Angel15

My lot were less in number this year and they didn't nest in the eaves of the house like that have in prevous years either.

Well I had a little hunt on the internet and it basically says that coming up to winter the earth is nearer the sun due to its eliptical orbit .. link below, but not sure if that is the answer .. http://www.scienceu.com/observatory/articl...ns/seasons.html another link here - this one says the further we are from the sun, the warmer our planet is!! http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/02jul_aphelion.htm However, this is probs like teaching you all to suck eggs, but I was just curious

Forgive the question as I am ignorant in these matters - but why are we closer to the sun now? Is is phase that the Earth goes through every so often?

Wow .. that is a lot -lucky you! I also have seen magpies and crows at the bottom of the garden (forgot about that)

I have bats at the bottom of the garden - they must live in the huge trees there .. one evening I was donw by the decking calling my cats in and they literally started swooping around in the air above me - there was two of them .. quite small, but I have to say, I don't like them .. I wouldn't harm them but I don't like them. The though of them getting caught up in my hair freaks me out something rotten, although I know a bat has highly tuned senses and is unlikely to come anywhere near me!!!

Mostly starlings, and blue tits (next door neighbour has a huge broom tree which overhangs into my garden and the blue tits love it!) - also have a robin that hops about. Wood pigeons are often around, but not many blackbirds. I do have swifts that visit during the earlier months and they used to make a next in the eaves of the house but they didn't this year, for the first time. I also have a flock of green parrots and sit and sqwark in the trees at the back of the garden as well!! Hardly ever see a sparrow though and I love those cheeky chaps!!

I know - seems a pretty long way to me as well!!!

Interesting! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6955769.stm

Lol - I will have a quick look on the BBC nature watch !! It says the results re Swifts are still being collated/coming in - but the link is below - quite interesting all round really .. http://www.naturescalendar.org.uk/NR/rdonl...fullresults.pdf

Hi I have noticed a lack of swifts this year - every year up to now, we have had flocks of them (Bromley) screaming over our house, doing their crazy aerobatics, but this year, I have seen very few.

Good job I don't live in your area then !

I trust they make them 'man' sized as well - much more useful than for cats!

Weather: WM 3 Blackie 1 Mam 1 OON 1 NF 1 Non-weather: Mam N2 BL N1 BL N3 Blackie N1 SD4 N1

Very pompous Darkman - to think everyone who is of a differnt point of view is idiotic - however, let us hope that you are proved right for the sake of our children and their future children.

I just don't understand why the concept of global warming is so strongly opposed .. it seems fairly evident to me, just by the temperatures of the seasons over the past years that something is occurring. The argument of whether it is man made or not is not the issue, the fact is we know that pumping filth into the atmosphere is affecting this planet, so why not do something about that - if the global warming is 'natural' then it will lessen its effects. Until the Government implement a new Regulation re pollution, etc, and other countries follow suit, I can't see much changing in any event.

My favs are: Weather related: Wibs2 XSFX2 OON2 Andy H 1 Essan 3 Non weather related: OON N1 K999 N1 DS N2 Essan N2 KF N1

Great photos as ever! My favs in no particular order WM 2 Shuggee 2 PTB 3 JC 2 AM 1 - this is great! Looks like a face on the cloud!! Really weird. I also really liked Tommy 1, Pooksly 2 and Gibly 1

But surely weather also relates to the months of the year, i.e. daffs for Spring and Mayblossom, etc - could that not be allowed? Will make it very rigid if it is explicitly weather related ??

I hope it is not an indication of the months to come.

Really difficult to choose as they are all fabulous, but I went for OON 3 Wibs 2 Wibs 3 Potsy 1 and Potsy 2

One of my friends, Pam, who lives in Brighton told me that her next door neighbour got cancer (skin cancer) on the face and it literally destroyed her face through the operations she had to have to try and remove it - I don't know the outcome as I lost touch with Pam.

That is stunning OON! (third entry for you that is!)

Mt favorites are OON 2 (love it) DS 2 Wibs 3 WBZ 3 Stormchaser1 2 But all great pics!

I may try that too - not that I watch the simpsons - My Sensei used to try to teach me to meditate when I was in class with him, but I found myself just sitting there, getting irritated at just sitting there doing nothing - al I could think of was "how LONG do I have to sit here with my eyes shut!" However, I shall try again as I rarely chill out - I exercise aerobics most days and that relaxes me afterwards funnily enough, but even the Sensie told me that I never relax. Not good really. I shall try the apple scenario GW and let you know how I get on!!

My bluebells have all flowered at the bottom of the garden - not sure if it is about time or not though and regarding the wasps and bees - I have noticed there are wasps aplenty !!! I hate them, and worry in case one of my cats chases and snaps one up for lunch and gets stung in the mouth!! And yes the bees seem to be huge! I might have to invest in a fly screen for the french doors this year ...