That's some research, Joyce. Another reason for me to be so impressed at the knowledge and dedication of The Watchers.

23 September... remembering that day, in 1759, when Arthur Guinness went to Dublin to sign a 9,000 year lease (that's right... 9,000!) for the property at St James's Gate where Guinness has been brewed ever since.

So, everyone... a good reason to wish you all...

Slainte!

[UN asks for action on nature loss, citing poverty]

A good piece, this, with photos and graphics. Think anyone will listen??

UN asks for action on nature loss, citing poverty
By Richard Black, Environment correspondent, BBC News

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11388779

[A wild baby snow leopard has been caught on camera.]

A wild baby snow leopard has been caught on camera.


By Matt Walker
Editor, Earth News

Filmed over 5,000m up in the highlands of Bhutan in the Himalayas, the baby leopard investigates a camera trap set by a BBC Natural History film crew.

The young snow leopard walks right up to the camera lens, sniffing it before, off-screen, walking into the bleak, rocky snow-swept landscape...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8998000/8998044.stm

Thought for Today (and since it's raining here in Rochester, very appropriate)

"Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

After Carol P's uplifting thought for today (we always dance in the rain here...), I thought I would lower the tone with the following. Cannot remember how much of it is someone else's quote and how much I have modified... anyway... I will share:

"When we humans have finally ruined pretty much everything, the only things left on Earth will be wood lice, earwigs and Barry Manilow records."

[Martha's Vineyard Magazine: written by – suzan bellincampi]

Sorry guys, usually I put my source.

Martha's Vineyard Magazine: written by – suzan bellincampi

Patti, I'm surprised my head is still on.

Donna, if your head isn't still on, is this another statistic for Natural Velocity??

[Squirrel 'stowaway' on wildlife holiday cruise]

Found this on the BBC re a red squirrel boarding a cruise ship... have yet to discover if he got off or not!...


Squirrel 'stowaway' on wildlife holiday cruise

Efforts are to be made to capture a red squirrel found on a wildlife holiday cruise boat.

The "stowaway" was thought to have fled to The Majestic Line's Glen Massan vessel following a territorial dispute with another squirrel, or being frightened by a bird of prey.

It has been on the Heritage and Wildlife of South Argyll Cruise since Monday morning.

The squirrel was spotted after the boat anchored in Loch Riddon.

It was first sighted by Canadian professional photographer Steve Boyton...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-11244620

['Lost' frogs found after decades]

'Lost' frogs found after decades

Richard Black, Environment correspondent, BBC News

A mission aimed at rediscovering amphibian species thought to be extinct has yielded its first results.

Conservationists have turned up live specimens of two West African frogs and a cave-dwelling salamander from Mexico.

The salamander was last seen in 1941, and was rediscovered by abseiling into caves deep in the forest...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11385774

Talk about the Maltese shooters... looks like Ireland and the UK do not have a great record themselves. The planned articles will certainly outline the reasons, but I think some of this persecution is because this area is still so agrarian, and old habits die hard. Altho illegal, non-selective poisons are common. Aimed largely at foxes, the laced carcases are there for all wildlife to eat. And anyone with a shooting area for the likes of Red Grouse, pheasant etc. reckons that the raptors are their enemies. And then we have the pigeon-lovers... and this after years of education by groups like the RSPB, BTO, BirdWatch Ireland... Big fines! SERIOUSLY BIG FINES!

Really? There is a bird called a "bat falcon"? I did not know that (among other things...)

Cute little guy...



This site has pictures I recognize as captures from the canal cam

Thanks, Ei. What a little gorgeous. Kinda like a kestrel/falcon. And quite possibly the nicest thing about the Canal Zone, from the looks of it...

Yup, a few years ago, I wrote to them to ask what kind of Falcon that was. The nice man replied and said it was a Bat Falcon and they have been there for years. Used to see the Falcon every day but they keep changing the angle of the cam.

http://www.pancanal.com/eng/photo/camera-java.html Here's the link.
[/quote]

Well, now! Who knew! Thanks, Donna.

Another link re the burrowing owl... I love those guys!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11381267

Really? There is a bird called a "bat falcon"? I did not know that (among other things...)

OMG...30??That's amazing. Thanks Bobbie.

Nearly as old as I am!

And yes, MAK - maybe the Lady of Lowes and this amazing tern are acquainted. Imagine all the things they have seen... if they could but tell us.

Oh my! What an image! Mother Nature sure is an amazing lady. (As long as we remember it's not a good idea to mess with her...)