|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Sept 12, 2006 16:29:00 GMT
I have just noticed that the starlings have already flown away for winter and I heard the first geese the night before last. Isn't that a bit early?
Our red squirrels are busy collecting acorns, of which we seem to have a lot this year.
Has anyone else noticed any early winter warnings.
Rosefriend
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2006 22:18:17 GMT
Hello Rosefriend.Not noticed anything here in Northamptonshire,but the swallows have gone.They seem to gather on a rooftop near to me and then the sound of them suddenly ceases.The silence is quite noticeable after hearing them all summer.We have been in Cumbria in past years when the swallows have gone from home,but have been much in evidence further north...peculiar  |
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Sept 22, 2006 18:28:48 GMT
The Lapwings have gone but the starlings are still gathering.
The geese are out in numbers. But with those I never know if these are the one that move on or the ones that are staying.
We have quite large colonies here.
Dutchy
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2006 19:55:20 GMT
The last lot of housemartins left here yesterday and the starlings are starting to raid the rowan tree berries. |
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Oct 3, 2006 17:28:14 GMT
Certainly all the swifts, swallows etc gone now and the deer are getting bolder, coming into the garden for apples... but the peculiar thing is the sudden disappearance of blackberries. One minute there were still plenty (and most years some are still about at the end of October) but now...ziltch.
OM.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Oct 3, 2006 17:34:16 GMT
One sure sign here is that the Starlings have all gone as I have said.
Acorns are very plentiful and huge this year.
Slugs have been laying eggs for a long time as well..
Leaves are already coming down but I feel that it could be because of the hot period that we all had...... Some trees really had problems.
Rosefriend
|
|
|
|
Post by JennyWrenn on Oct 4, 2006 7:13:02 GMT
Yes Rosefriend acorns are plentiful I have never seen soooooo many Walking dog on Sunday one hit me on the head - it was very painful and then I stood back to watch many falling down - it was a strange sight Like very large raindrops I had better not make an issue of this otherwise the Council will be chopping them down in case someone sues if they get a headache from being hit by one  The ground was heaving with them I remember as a child I used to collect them and later on I did see a little boy with a carrier bag |
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Oct 4, 2006 17:23:28 GMT
On the other hand... the pigeons are still nesting...
OM.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Oct 4, 2006 17:27:51 GMT
With all due respect OM -
our pigeons nest all year around - they never give up - I have seen them in the middle of snow and ice at it.............. nothing seems to stop them.....
Rosefriend
|
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Oct 4, 2006 17:31:45 GMT
Just trying to be...optimistic.
OM.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cheerypeabrain on Oct 4, 2006 18:59:32 GMT
Well there were some collared doves getting jiggy on the bird table this afternoon....do they KNOW it's October?!... The thing is I know that I'll have to put up with the pitiful cheeping of the chicks or ineffectual flapping of the parents as either the local squirrels or magpies butcher any resultant chicks or eggs  |
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Oct 12, 2006 7:50:44 GMT
The starlings are still here. Next doors grape is almost... no completely empty. We had scenes of the Birds here. The roofs of all 14 houses in our row covered in starlings flocking up and trying to get to the grapes. Big "winging" clouds of birds.
There are quite a lot this year.
All the geese seem to have arrived. There are hundreds on the fields. The first orange robin has arrived. The slightly more orange ones being the ones that come from the UK to overwinter here. It is neither early nor late I would say.
More and more winter guests arrive. Food must be getting scarcer in the wild. I still do not feed them properly but leave the occasional bits of seed out to lure them in.
Has any one got ideas for feeding the small garden birds in a healthy and safe way. I am looking for new ways of feeding because of this finch disease.
Dutchy
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2006 6:37:43 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by oldmoleskins on Oct 13, 2006 8:22:45 GMT
Saw a woodcock last night - most usually seen in November/December as"winter visitors" escaping deep cold across in Scandinavia but this one is very early... It's when they move on from us to Wales and Ireland to escape our deep cold I start to worry... OM ps, courtesy of Rosefriend |
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Oct 13, 2006 17:14:55 GMT
Rosefriend, I read that when trees drop their leaves and the leaves stay close to the tree ( do not ask me how they do that) it means we are in for a strong and cold winter.
Not many leaves dropping yet but I sure am going to see if it is true.
Rita good advice on the cleaning underneath. I tend to forget that.
Dutchy
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Oct 13, 2006 17:23:22 GMT
I am amazed how many leaves are already down. Ok we have so many trees around us... it is really only the beginning but it does make me wonder.
26 years ago - my first winter here, we had minus 25deg. Last year was only minus 18deg - I feel that we are in for a bad one .... but who knows................
The problem for the garden isn't the short time minus temps. One night of minus 30 would not kill at a lot BUT 3 or 4 days of it .... no chance -- I have only got two roses in the garden that could cope with that........
However I do have a lot of tubs outside with fleece around them - I even got my olive tree through last year - looked a bit like a Mumie and lost it's leaves (obviously didn't water it enough), but it came through.
What really is making me wonder is that the sparrowhawks and owls are coming into the gardens, - all the tits are already here..... some only tend to come in Jan/Feb.
Let us hope that it is not too bad.
Rosefriend
|
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Oct 13, 2006 17:42:51 GMT
Perhaps the food supply in the wild is low due to the early drought?
Lets indeed hope things will be ok.
|
|
|
|
Post by torontotrini on Oct 20, 2006 19:45:03 GMT
I have just noticed that the starlings have already flown away for winter and I heard the first geese the night before last. Isn't that a bit early? Our red squirrels are busy collecting acorns, of which we seem to have a lot this year. Has anyone else noticed any early winter warnings. Rosefriend Hi Rosefriend. We certainly have. A big snow storm came through last week. We were lucky that only the fringe of it came through Toronto, but some areas around got hit pretty hard with as much as 40cm of snow. Ugg. I understand that there are some places still without electricity because of downed power lines. |
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Oct 20, 2006 19:55:55 GMT
Oooooh TT would you mind awfully keeping it there please. Snow is fine - no electricity - couldn't even make myself a cup of coffee.
A lot of people here in Germany are saying that we are in for a hard time this winter. I don't mind minus 20 and blue skies - it is the minus 1 or 2 deg C that are so cold somehow.
Rosefriend
|
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Oct 23, 2006 17:31:59 GMT
Brrrrr TT snow!
Rosefriend, in the Netherlands they also think winter is going to be severe. October has been too warm by far and that is usually followed by a whopper of a Winter.
I have to go to Hamburg at the end of November. I hope I do not have to buy winter tires for my car. They have become obligatory for German roads as per this winter I think? That is one financial setback I can do without.
Oh well time will tell.
Dutchy
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Oct 24, 2006 13:29:16 GMT
Hi Dutchy
Winter tyres - well I have just asked my OH to check whether I was right.
The situation is as follows - you do NOT have to have winter tyres BUT, and here is the problem, if you have an accident and you do NOT have winter tyres on your car, irrespective of whether the accident is your fault or not, you will get part fault and the insurance will not pay up fully.
On the hills - Harz etc - winter tyres and chains must be used - you will be stopped driving and fined.
We have winter tyres and we normally get them on around about the end of this month until May (ish) - obviously it depends on weather. This will of course be difficult for quite a few people - we have been very thankfully for them and they have saved our lives on two occasions but you have to have them first don't you.
I cannot remember when they are bringing the law in - it could be next year at some point, there again you could be right and it is this year - I will try and find out for you.
Rosefriend
|
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Oct 25, 2006 17:35:07 GMT
Rosefriend Thank you.
We have two cars but I have to use my own that usually does not leave the country so to speak. My OH car has winter tires and it probably got us safe to wherever we were going too.
Mine however we use for transporting things that do not fit his. I normally drive around in the Netherlands and the weather here has never been that bad.
It would be great to know as of when one needs the winter tires in order not to be blamed for accidents.
Dutchy
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Oct 25, 2006 17:47:06 GMT
Hi Dutchy
I have found something this afternoon and I will C/P this in German - just until I get time to translate it out. I f you cannot even start to understand then tell me and I will be as quick as possible translating it out.
Here goes - I will modify the post afterwards.
»Bei Kraftfahrzeugen ist die Ausrüstung an die Wetterverhältnisse anzupassen. Hierzu gehören insbesondere eine geeignete Bereifung und Frostschutzmittel in der Scheibenwaschanlage.
The quick translation of the above is as follows:-
All vehicles must be equipped for all weather conditions. In addition to this a vehicle must have appropriate tyres and an anti-freezing agent in the windscreen washer.
"Es gibt auch künftig keine Winterreifenpflicht, jeder Autofahrer ist dazu verpflichtet, mit geeigneter Bereifung unterwegs zu sein. Das kann je nach Wetterverhältnissen auch ein guter Sommerreifen oder ein Ganzjahresreifen sein. Wer auf Winterreifen verzichten will, muss sein Auto bei widrigen Straßenverhältnissen stehen lassen und auf Bus und Bahn umsteigen. Wer mit abgefahrenen Sommerreifen eine verschneite Passstraße befährt, muss künftig mit einem Bußgeld rechnen."
There will not be an enforcement of the Winter-tyre regulations, however a vehicle must have the appropriate tyres for the relevant weather conditions. Depending on the weather conditions this can also include a good summer tyre or an 'all year round tyre". Who doesn't want to have winter tyres must accept that should weather conditions require it, the Police have the right to make a vehicle owner leave their car and use Public transport. If a vehicle is found to have worn-out tyres in any weather conditions, fines will be imposed.
OK Dutchy - a very quick translation and I will remove the German unless you would prefer me to leave it.
Does this help at all.
Rosefriend
|
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Oct 28, 2006 16:54:34 GMT
Ah, it helps a lot.
Please leave the German, it is a good reference.
And official language sometimes can translate into more than one meaning.
Thank you for all the trouble you took.
Dutchy
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Nov 4, 2006 15:44:47 GMT
Hi Dutchy
Just an update on the tyre situation.
It for example you are caught in snow storm with summer tyres and have to pull over as you cannnot drive any further then there is a fine of 20 Euro.
If you cause an accident or even hinder/obstruct another vehicle then the fine is 40 Euro if you have summer tyres on.
Also, although I assume that you know, we have right for left here, i.e. side roads have the right of way in certain areas.
Rosefriend
|
|
|
|
Post by Dutchy on Nov 4, 2006 16:24:17 GMT
The fines are cheaper than the tires. I will wait till the end of November with my decision.
As for right of way The Netherlands are the same as Germany.
Did you get any of that snow? A friend was traveling to Munich last week. He landed in a neat snow storm. Good thing he was on winter tires.
Dutchy
|
|
|
|
Post by Rosefriend on Nov 4, 2006 16:30:52 GMT
HI Dutchy
No we didn't get the snow - a friend was in Harz and they suddenly had snow - summer tyres and summer (ish) clothes - they were happy to get home again. Police turned a blind eye as it was fairly unexpected.
I don't suppose we will be long waiting for the first snow - nearly always comes in November - garden isn't quite finished yet so it must wait a little.
Rosefriend
|
|
