Shags In the Sun

[Ships_Cat]

Re: The answer

The bit in the program was about a wind farm to go in an area in Wales where they fly. Cannot remember the exact place but was interested in the bird.

I had only made time to see the program as it was about opposition to wind farms, even by environmentalists (including by Bellamy) who see them as a blight on the landscape and the lives of locals for little return. Final part of the program was a little about growing sympathies for nuclear and the inaccuracy of the whipped up risks by anti nukes types. Had the reporter standing directly on top of the reactor.

Oh, and while I remember, if bird watching from a dinghy, watch where you are going

Regards

John

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Shags in the sun?

Beaten by Emperor Penguins which have been recorded to over 500m!

Guillemots are part of the Auk family, and have been known to dive to over 200m

 

[BrendanS]

Re: The answer

If David Bellamy was in the programme, must be relatively ancient, as he hasn't appeared here on TV for many years

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Buzzards

A few years back had a nesting pair of Barn Owls in the Willow tree in front garden. They seem to have been scared off by increasing rat run traffic in the narrow single lane. Big shame, I loved to hear them hooting.

Can still remember owls hunting in a river valley down to the sea where I used to train at runnning at night. Used to go over my head by inches, and with no streetlights was very dark, so quite un-nerving to 'hear' the almost silent bird swoop down inches from your head. Freaked me out the first few times until I became used to it

 

[Thrall]

Re: Shags in the sun?

Thanks Brendan, I stand corrected - I actually remembered a higher figure for guillemots, but being a wet-behind-the-ears newbie didn´t relish being shot down in flames for making ridiculous claims. Memory aint what it used to be.

BTW, talking of emperor penguins, I can recommend to forumites "The Worst Journey in the World" by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, which describes a journey in winter in Antartica to find the eggs of these birds for the first time, which were thought to be some sort of biological missing link. This was a "warm up" for Scott´s illfated trip to the South Pole - the conditions were horrendous. A very good read.

Daði

 

[Ruffles]

Re: The answer

On the subject of peregrines does anyone remember seeing the following on TV?

Program presenter and falconer + peregrine in hot air baloon at some altitude. Presenter jumps out with parachute carrying camera and holding a lure / bait. Goes into freefall. Seconds later falconer release peregrine. Bird effortlessly catches up with presenter and takes lure.

Amazing!

Rob.