The being at home positivity thread!

[Jack Ratt]

I was watching a Cormorant in one of the docks today in Pompey dockyard. They are very common here

 

[t-tony]

Pretty sure I saw a cormorant on the bridge in the middle of Aberdaron the other day, just standing in the sun and enjoying the unusual amount of quietness and peace in the normally full-of-chuffing-tourists village. Every cloud etc.

Cormorants are the bain of freshwater fisheries and have been for many years. They're no longer a coastal living species. The lake next door has thin blue ropes stretched across it which does discourage them from landing. Again these are plentiful at the lake near our place in Florida residing inland albeit 100 miles from the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico.
In the mean time the Swans have come up to our end of the lake and didn't mind us taking some pictures. Hope they stay!

Tony.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Not seen one in Aberdaron before, it's one of those picturesque places that fills up with bl**dy tourists most of the year. Glad I'm not one any more.

 

[t-tony]

If Cormorants find a plentiful supply of coarse fish, which are far easier for them to catch, they will stay and multiply very quickly.

Tony.

 

[Z Victor 1]

I know it's easy to confuse the two @Jack Ratt , but are you sure they were Comorants? I thought Shags were more common in Pompey.That's what my mate from Southampton says.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I know it's easy to confuse the two @Jack Ratt , but are you sure they were Comorants? I thought Shags were more common in Pompey.That's what my mate from Southampton says.

Another chance to use it. Hurrah.

 

[Z Victor 1]

First little ride out on my restored italian classic steel bike. Just did about 40 miles as the gears need a little adjustment. Setting them up on a stand is never quite the same as when they are under some strain.

 

[Jack Ratt]

I know it's easy to confuse the two @Jack Ratt , but are you sure they were Comorants? I thought Shags were more common in Pompey.That's what my mate from Southampton says.

Well Cormorants are members of the s*** family. I've also heard there's plenty of shags in Pompey too but wouldn't know where to find one

 

[t-tony]

Very steep angle on the headstock on that frame Ken, a bit sharp on tight corners I bet?

Tony.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Short wheelbase so I bet it corners great

 

[GZed]

First little ride out on my restored italian classic steel bike. Just did about 40 miles as the gears need a little adjustment. Setting them up on a stand is never quite the same as when they are under some strain.View attachment 136711

Oooh a lovely Moser. My brothers got one. Can't quite make out, bit are they classic Mavic CXP wheels?

 

[Robert Wiles]

First little ride out on my restored italian classic steel bike. Just did about 40 miles as the gears need a little adjustment. Setting them up on a stand is never quite the same as when they are under some strain.View attachment 136711

Now that's a lovely thing. Steel is real. Here's my old steel road bike. 1959 Condor. Bought it years ago to restore. Just dug it out of hibernation to do something with it. Think I might just re-commission it as it's totally original.

 

[Z Victor 1]

It's got a replacement Mavic CXP 30 front on a Record hub @GZed, but it's still got an old Campagnolo Atlanta 96 on the rear. The brakes I got with the old 8 speed group are basic Mirage so I found a chap in France who had some of the rare period monoplaner brakes.Should be with me next week.

 

[Sean d]

Today's steps, we are lucky to be able to go straight out of our garden onto this, I would be losing my mind if I couldn't get out, we have a few thousand acres of private estate including a lot of woodland that we can walk, it's great exploring.
We found a lot of wild orchid today

 

[handsomejackuk]

Let's see what you're up to and how you are all doing, positive stuff only

My life for the foreseeable future, office closed on Friday, company still running, but I've been home since last week. Already saved £60 in diesel not tramping up to Oxford - yay!

View attachment 135521

same computer case as me... and almost the same amount of monitors... no rubiks cubes on your desk though !!!!!!

also a bit of walking up the mountain and frightening the black lambs...!!! mountain is just behind me and was lovely up there today..

 

[Sean d]

Cormorants are the bain of freshwater fisheries and have been for many years. They're no longer a coastal living species. The lake next door has thin blue ropes stretched across it which does discourage them from landing. Again these are plentiful at the lake near our place in Florida residing inland albeit 100 miles from the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico.
In the mean time the Swans have come up to our end of the lake and didn't mind us taking some pictures. Hope they stay!
View attachment 136683 View attachment 136685

Tony.

They are a pair (male on the right) and could well breed on their pal

 

[t-tony]

Yes, swans pair for life. Could well be the pair that nested on here before assuming they both survived or maybe even their offspring.

Tony.

 

[pgunter]

They are a pair (male on the right) and could well breed on their pal

Sean, what makes you think the male is on the right ? Hard to see the size of the ‘blackberry’ on the beak and that’s not always the best way to tell. The necks from the photos look very similar in thickness too. Just wondering if there are any other things you have spotted ?

 

[Sean d]

Sean, what makes you think the male is on the right ? Hard to see the size of the ‘blackberry’ on the beak and that’s not always the best way to tell. The necks from the photos look very similar in thickness too. Just wondering if there are any other things you have spotted ?

Been a birder all my life Paul, the knob on the beak is generally bigger on a male, other then that and size, there is no other way to tell, gut feeling

 

[pgunter]

Ahh a twitcher... well I thought that but from those photos I am finding it hard to see the difference. Hence the question.