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

and even geniuses get it wrong

I do seriously love you Prof

thank youthe feeling is mutual Scorp and I missed you at Hull

When the 's away, the will play!

Websailor

I play anytime, anywhere

my friend gandalfstwin (hootoo) has notified me that he has signed the petition Webbie

Thank you Prof. 'Fraid there is another one on the way I only do these if I feel strongly about them

Websailor

I've signed it too and passed it on.

Webbie, your word is good enough for me, to sign petitions love

F1926355?thread=7668405&post=99126155#p99126155


Webbie!

Thanks all. The more the better. So much creeps through without becoming public knowledge. People have to learn that they are being watched and can't get away with devious acts.

Websailor

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I will endeavour to do a badger diary again soon, but they are coming very early, scoffing all the food and leaving, as are the foxes. There is not a lot of interection at the moment but any good clips are on http://www.flickr.com/photos/websailor/

The birds are quiet at the moment too as it is the time of year when they get their winter plumage, and they skulk around like a WAG with a bad hair day

Websailor

Just dropped in to read the last couple of pages and to mention that the other day I heard a bird song I didn't recognise; it was quite near my house. Quickly went and fetched the recorder and managed to get a good recording of two repetitions of the song. Took it to the fellow at the gym whose knowledge of bird songs is comprehensive and was delighted to be told that it was a goldfinch! So now I shall listen to that several times and try to memorise it.

Hi, SusanDoris, nice to *see* you

That must be nice to hear goldfinches, we have them come but I have never heard them singing, at least I don't think I have. Unlike other birds they don't tend to come around when I am in the garden.

The badgers are doing well as are the foxes, but they are mostly intent on getting food and other activities are few and far between at the moment. Those that do show up on camera can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/websailor/

The birds too flit in and out quickly, as it is the season for changing from summer coats to winter plumage and they tend to skulk around so they are not seen much. They need good feathers for a quick getaway and while in between stages they are a bit vulnerable.



Websailor

Hi there Websailor and everyone else! Just want to say I'm still reading here. Environmental news from South Africa: the mining activities in the Mapungubwe area have been stopped:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mapungubwe_National_Park


But they've already done a lot of damage to the environment - lots of trees and plants and habitat for wild creatures have already been destroyed.

Nigel

I didn't know about that Willem. Thanks for the link. Dreadful destruction but at least they have stopped now.

Frid. 13th Aug 2010
Weather: Chilly and showery. Occasional sunny spells.

Not a great deal to report about the badgers except they are coming as early as 9.30pm now, but are eating in a hurry, last night five at once. Four foxes are coming earlier too but have to make way for the badgers to pass

Nothing particularly interesting on the video clips except a rather unsavoury episode with a fox on camera which I won't elaborate on. Thankfully badgers are much more fastidious animals



Websailor

Sun 15th August 2010
Weather: Warm and Sunny

Didn't have time today to review last night's footage as granddaughter visited, but four badgers and at least two foxes were vying for position. If there is anything out of the ordinary I will put some clips up tomorrow.

Websailor

Thank you - please do

I put a video on Flickr yesterday which made us laugh http://www.flickr.com/photos/websailor/

Still not much to report except the badgers arrive around 9pm, and the foxes as early as 8.30pm, so I have had to start putting the food and cams out much earlier before they catch me They come, they eat the scattered food, tip the table and clean that Then they open first one dish, then the other and scoff, and scoff, and scoff till there are only a few bits left for the next sitting It is definitely first come, first served but the others come and find morsels.

I can't believe the same ones come back three or four times in the hope the dishes have been refilled, so they must be others. Probably about eight altogether.

The birds are flitting in and out at mealtimes but seem to be finding natural food as they are not clearing the food as quickly. Just as well the badgers like it too.



Websailor

Fri. 20th Aug. 2010

I realised yesterday I completely missed the fifth anniversary of badger watching (5th Aug) as I had more pressing matters on my mind.

Last night I put out a small chopped up pork pie for the foxes as we didn't want it. The badgers must have smelt it and they were there early, to beat the foxes to it, in the pouring rain They ate most of it and moved on to the dishes before the foxes appeared.

They all had dirty faces which looked most so they must have been digging for worms very early in the evening!

I guess the foxes thought the badgers wouldn't venture out in such heavy rain, and thought they could have a lie in for a while!! There was still enough other food to keep them in and out of the garden till around 4am, the badgers too.

I am not sure if it was the pork pie or the rain, but they had a mad scatty race around the garden for a while, some of which is on Flickr.

The birds are few and far between at the moment, just popping in for bits and bobs, but they will soon be back. I caught a brief glimpse of a jay the other day, the first time for ages so food must be getting short, till the acorns arrive.

Have a nice weekend.

Websailor