Winter Watch 2010

I think it's more likely Lai you were that You dont remember being bitten
WS

MEOW -------------------

Lai

more icicle pictures

Those are some icicles PPH. I love the picture of the bush with them on, that is so christmassy. You certainly are having it bad there at the moment aren't you.
Hope you are feeling better today and the rest yesterday did you some good.

littlewid-x-

Wow those are big PPH. We've got some, but not as big as those yet. Lovely photos, I will try to get some of ours tomorrow
WS

Christmas eve - two hen pheasants



And just now - our Sparrowhawk who regularly visits the apple trees to see who's around (dark and dull day and through the windows so not brilliant)





Lai

Lovely shots Lai We have Sparrow Hawkes around where we live, but not as close as yours.
I thought I might just tweak them for you, hope you dont mind

Thanks WS - I am not a photoshop tweeker but a purist what you see is what you get but thanks it does show him/her off much clearer.

I tried opening the window but that was just much for the Sparrowhawk and off it flew

Lai

How lovely to have the two Hen Pheasant's on Christmas Eve Lai, thats a lovely photo

I'm not so lucky to have a Sparrow Hawk visiting me, I wished I did, I love them.

littlewid-x-

I will post a Free Download for the main one I use Lai it's a really easy one to use. I mainly just use the Auto Enhancement, and Sharpen Filter. If anyone else wants to use it it's free, and does a good job, not as good as Photoshop but not as expensive , and its adequate for what most people want. If anyone wants any help with it just shout
WS

A friend had phoned me for advice. They have a Butterfly in their bathroom, and it keeps flying against the window, from the desription it sounds like a small tortishell ?. He wanted to know if he should let it out or would the cold kill it, anyome any ideas

WS

There is quite a lot about Butterflys and the cold WS, I just googled "Butterflys and the Cold" and it popped up with lots of sites with info.

It sounds as if this little Tortoishell has been woken from hibernation with a possible rise in temperature over the last week or so. I copied this from the Tortoishell site

The adult butterflies can be seen at any time of the year, even on the last days of December or first days of January if the temperature is high enough to wake them from hibernation. However, adults normally emerge from hibernation at the end of March and start of April. There are typically 2 broods each year, except in the north, where there is usually only a single brood. Whether single or double-brooded, the butterfly is a familiar sight in late summer as it takes nectar to build up essential fats in preparation for hibernation

There is information on some of the various sites saying about the butterflys going into trees and wood piles to keep warm and hibernate over the winter period but also some info saying that they are cold blooded and can still survive as long as they get enough sunlight to warm up and fly so they do not become prey.

Someone with more Butterfly knowledge will have to help more than I have WS but there is lots of info on the web but it obviously won't survive in your friends Bathroom without food from the plants.

I hope it survives ok, do let us know.

littlewid-x-

Thanks for that LW I will pass that on, and let you know.
WS

Thanks WS - I do have the appropriate programmes that come with my Canon camera - it's just that I don't use it for anything other than cropping etc.

One of these days I will have a go and see what happens


Lai

I found this site on Butterflys, and what to do if you find one

I phoned my friend, and he's going to put it a cardboard box, and place it a shed in the garden that they dont use very often
WS

Thanks for that WS - it's always useful to know what to do.

Lai

Thanks for that WS. Lets hope the Butterfly survives.

littlewid-x-