.

Terrific natural history presenter, is Packham. Very quirky, very approachable, esp for kids. A pleasure to watch and listen to.

Very cool, would love to see one and the Whale shark...gentle giants. Thanks Bobbie.

Whale Sharks are amazing.  I saw a couple of them at the Atlanta Aquarium some years back.

Wow, they fit in a tank?

You did?! How big is that aquarium?!

A fascinating insight into these little guys' lives.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9084000/9084464.stm

BirdWatch Ireland's press response to the new laws... welcome, but more needed.

http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/News/BirdWatchIrelandwelcomesnewantipoisoninglaws/tabid/1112/Default.aspx

Lapwing babies?
greetings Aafke

Ahhhhh! Aafke! I like it! I could not come up with anything.

&^%#$*@!!! And that's all I got to say about Malta.

MAK, for you and anyone else who is interested - I have been in touch via email with some of BirdLife Malta's Raptor Camp people, trying to find out who should be contacted, what to say etc. I am now putting this together and will send it back to them to make sure I have it just right. Then, early in 2011 and well before the Spring migration begins, I will have information/sample letters/addresses etc. to send to anyone who wants to do something to stop the slaughter.

Sad reading...

http://www.birdlifemalta.org/Content/hunting/illegalhunting/996/

Thought for Today

"The only reason people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory".

I was gonna make a comment there but... uhhh... I forget...

Today's WAI?

Donna, you have outdone yourself this time!!! OK... Not a duck??

From the Marcotte blog... Most unusual.

http://php.democratandchronicle.com/blog/birds/?p=3625

This man a bird magnet or what? He sees them all. Cute lil guy..(the bird).

Ain't that the truth. Some people, huh?

Hope it helps...now to catch the culprits.

As you say, Donna - that's the tough part!

One of our most exciting nature encounters occurred off Co. Clare when we saw two basking sharks sieving the waters below. Some super pix of them off Donegal from RTE. Imagine swimming with these leviathans, the world's second-largest shark. Hunted to near-extinction in the early years of the 20th century, they have made a remarkable comeback.

http://www.rte.ie/news/morningireland/baskingsharks.html