h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Nice entry. I'd love to see some Ospreys. I don't live all that far from Rutland Water. It has to be worth a visit. I seem to remember there was an article in our local paper not so long ago about some b*****d poisoning or shooting one of the birds. Did you hear anything about that? Perhaps they should erect a gibbet near the nest site as a warning to would-be bird killers

I remember seeing the ospreys near Aviemore in about their second or third year there and couldn't quite understand the fuss. They were magnificent to watch tho and I've learned more about ornithology since.

BTW, going by your nickname I'd suggest that you make sure that when you see the osprey, it doesn't see you cos they're not completely restricted to fish I believe

I've seen one, at Minsmere some years ago when it popped in and dived for a while. I have to say I was quite young and my binoculars weren't great, but it beat the Lake District breeding Golden Eagle. (Small black speck that was barely identifiable as a bird, let alone a raptor.)

Hey, don't worry about me tom. I'm always on the look out for predators - got a few of them too

I can't explain what all the fuss is about. Either you feel the thrill or you don't, really. The only way to explain a thing like that (unless anyone here knows different) is to get mired in philosophy. They're an indigenous species that humans pushed out of this environment and now they've seen the error of their ways and are trying to bring them back. I'm only a daft little bird of course - others could probably make a better job of explaining why a thing like that is important. The only way I can explain it is to say it feels as though it's important to me, therefore it IS important to me and if it isn't important to someone else, well that's a shame but even so, it's still important to me - and lots of other people. I know people who would argue that the earth and everything on it is going to be swallowed up by our expanding sun in a few billion years time so what does any of it matter. All I can say is "well, it matters to me, and if it matters to just one person, then it matters!". As you can see, I'm not very good at philosophy and should probably keep my beak shut on the subject

Anyway, I envy both of you coz I've never seen one in real life.

Hmmm... If tom is talking about the first few years of the ospreys' recolonisation of Scotland, then "the fuss" probably means the extraordinary lengths which people went to to protect the initial site from egg thieves (i.e. initial secrecy and round the clock watches). Happily the birds survived this early period and the ospreys became a big tourist attraction in that area. Everyone won in the situation, the birds got protected, ordinary punters could come and see them and general interest in birdwatching/RSPB was greatly increased.
Thanks for the kind comments Shorn Canary (nishe name!). I agree that there should be stiff penalties for persecutors of wild birds but your suggestion seems a little out of proportion!! Hopefully the birds are well enough setablished now to survive the attacks of loonies who seek to harm them.
cheers Om

There are some webcams out there i think at RSPB but I agree that it's not the same as real life. Twice this summer I've been out walking about dusk and had a white owl swoop across my path. Not a sound but it set me up for the evening and I can still delight in the joy i felt. Once was in Galloway and once in Appin.

If you're coming up towards Edinburgh by road at all there's a wild seabird centre near Dunbar with a magnificent view of lots of diving birds and a CCTV on the Bass rock a mile or so off shore with a joystick so you can follow gannets around. great fun !

Nice name indeed. Would dat be de Irish canaries then

Lucky chap!
Sounds like you had encounters with barn owls which we very rarely get here in Angus. (I've yet to see one!).

That seabird centre is at North Berwick, I believe, and is said to be excellent although I have not been there yet. The boat trip out to the Bass Rock itself is a truly fantastic experience. Even those who are not really into birdwatching much cannot fail to be impressed with the speactacle of thousands of gannets in the air and water at the same time. Lots of other birds too.

I thought they were barn owls from my book (one up from I spy

What a prosaic name for something of grace, beauty, and with steel in the talons. I much prefer the old Celtic one gwyn whyvor (?spelling) usually pronounced guinevere by us ignorant lot who know bits only of the Arthur and round table legends.