Springwatch 2016

[LIZS]

Anyone watching? Little Owls look promising characters.

[Bassetfeet]

They are gorgeous LIZS . Good start to the series . Am a bit concerned about the blue tit single mum and her few nestlings left. .

[KurriKurri]

I love little owls - we get quite a lot round us. I'm also looking forward to the Golden Eagles.

I was surprised at how many eggs sparrow hawks lay - it seemed a lot for a hawk - I'd always assumed they only had one or two young.

The poor little blue tits - no wonder they have to lay so many eggs for any to have a chance.

Minsmere has a fantastic array of wildlife on offer - it is a beautiful reserve.

[LIZS]

Oh no , they think the sparrowhawk's lunch was the adult swallow!

[LIZS]

Anyone spotted any puns or song titles yet?

[KurriKurri]

It was quite brutal tonight !

I'm slightly north of Minsmere but the weather here in EA last night was truly dreadful - I've had branches of trees, and had to get up in the night to secure the wheely bins as they were about to take off. Those poor birds looked so drenched and cold.

I loved the stoat moving her kits from one nest to another - always hope I can see something like that. I've seen weasels doing the 'charming' thing to hypnotise their prey.

Did anyone catch the name of the beautiful white coloured hawk they showed briefly at the end - I think it began with a G.?

[KurriKurri]

Ah - it was Gyr falcon I think - beautiful.

[SlinkyVagabond]

Dh saw one in Sth Uist earlier this year.

[Bassetfeet]

Does Chris Packham hide song titles in the chat? .
Yes it was a bit brutal tonight but at least they didn't show the bunnies being eaten by the weasels . Loved that footage too Kurri of her moving her rather large babies .
Golden eagle my favourite as she is so gentle around the eyrie with her baby. Lots of wet bedraggled birds on my fret list though . Hope weather improves .

[LIZS]

Herons

[dementedma]

Adore herons, my favourite bird

[SealSong]

Hello, nice to see a Springwatch thread this year.

I love the short films they show from guest presenters, really enjoyed the chap who went to Sanday in the Orkneys - beautiful.
I hope they have a short from John Aitchison again this year - I love his work.

Chris is on fine form this year, he seems more relaxed. He's just recently published his boyhood memoirs, and come out about his depression and Aspergers syndrome, I wonder if that's linked.

Enjoying the stone curlews - strange birds!

[SealSong]

Oh and the golden eagles - stunning! Bit brutal them bringing in a live nest of baby birds for the young eagle to snack from, but that's nature.

[SealSong]

Springwatch unsprung on now, with Maggie Aderin-Pocock, I absolutely adore her

[LIZS]

Long tailed tits are fledging!

[Bassetfeet]

Aw the long tail tits fledging . Think I read somewhere that as a flock they look after all the fledglings together . The loveliest of twittering these wee birds .
Good programme last night but closed my eyes when poorly bunny got taken . Nature I know.
I want a puffling . Best Google toy puffins I guess . And toy owls.......

[redannie118]

Love these programmes and its great they are up in my part of the world at the glorious Farne Islands
Never noticed the song titles but they do give you some utterly filthy innuendos that I have no idea how they get away with !! My absolute fave was the one when Micheala was talking about a flock of black grouse they had been following , and the males had been fighting for dominance. With a totally straight face she said "and now its time for a video of my very favourite dominant black cock " They have snuck that back in a few times since and its always worth a snigger !!

[Bassetfeet]

I saw that redannie . Oh and yes to the Farnes .

[PortBlacksandBlackLobster]

Martin H-G is 60! ......... 60!!

I need to spend more time outdoors!

[LIZS]

Carnage today

[PortBlacksandBlackLobster]

Yes ... apologies for my somewhat banal comment (60 though!)

That mam stoat is working bloody hard for her brood though .... rabbits, birds etc. ... brutal though.

[UnGoogleable]

Martin HG is 60? Whaaaaat?!

Loving it this year, the Stoat mamma is brutal but heck she does work hard!

I loved the Great Bustards last night, what majestic birds.

I am enjoying Iolo at the Farnes, looks like a fabulous place, I'd love to visit. Those feisty Terns and his shit hat make me giggle.

I read an interview with Chris Packham following the publication of his memoir - very interesting. I imagine he's not easy to work with, but he's so fiercely intelligent he casts a shade over the others.

A few years back he was sneaking The Cure song titles in, another year it was The Smiths. I haven't noticed any this year....

[LIZS]

He mentioned Morrissey the other night and has dropped a few lines in. Can't believe Martin is 60!

[UnGoogleable]

Oh Mrs Stoat you are ruthless!

Ooh seals!

[RedRosie]

The last couple of nights have been a bit of a bloodbath! No room for sentiment in nature.

[MadHattersWineParty]

Rooting for that little great tit. Poor mummy blue tit looks knackered.

Little owlets need to tidy their fetid bedroom