Journal Entries

Albatrosses and Cranes

3rd April 2004

Eight young Whooping Cranes are heading back to Wisconsin from Florida, and the "Save the Albatross" yacht English Rose VI has been becalmed in the South Atlantic.

We are waiting for the other eight Whooping Cranes to follow, all the birds from previous years having already returned, proving that microlight "parents" are brilliant.The new chicks for the 2004 migration will be hatching soon, so the new wild flock is growing apace.

I spoke to John and Marie Christine Ridgway, on the yacht, by satellite phone yesterday, and the breeze had got up again and they were flying! They have a deadline to present their Save the Albatross Petition - in Rome on the 24th June, so they need to get a wriggle on. They could use their motor, but I expect they are saving their fuel for emergencies, or a last minute dash.

It still seems strange to be able to talk to someone on a yacht in the middle of the South Atlantic, and hear them as clearly as if they were down the road!

Discuss this Journal entry [9]

Latest reply: Apr 3, 2004

Flying Coal Bunkers!

Well, yesterday was certainly eventful. 70 mile an hour gales, in gusts, lifted out two fence panels and threw them around like playing cards, then lifted our huge plastic coal bunker,(with some coal and a garden fork in it) straight off the patio down to the next level. It turned it completely upside down, and took with it all my plant tubs, tipping the contents all over the slabs.

It smashed my lovely bird bath into four pieces, but fortuntely the main base, and the bath itself survived in one piece. Very upset, as it was a present from my son and quite expensive..

Clearing up the debris this morning, I decided the decision to have plastic tubs, rather than terracotta, had been a good one!. Neighbours patio chairs landed down the bottom of the long garden ! Also heard that another neighbour had all his ridge tiles smashed, so we count ourselves lucky. And still alive!

More nasty stuff forecast for the rest of the week, so fingers crossed.

Websailor

Discuss this Journal entry [4]

Latest reply: Mar 21, 2004

Foxes & Albatrosses

Thursday 4th March 04

Sadly, we haven't seen the fox again, though we are busy so that doesn't necessarily mean he hasn't been around. We will keep watch and hope, but it is an area where he might roam for long distances so it is possible we may never see him again, even if he is still alive.

Saw that the English Rose VI docked safely at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. As I receive regular email Newsletters from Falklands Conservation, I sent them a fax to be passed on to John and Marie Christine Ridgway. It is their 40th Wedding Anniversary (Ruby) on the 21st March, and I wanted to congratulate them. I suspect they will be at sea again by then, so it seemed to be a good opportunity.

I also spoke to Nick Grainger on the yacht, by satellite phone, something I have never done before! The connection was as clear, if not clearer than normal landline! Not as expensive as I expected either! it really is becoming a very small world in some ways.
Websailor

Discuss this Journal entry [17]

Latest reply: Mar 4, 2004

Fox in my Garden

28th Feb. 04

Having woken up to snow yesterday morning, I was further delighted to find a fox in my garden. The first one we have seen locally for four or five years. My pleasure turned to dismay as I realised it had Mange, which was what destroyed a lot of our local foxes before.

It came again today, and ate some of the birds' s raisins, so I have put out Marmite sandwiches in the hope it will come back. Apparently those will give it a vitamin boost. Next step is to contact the National Fox Welfare Society to get some of their homeopathic medicine, in the hope it keeps coming. This stuff works a treat if we can feed it successfully.

Will update, and put the NFWS website up later.

Discuss this Journal entry [2]

Latest reply: Feb 28, 2004

Weather Woes!

Well, you can't fault the English weather for keeping us on our toes! After snowstorms, rain, more snowstorms and then deep freeze, we had gridlock. There was much criticism of the services for not gritting the roads properly, but frankly, seeing how quickly the weather changed from my kitchen window, I cannot see what they could have done.

Now we are wallowing in torrential rain and gale force winds. Seeing the birds frantically feeding while swinging like pendulums makes me wonder how on earth they survive. Had one bright spot today - the appearance of two Siskins, which we have never had before. Such tiny birds. I do hope they come again.

I am typing this with streaming eyes and nose, sneezing and coughing, so I will cease soon as I can scarcely see the screen.

Discuss this Journal entry [7]

Latest reply: Jan 31, 2004


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