The UAFC

big mervyn wrote: ↑Mon Jan 17, 2022 8:51 pm

Cap'n Grumpy wrote: ↑Sun Jan 16, 2022 11:06 am

Dave wrote: ↑Sat Jan 15, 2022 12:52 am I saw a bird today.

This is 2022 Dave - you cannot use such un-PC language about chicks anymore.

Please show a bit or respect for our arm-candy.
For the avoidance of doubt, I am well aware that the above terms are offensive and I use them in a way that clearly (I hope) demonstrates that as offensive.


Phew - I think I got away with one there!

Personally I thought she was a bit of a dog.

Which bit?

Perhaps yer watching nature a tad too closely?

Maybe she was a cat but your not to talk about Pussy

Courting foxes in the garden last night at about 2am This is the time of year when they're at it. Usually lasts for about 3 weeks.The vixen is very vocal and makes some unearthly noises. Cubs are born in Mar/Apr. If we're lucky we might see them in the summer.

big mervyn wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:17 am Courting foxes in the garden last night at about 2am This is the time of year when they're at it. Usually lasts for about 3 weeks.The vixen is very vocal and makes some unearthly noises. Cubs are born in Mar/Apr. If we're lucky we might see them in the summer.

'This is the time of year when they're at it. Usually lasts for about 3 weeks.'
Respect. 10 minutes does me

promenader 2 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 25, 2022 5:33 pm

big mervyn wrote: ↑Mon Jan 24, 2022 9:17 am Courting foxes in the garden last night at about 2am This is the time of year when they're at it. Usually lasts for about 3 weeks.The vixen is very vocal and makes some unearthly noises. Cubs are born in Mar/Apr. If we're lucky we might see them in the summer.

'This is the time of year when they're at it. Usually lasts for about 3 weeks.'
Respect. 10 minutes does me

I was watching countryfile on Sunday which featured a couple of rams who were taking a well earned rest after servicing 160 ewes

Winterwatch was good this year.

Someone should have coached Packham’s kid on the place names though.

I’ve been known to struggle on occasions myself but Don Eagle?

I thought she was on about a newly discovered raptor.

Saturday wasn't a great day for counting the birds. I think the stormy weather kept some of them out if the garden

justinr73 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 4:20 pm Winterwatch was good this year.

Someone should have coached Packham’s kid on the place names though.

I’ve been known to struggle on occasions myself but Don Eagle?

I thought she was on about a newly discovered raptor.

Fair point, but someone should coach you that she's not his kid.

I'll give her a bye-ball on the place names, because she really is an excellent presenter - knows her stuff and puts it across in a very understandable way.

Her passion for nature shows in how she presents.

big mervyn wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 4:26 pm Saturday wasn't a great day for counting the birds. I think the stormy weather kept some of them out if the garden

I did my count on Sunday. Put out lots of different types of food as well as what was already there in the feeders.

Swarms of starlings and pigeons descended, then they all panicked by something and took off. Nothing for about half an hour when a sparrowhawk flew low over the garden and away. Once it was gone, the smaller birds started to return, but I reckon thon hawk being around meant my numbers were well down on last year.

That's nature though.

Cap'n Grumpy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 8:24 pm

justinr73 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 4:20 pm Winterwatch was good this year.

Someone should have coached Packham’s kid on the place names though.

I’ve been known to struggle on occasions myself but Don Eagle?

I thought she was on about a newly discovered raptor.

Fair point, but someone should coach you that she's not his kid.

I'll give her a bye-ball on the place names, because she really is an excellent presenter - knows her stuff and puts it across in a very understandable way.

Her passion for nature shows in how she presents.

I know she isn’t.

And she’s not a patch on Johnny Morris either.

justinr73 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 10:19 pm

Cap'n Grumpy wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 8:24 pm

justinr73 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 31, 2022 4:20 pm Winterwatch was good this year.

Someone should have coached Packham’s kid on the place names though.

I’ve been known to struggle on occasions myself but Don Eagle?

I thought she was on about a newly discovered raptor.

Fair point, but someone should coach you that she's not his kid.

I'll give her a bye-ball on the place names, because she really is an excellent presenter - knows her stuff and puts it across in a very understandable way.

Her passion for nature shows in how she presents.

I know she isn’t.

And she’s not a patch on Johnny Morris either.

Quite right.

Fond though I am of my memories of the late great Johnny Morris, she's much more than a children's entertainer and doesn't try to anthropomorphise the wildlife.

Thought Justin might have been a tad young for Johnny Morris.

Loved that show. Totally believed in Johnny

Large raptor in a tree just off the Upper Newtownards this morning.

My eyes were still a bit bleary but I guess it must have been a buzzard.

justinr73 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 11, 2022 11:02 am Large raptor in a tree just off the Upper Newtownards this morning.

My eyes were still a bit bleary but I guess it must have been a buzzard.

Yes, probably was. There's a pair of buzzards who nest in one of the big ash trees on the Castlereagh Slopes (the planner's name for the bit between Dundonald and the Saintfield Road/Newton Park across from Shandon Park GC). The pair successfully raised a chick last year, and three circled for most of last autumn. It's back down to two now, but they do make a habit of sitting on the power poles around the rural fringes (e.g. Hilmount Garden centre area) . NIE very kindly put circular ceramic discs on the poles a couple of years ago, so making it even better for them.....

They do go walk-about a bit in the winter, and probably a little hungry to be on the Upper Newtownards Road, but they don't eat cats, lambs or such like. On the ground in the fields, I've seen them walking around after earthworms..... scares the foxes.

Apologies for the vagueness in where the pair nest, but don't want a few wee spides after them.