Tea? (Part 1)

[Speicher]

Thank you Uncle Phil for those lovely photos. I am hoping to find Wol, somewhere, I think his absence is temporary, but people are starting to notice.

A local falconry centre organises some Owl Evenings. The evenings start around 6pm and go on till well after dark I think. What would be the best time of year to see owls at that time of day. Could be a tad cold, at this time of year I think. In summer it gets dark so late, is there an optimum time of year?

 

[Night Train]

I reckon you should find your owl on the Icanhascheezburger site.

 

[Speicher]

wwwoooo hooo Wol has returned, he was probably hiding in the very tall trees in the field at the end of the garden.

 

[Amanda P]

At the falconry centre, are the Owl evenings about looking at captive owls, or wild ones?

If they fly their captive owls, like falcons, they probably get the owls to perk up and fly by feeding them at the appropriate times, so no worries.

The bit about the evenings going on until after dark (the definition of an evening, surely? - but I know what you mean) suggests that it's a walk out to see wild ones. They're busiest when they're feeding chicks, in May and June (owl chicks grow slowly), and at any time of year they're most likely to be flying about an hour before and after dusk and dawn, I reckon. (In winter, one can see barn owls flying almost any time of day - daylight is short, I suppose and they need to forage all they can).

The ever-useful US Naval Observatory tells me that in Worcester, sunset is in May and June is between about 8.30 and 9.30, so a bit late. Sunset is smack on 6pm on 7th March, so perhaps mid-March?

The Owl Evening folk will know their own owls' habits best. Why not ask them?

 

[Speicher]

The Owl Evening folk will know their own owls' habits best. Why not ask them?

I was assuming that like everywhere else they might be short of visitors, and perhaps they might try to suggest that any time would be a good time. I think March would be good, after the clocks have changed, and before sunset gets very late.

They have a website at www.cotswold-falconry.co.uk. (next door to Batsford Arboretum).

Just been to the website and they have one on 28th Feb and 5th April, and the time is 6.30 to 9.30, I will look at the Observatory site and see the sunset times for those dates.

 

[Arch]

Hey Arch! Where are your cushions?

On my sofa. That is my Mum's sofa....

And very nice they are too (my cushions).

 

[Arch]

The ever-useful US Naval Observatory tells me that in Worcester, sunset is in May and June is between about 8.30 and 9.30, so a bit late. Sunset is smack on 6pm on 7th March, so perhaps mid-March?

Blooming cheek! The US Navy telling us our OWN sunset times! Dratted Americans.

 

[Amanda P]

It's a US military site that gives all sorts of astronomical data for anywhere and everywhere in the world. After all, the Americans never know who they'll want to attack next, and they'll need to know what time to get up once they've got there...

<Imagines US tanks rolling into Worcestershire, Kenny Everett-type tank commander checking his watch outside Speicher's place...>

 

[Landslide]

Plus they'll need to know what to wear...
<Imagines US tanks rolling into Worcestershire, Kenny Everett-type tank commander in a hawaiian shirt and shorts combo becoming increasingly incandescent with rage as Worcestershire's finest precipitation soaks him to the skin and threatens to douse his cigar...>

 

[cookiemonster]

Evenin' All.

Haven't been in Tea for a while so I believe, as punishment, I must make a brew and hand out cake.

Do you like my new avater? I'm the one in red shorts. One of the very few photos of me in the ring.

 

[Speicher]

Yes please, cake would be very nice, but can you keep mine until later. I am off to Pirates Pilates in a bit, and it is not a good idea to eat too soon before that.

Btw I thought that was you in the old avatar.

 

[tdr1nka]

Gizza cup then CM!

I like the way, in your avatar, you have successfully stopped that other bloke from kneeing you in the groin!

 

[cookiemonster]

It wasn't a knee, it was a roundhouse arctually.

Good block though.

*hands TDR1NKA a brew*

 

[Arch]

Right, I'm off home. Got to get some milk, on the way. Then decide how to use up some more parmesan. I've got some tinned meatballs to use up too, had pasta last might, maybe have them with rice tonight. When did Campbells become Fray Bentos?

 

[Night Train]

Right last brew is on before bed.