Archer must have seen the weather forecast. Strong northerly winds to help the southward migration.

Clever lad!

Forgive the topic-poaching, but you have to see the pix of Long-Tailed Tits on this one! The blogger says they look like punks - but I think they look like tiny Christmas-tree ornaments. We love it when they turn up at our winter feeders, always travelling in little groups, always talking to each other.

http://blogs.swt.org.uk/osprey/

   Hi all! Just my opinion but I feel like Beauty was looking for Archer this morning. She usually finds a spot and hangs out. Today she seemed to be moving around alot. No sign of the little guy since early this week. Safe journey Archer if you've gone to warmer,sunnier skies! 

What a good observation, MAK. I am going to be anxiously awaiting word, as we all are. Poor Beauty, alone for the winter, singing "When your lover has gone".

[MAKfalcon (MAK):]

MAKfalcon (MAK): From Broad St. Bridge B has arrived and landed on base of Mercury with breakfast!

Link:
http://twitter.com/MAKfalcon/statuses/27433131108

Breakfast often brings Archer running, right? Let's see...

Just a bit of word fun. And don't worry, all you Ailurophiles () - there's also a cat link.

http://hotword.dictionary.com/dog/

Note particularly that there was a major shooting incident at the summer residence of Malta's prime minister. I wonder if he noticed...

Thanks for reading.

http://www.birdlifemalta.org/view.aspx?id=282

We have always left clumps of nettles in our "garden" because they are the food plant of so many butterfly larvae. Now, it seems, they also provide early cover for Ireland's rare Corncrakes. The message: Stay Messy!

http://www.birdwatchireland.ie/Publications/eWings/eWingsIssue13October2010/AStingintheTale/tabid/1108/Default.aspx

  Pretty kitty! Donna makes houses for all her porch cats.

Better known as Porchipuss donnacatii domesticus

Oh Bobbie, your too much! Great name though! 

It is, isn't it! You have my permission to use it.

OK today's WHO AM I?

Oy! Missy! I ain't got no pic!

(I sure did dip out on that Lapland!)

Say what? You can't see it?

Nope. I can see the Lapland and the Fieldfare tho... Still - don't waste your youth trying to redo - I would probably think it's a Gannet anyway.

  Pretty kitty! Donna makes houses for all her porch cats.

Better known as Porchipuss donnacatii domesticus

OK today's WHO AM I?

Oy! Missy! I ain't got no pic!

(I sure did dip out on that Lapland!)

and now they are ALL safely out of the mine.  What wonderful news!   

The last "rescue" guy was very emotional and what a welcome! So glad they are all safe and sound.

  AMEN!

Mission: Impossible - Accomplished.

What a joy to see something so universally positive for a change. I could not stop watching.

A big "Awwww" Warning comes with these little guys. Probably don't want them around the house, tho...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9085000/9085644.stm

They'd be welcome on my porch, so cute. I'll make a house for them! 

I bet you would! But think of the furniture. And the size of the scratching posts...

Colombia does not make one think of nature conservation.  But maybe this is the way forward. Show them a few dollar signs and they might get on board.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11532877

Yes, they migrate, but like yours, not necessarily to the neotropics like so many North American birds.  In fact Golden-crowned Kinglets can manage to scrape out a living in the winter in the Maine woods (Bernd Heinrich talks about this in his book Winter World).  We see Ruby-crowned Kinglets who visit us in Kentucky only in the winter.

Thanks, for that, Patti. I guess the smaller they are, the more amazing migration is. Imagine them making it through the winter as far north as Maine.