******* WINTERWATCH ********

I was waiting at a bus stop in wanstead to go to east ham,  when it started snowing.  No buses came and I waited and waited, cold and fed up.  Wanstead is just like the country in parts and it seemed as if I was the only one on the planet.  However, a man joined me at the bus stop and then we both waited and waited - you know how transport comes to a halt in this country at the first drop of snow.  It seemed like we were in a christmas card, open parkland, falling snow and just us two.  We got to talking and found out we lived near each other.  When the bus eventually came, after about an hour, we got off at the same bus stop and he walked me home.  We were together for two years and I am still friends with him now, almost thirty years later.  I would never have talked to him if it had not been for the snow.

NATUREWATCH 

this is a new one for me. snowing like crazy in aberdeen plus we have thunder & lightnig. pretty spectacular to watch

Fit Like. Just about to post the same. I'm at the Western outskirts of Aberdeen and it is crazy.
Remember the same 2 years ago in Feb at 8 in the morning.

How  dare you say that to me, crags.  I was with him for two years, hardly a slapper.  I have never been a slapper in my life and I take great exception to your remark.

im right in city centre goth. first time i have seen a driving blizzard with lightning flashing all over the place. looks good tho (as long as indoors)

Sure you'll give a bed to "stranded clubbers".

What are you on about, goth 83?  We had not been out clubbing and he just walked me home, as he just lived around the corner from me,  - nothing more.

Do not speak to me again, crags.

ffs.he was talking to northanlite imho

From the Department of Useless Stats... it was -14C at midnight in the Highlands - apparently that makes it the coldest November 28th ever recorded, beating the previous record of -12.3C

I was referring to northanlite's post that he lived in the city centre, and would therefor be in the strategic position to offer someone whom could not make their own way home a bed for the night. A la the innkeeper in the nativity. In what way are you offended ?

Don't take any cheek from crags, annie. We've figured out he's an artificial intelligence compiled by the betfair programmers (say no more).  If he keeps pestering you, post the Liar's Paradox - you'll get the odd "does not compute" and then a smell of burning plastic.

Sorry, forgot to add taxis will be rare, so the local rag will, on Monday, refer to "stranded clubbers".

I am really sorry, goth, I was mistaken    I was so upset by crags remarks that I was not thinking straight.

Nae bother annie, it's only a messageboard.Hope you have a good weekend (what's left).
Still snowing heavily her btw, to get back on topic, no it isn't it's off, but a couple of inches in last hour, 'bout a foot now in the garden.
All the best annie.


What kind of truck do you drive ?

Thanks, bodil 

A man is stopped by the police at midnight and asked where he was going “”I’m on the way to listen to a lecture about the effects of alcohol and drug abuse on the human body.””

The policeman asks, “”Really?”

“And who’s going to give a lecture at this time of night?””






“”My wife””, comes the reply

Thanks, Goth 

I hope the 'truck' question was meant in jest 

Of course !
Magician on a cruise ship is constantly having his tricks spoilt by his parrot, every time he does a trick the parrot shouts...'it's in his pocket'...'4 of clubs...'it's got a false bottom'...the magician feckin hates it!! that night the ship sinks and him & the parrot cling to a piece of drift wood, for the first 4 days the parrot says feck all just stares at him. On the 5th day the parrot says to him...'ok i feckin give up, where's the ship ?

My god, two jokes I have not heard before.  Thanks goth, brought a needed smile to my face , after horrible crags.

About time I went to bed, good night goth.

'night annie,
farmer is wondering how many sheep he has in his field, so he asks his sheepdog to count them. The dog runs into the field, counts them, and then runs back to his master.

"So," says the farmer. "How many sheep were there?"

"40," replies the dog.

"What? How can there be 40?!" exclaims the farmer. "I only bought 38!"

"I know," says the dog. "But I rounded them up."


Make sure your handbrake is on.

About 3/4 inches of snow in Edinburgh overnight. Still a steady sprinkle of snow. Think it's going to be with us all day. Not looking forward to the rat race commute to work in 21 hours time

  Goth83

Definitely a female friendly joke, Goth 83.  If a potential wife does not laugh or smile at that joke do not marry her.  She is either stupid or lacking in humour.

Dogs can count.Heard it on Radio 4 a while back,but I've never heard of a talking dog,although they do have excellent communication skills.

What the fack has all this chit chat got to with WINTER ? [smiley:crazy][smiley:crazy]

Some of us are awaiting the start of the official thread,hijacker.

Who knows, Mr W?

A little bit milder today than it was at the same time yesterday, but still snow bound and very, very cold here.

Freezing here again today Tommy, the Sun is wasting its time trying.

My car's still covered in snow, and there has been no fresh fall.

The sun is shining here too Mr W, but nothing is thawing.
I gave my neighbour some anti-freeze for his car on late Friday afternoon. Luckily, he put it in straight away that day or he'd have had a ruined radiator by yesterday morning.

I should put my best glasses on as I'm tired. 

I thought that said 'I gave my neighbour some anti-freeze for his cat'

Had to read it again as I knew that wasn't right.

i see recent references to crags on here but i dont any posts. has/have it/they been removed?

i left some nuts out for the birds last night but got arrested for flashing.

ps. it's frigging cold.

Ah, well spotted, Fishy.
I've just checked back and yes, crags posts have been removed.

Strange that, eh?

This is a good site to check on what's happening/expected re weather in any area.
Just put the name of the location in the search box:

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/HOME/

In Autumn, digging a hole in the ground is no problem.

I've just buried Bullseye, one of our guinea pigs, who died this morning. 

After clearing 4 inches of snow, and a further 3 inches of dead leaves which fell in the Autumn, the ground was rock hard.

It's WINTER, no doubts about it.

He's the black and white one.

http://i51.tinypic.com/opz0xt.jpg

sorry to hear about Bullseye. He was a one off. Old school.

Agreed,but only 2 days till the start of the official thread.

Commiserations on the loss of your guinea pig btw.Six guinea pigs and 3 hamsters buried at the bottom of our garden.

Poor old Bullseye, Mr W.

Iamajambo, I've been posting on Chit Chat for over 5 and a half years now and in that time many forumites - Mr W, Fishy, Bodil and I, to name just 4, have had many conversations about birds and wildlife etc.
We don't need any 'official' thread started by Facts to do so.

Look foward to your contributions from tomorrow Tommy
Thanks.

Then you'll have a long wait, Facts.

The regulars will be flocking back.

Saw Blackbirds in the garden for the first time in months this morning. Rosie Robin was flitting about early.

Not seen Dyson the hedgehog for over a week, he has probably gone into hiberbation.   

Got invaded by about 30 bastard Starlings at about 9-00 a..m they ate everything in sight. Ollie, the neighbours cat who presented me with a rat last week, ran behind the shed as he didn't fancy his chances.

I've had a lovely song thrush visiting the bird table since the snow came, Mr W. Haven't seen any since earlier this year when it was also snowy.

was it stomping its feet in the manner of a spoilt brat Tommy?

Very good Fishy!

191 FISHY

192.COM

Where has my OFFICIAN WINTERWATCH thread gone ?

three things i have NOT seen today:

1. a Heron; are herons migr8ory?

2. a Badger; do Badgers hibern8 m8?

3. the Official (Dec 1) Winterwatch thread; where is it?

1) some do
2) no
3) who cares

1. a Heron; are herons migr8ory?

No, dem is birdies,innit.

2. a Badger; do Badgers hibern8 m8?

I dinna ken, but ard be fascin8ed to farnd oot, why am ah scawtish ba the way ?

3. the Official (Dec 1) Winterwatch thread; where is it?

A poof reported it for being a duplicate

1) thanks (which ones; i don't mean colin, mikey and basil (ie which specific breeds)?)
2) thanks
3) some do

I went out earlier and cleared last night's snowfall from under my lilac tree. I then put out some warm wholemeal pitta breads liberally spread with butter, mixed seed, grated cheese, crushed nuts and chopped pears on the ground (as well as filling up the feeders again and replenishing the bird table).

All birds were scoffing well, until I've just heard a an "Eek!" like tweet from one of them - and a kestrel landed right on the branch nearest to my window and surveyed the scene for a few minutes before flying off.
I would imagine he'll be making a few swoops soon. The little birdies had better watch out.

Not a sparrowhawk ?

No.

And the double century goes to Tommy.

Snowing here at 2-30 a.m. but the temperature has risen to above freezing and it's all starting to clear.

It has been pointed out my mrs winkle that we have Wagtails in the garden. Whenever I go outside it's only to smoke a cigar or mow the lawn, so I don't wear my glasses, and all the small birds look the same to me. [smiley:crazy]

strangely enough I've seen a pied wagtail in my garden today. Not seen one here for a few years tbf.

It's still perishing cold here, although I've just been out to top the feeders up and thought I felt a bit of rain, so perhaps the temperature has risen a bit. No snow melting yet, though.

I had a pied wagtail come to have  bit of food yesterday. Beautiful little birds, as are the grey ones.

Move closer to the Hanley Mosque, Tommy. It's pretty warm there.

Been raining for hours, snow almost cleared.

Sun's out

Ollie, the neighbours cat, has covered the gazebo cushions in muddy paw prints

Saw about 10 Magpies in a tree from my window....they can't be young from the same nest can they...?

Not many birds lay more than clutches of 5 eggs.

^^^^ if any

^ numerous birds lay more than 5 eggs in a clutch
eg:-

Great Tit - up to 12
Blue Tit - 9-11 common
Marsh Tity -9
Jackdaw - 8
Jay - up to 7
Cuckoo - 10-15 ( spread over lots of nests)
Green Woodpecker up to 7

A delightful example of a pair of the uncommon Lesser spotted marsh tits
.
http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/uploads/MarshMaid1.jpg

mr winkle.
Idiots - like Make my hay - do nothing for the integrity of this thread imo !

Make my hay, like myself, is part of the Norfolk Massif !! We can post what we like.

You can go back to your own thread now.

damn rain back again , we always get short changed with the snow ...countries abroad get their fair share useless UK weather.

At least the rain has washed 90% of the snow away.

Had a facking chicken in my gazebo tonight. Sitting on a chair, totally unbothered when I went out there. My mrs gave it some bird seed.

It must be spoit where it lives because ten minutes later it was pecking the dining room windows wanting to come in !!!!  A quick phone call to a long term resident in the village (nosy facker knows everybody) and we found out who the owner was.   

Used to have an older chicken and a cockerel wander into the back garden every day two years ago, but not seen them since.

Hardly any snow has thawed here, and the bit that has, has turned to ice. It's still ridiculously cold here.

Saw the pied wagtail again today, which was about the only bonus.

Even colder today and tonight.
Went out at about 3pm to top the birdies food up. Came back in frozen to the marra'.
At least the song thrush, marsh tit, wren, blackbird, robin and co appreciated having some scran put down on the ground for them.

Been pretty cold all day, but it's definitely below zero outside tonight. The usual array of sparrows and wagtails, couple of blackbirds, four doves, two pigeons and Rosie, our resident robin.

Not seen a thrush for a few months.

Do bats hibernate ? Not seen 'Betty' for a while.

yes

I took a 4 pint plastic bottle of water out to the garden to put in birds bowls. Had lunch, went back out to pour it and it was frozen solid.

I took a 5 inch deep lump of ice from one of the birds bowls on Saturday morning. It's under a tree where the Sun can't get to it, but the air temperature hasnt' melted it either.

Air temperature up, I can actually see what colour my car is now.

Invaded by Starlings this morning, greedy bastards.

Not seen a starling in my garden for 18 months(or a house sparrow).

Heavy hail in Norfolk at the mo

None here in west Norolk.

Temperature just about to dip below freezing now.

very cold and heavy sleet -  overcoat coming out

hunting for this thread must have keptyou warm coach

Heavy heil stones hear in Suffolk

Ylime - yes , it's like January

Can't get a tin of Baxters in Tescos for love nor money

Redbag - hope you kept warm today out on your round ,the old dears bringing out some whiskey for you ?

nice n warm on the coast

fack off

does anyone have any decent wintertime recipes ?

13 days to go

13 days to go before the nights start to draw in

10 sorry

10 days to go  before the nights start to draw in

13 days to go before we find out

A pleasing winter thread.

Indeed.

Seen any herons lately?

Not here Tommy.

We now have a pheasant who appears most days. If I go out into the garden when it's out there it doesn't fly away, but runs off through gap in the hedge to next doors garden.

Lovely looking birds are pheasants. Used to get one visiting the garden of my old house.

Snow darn sarf in Barking. Manny Bear, the youngest daughters dog, leapt out into the garden.  When she got out of the door, all she could see was his tail sticking up.

Must have drifted to about a foot thick.