TS I forgot to say yesterday that to not humanise the young birds it's advisable to wear a disguise, so they think you are their mother. You should get one, let me know how you get on.
I had a couple of hours to spare the other day so decided to give my local pond a visit. Took this one off the top with a piece of Mother's Pride. Didn't have my scales with me but I've had bigger.
Not my photo or words, but this salt lake is a few minutes drive from me. The pink lake of LOVE TORREVIEJA: a unique natural phenomenon in Spain. In the heart of the Alicante region of Vega Baja del Segura there is a huge pink lagoon of 1,400 hectares that is part of the Natural Park of the Lagunas de la Mata and Torrevieja and occupies part of the municipalities of Guardamar del Segura, Torrevieja, Los Montesinos and Rojales. This phenomenon of natural origin, unique in Spain, is produced by a bacterium that releases a pinkish pigment in waters with a high concentration of salt: in the case of the pink lagoon, 350 grams per liter of water, a figure very similar to that of the Dead Sea. And it is not only beautiful: it is also the most productive salt lagoon in our entire continent, since 800,000 tones of salt are extracted from it every year, which are exported to northern Europe and the United States for industrial purposes – from de-icing salt for roads to dishwasher salt – but also for food – to make, for example, salted fish.
She's started using the bird bath now and is mostly self sufficient. Still comes in the morning and lands in my shoulder demanding food but I guess she's as wild as she'll get now. She chases wood pigeons out of the garden which is handy
Nice picture SC. Some questions for you. How have you identified its sex? I know size and a slight difference in plumage is a factor in an adult bird but probably not in a youngster? Can it be done by, you know, having a peek down there? As you've done this before, when they get older do they leave completely or do they still require some looking after? Can you post a full picture of your dog please?
We think the magpie is female cos she's a bit smaller and also the patch of white on her back is a bit greyish whereas it's very white on a male. Difficult to tell though. It'll probably hang around to some extent but it's mostly just off out and about doing magpie stuff. It's not tame with most people, but it likes me as I was the one that mostly fed it[ so I expect it'll remain familiar
This might sound like a daft question but does your dog kind of skip as it walks? On my walks I sometimes see a woman walking her chihuahua and when I am behind them the dog’s back legs both skip to the right and then to the left and so on. I was wondering if it was a trait in chihuahuas or if the dog I see is just very happy or thinks it is Michael McIntyre.
Blandford Forum on Tuesday . Didn’t see the Otter . Didn’t see , but heard the Kingfisher . Did see Mum and Dad and their 5 Signets .
Funnily enough, he does lol. Always done it, but his sister didn't. He is looking grumpy in the picture as he is 16 now and an old man and also thought why was I stopping him when he was having a lovely walk just to take a picture
