Springwatch anyone?? **Waves**

[Selks]

Springwatch enthusiasts over here!!

A space for us to enjoy and chat about the show. Hopefully some will want to, if not I'll just talk to meself!!

No detractors please. If you don't like Springwatch fine, but please leave this thread for those that do.

By the way, Springwatch is on now, on BBC2

[Selks]

Just me then!!

[ArielThePiraticalMermaid]

I am! I'm glad it's Cwis Chris and Michaela again - Kate was irritating (lovely person though I'm sure she is etc)

Amazing up close photography.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Me! I love it but I am trying very hard to write a personal statement to accompany a job application so I am trying not to be distracted by SW.

[Slubberdegullion]

Oh! Oh! Wonderful wonderful Pine Martens.

[roisin]

Hi! Yes, we love it here.
Even despite the fact that 3 years ago dh, me and the boys sat in complete silence in that pine marten hide at Aigas for two hours ... and saw ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

[roisin]

I don't like Martin Hughes-Games though; he always sounds as though he's just reading a script. Whereas Chris Packham is an authentic geek, and always comes across as though he really knows his stuff.

[Slubberdegullion]

Oh bugger roisin (re martenless hide)

[SeaShellsUnderCanvas]

Massive Chris Packham fan here-I love his geekiness and I love how techie he gets - so interesting!

Fantastic photography-though I get the feeling they are being eaten alive by Mosquitos! You can see them buzzing around them the whole time

The pine martins were fab-and I love the kingfishers (although I fear for that nest!)

[Selks]

Ooh goodie! Fellow Springwatch fans....I thought I was on my own!

Missed it tonight as I was out, but the first two shows have been fab. Loved the moles and kingfishers on monday, and the ospreys.

Chris is really in his prime with it now, and it's great that they're letting him take the lead with his knowledge (which is massively impressive). I think they all work well together and - controversial I know, - I'm glad Kate Humble is no longer on it...she's so irritating.

Will check in again on here tomorrow at SW time

[Fozzleyplum]

Just watched tonight's episode (recorded it). The pine martens are amazing. We went to the hide at Aigas 2 years ago, and the same pine marten (Spots) really performed for us.

[Selks]

Ooh what's the hide at Aigas like, is it good? Had considered going myself. Is there a long walk to it?

[roisin]

The hide at Aigas is fairly basic, but the staff are fantastic. You meet them at Aigas, then they drive you to the hide in a landrover.

It is very expensive though.
and there is no guarantee you will see PMs.... aarrrgggghhhh....!

[SeaShellsUnderCanvas]

Selks-normally they dumb down or put a cap on the level of detail natural history programmes go into...it is really novel to hear actual technical terms and detail (I got all geeky fan girl when he was talking about the mole's radial sesamoid bone making the sixth "digit" )

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Thought the Kingfisher story was sad tonight.

[ArielThePiraticalMermaid]

I missed it. What happened to the kingfishers? Did they get washed away?

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

The river rose 3ft in one morning and the male couldn't get in to feed the babies, he did persist and eventually made it but they were too weak to feed. the next time he got in the babies had all died and there was no sign of the female.

[Fozzleyplum]

We went on the "Nature's Child" holiday at Aigas and it was worth every penny. The pine martens were quite capricious. There were some fairly serious naturalist types there, who were very anxious to make sure they didn't visit the hide when the small children were going. Our group, which included my DC's (then 9 and 7) and a wriggly four year old, were treated to the full badger and pine marten display, whilst the (rather competitive) naturalist types had to visit the hide three times to get a glimpse. We didn't brag at breakfast the next day - much.

[ArielThePiraticalMermaid]

:(

I am pretty much weeping at that mental image.

[Selks]

That kingfisher story was very sad. The adult kingfishers couldn't get into the nest because of the flood waters, so the chicks perished.

Still, Charlie H-J did later say that they had started another brood elsewhere, I think (hopeful).

Love Chris's scientific geekery. He seems so at home in this series.

[Selks]

Interesting to hear about Aigas. I get their brochure and it looks fab, but tres pricey.

There are B&Bs in parts of Scotland (e.g. around Glenborrodale on the Ardnamurhcan peninsula - amazing area) where you can see pine martens visiting the bird tables in the B&B gardens. That is on my to-do list!

[Fozzleyplum]

Selks, we're going to a log cabin on the West Coast near Skye, where apparently the pine martens visit the verandah in the evenings. I'm going to put out the same food as they use at Aigas (mixture of peanuts, jam and rice crispies) to see if we can attract some. Will Google Glenborrodale as we've thought about going to Ardnamurchan next.

[Selks]

Ooh that sounds wonderful Fozzey. Please do report back after that trip! Do you have any details on that log cabin, assuming it is available to rent?

Ardnamurchan is a wonderful area. Feel free to message me if you want any tips on the area. I had two wonderful weeks up there a couple of years ago.

[Fozzleyplum]

The cabins are at www.duirinishlodges.com ; they're between Plockton and Kyle of Lochalsh. Hopefully, there will be some "victims" for the DC's to play with.
We were thinking about another Aigas week, but it's a lot of dosh, and we're not ready to do the same trips again (despite wonderfulness of pine marten/badger/beaver hides and seeing a golden eagle fledging). Our plan is to pester a few sea otters and do some wild swimming.
Thanks for offer of tips for Ardnamurchan - will take you up on it when we're planning the next trip to the West coast.

[Selks]

Ooo peregrines...amazing birds, always watchable. Weird behaviour from that young one.

Chris great with his facts as usual.