Pigeons respond to the Earth's Magnetic field.

A study reported in Science Magazine says that researchers have spotted a group of 53 cells within the brain of Pigeons that respond to the Earth's magnetic field.

Apparently the cells act like a sensor and react to the magnetic field and this will  give a "sort of 3 D compass reading". The cells also had different responses depending on the polarity of the Earth's (Magnetic North and South of a field).

If you want to read more click here

It should not rain at the weekend.

Its been one of those weeks weather wise. Rain, rain and yet more rain! I reckon I'd have had as much joy getting home with a boat.....

Now I can live with this what really winds me up is when it rains at the weekend. So it was with an air of exasperation I drew back the curtain this morning to rain..... ok it wasn't chicking it down but still.... it was also VERY grey so I decided to head to Fishers Green and spend an hour in the hide. It was quiet!!

It didn't take me long to decide that frankly this was not fun! So as I wasn't able to do anything I wanted I may as well FINALLY buy a new pair of work shoes! I am now going to put my feet up read and listen to some music.

Dull & Boring

Did you know that the Perthshire village of Dull wants to forge ties with the town of Boring in Oregon USA?

Apparently it is the brainchild of Perthshire resident Elizabeth Leighton, who passed through Boring while on a cycling holiday.

The idea is being considered by Boring officials (couldn't resist it!)

It made me chuckle. You can see the signs Dull twinned with Boring.....

Home!

Well that's holiday one over! I didn't use a dSLR once and to be honest I never felt I needed it. Birds are the only real reason I need a dSLR..

The holiday was good and although the weather wasn't perfect it never got in the way so no complaints. I stayed at the Huntsman at Falfield (near Slimbridge which I never got to.) and I would happily stay there again if I was in the area..

Straight home today and off to Rye Meads I was greeted by a Common Whitethroat in the car park. There were lots of Blackcaps, is it me or are there more than normal. Also lots of Cetti's at Rye Meads these days.

Notable birds? Sedge Warbler, two Little Egrets, Lapwing and a Snipe. Oh and not a bird but nice... a vole!

The flipping birds were playing hide and seek from the camera!!

The Hert & Middlesex Wildlife Trust part of the reserve can be hit and miss but it was good to see a Mute Swan on one of the Island nesting again. Very funny to see a Canada Goose sitting nearby in a few weeks the male Mute will be giving it hell......

This Mute came to say hello.

 And YAY baby Coots ugly looking devils!! But still so nice to see them.

Puxton Church and Tyntesfield

My peace and quiet has been shattered as Trish has joined me for the day! I was told by Andrew(Wessexreiver) that Puxton Church was worth a visit so.... St Saviour, Puxton which is now "redundant" and in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.

The church maybe redundant but the church is still well loved given the flowers about. The churchyard was alive with birds and there were 4 species of Warbler!! (Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Blackcap).

Then on to Tyntesfield. The house was bought by the National Trust in 2002. I was last there at least 5 years ago and the Trust have spent some money since then! Given the snazzy new cafe, lifts etc. The chap guiding cars in the car park was a little officious making us wait to park while he insisted 4 others move to get one more in the row. Why we couldn't park in the next row why he did this is beyond me......

Tyntesfield is obviously a work in progress but the gardens seem to have improved and there is more of the house open. There are timed tickets and one chap was moaning that he had to wait. Of course there is good reason as the house gets congested. Always one.

A right little poser.

Plenty of these!

The house is Georgian but what you really see are the Victorian additions.

The chapel by Blomfield is impressive. We'll get there!!

Right that chapel.

I should add lunch was Carrot & Coriander soup and carrot cake - both first rate. And the fruit cake recommended by the Tyntesfield Twitter feed was had with the afternoon tea was also excellent.

A first rate day.

So that's 4 days and the dSLR has not been used once!!