Love Autumnwatch "We all know the song"!

More Pampas!

The final week of Autumnwatch and Unsprung has just concluded (BBC2 eight-week series), confirming to all, as if we needed reminding, we're at the starting point of winter; December, January & February.  And for the majority of viewers, it was a fun-filled fantastically vibrant colourful collection of informative fact-filled stories and images, toasting this amazingly changeable time of year.

Far from the UK shutting down for winter, it's about bird life going on vacation, a huge influx of migratory birds passing through or wintering here, and three British mammal species going into hibernation (Hedgehogs, Dormice and Bats), not to mention butterflies; Peacock, Red Admiral, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell amongst a variety of nature slowing down for the season.

Well done BBC, key presenters; Chris Packham, Kate Humble and Martin Hughes-Games and their supporting eclectic cast of  of guest presenters, television crews, media moderators and friends.

Comma Butterfly

Today I’ve added a Links page so you've the ability to follow some presenter's own internet sites, blogs and various other useful organisations and research information.  In time I suspect it will grow into quite a list, so if you have favourites you'd like me to include please send them by the Contact page.

Last week I toyed with the idea of re-writing "Love on the rocks" by Neil Diamond in response to a discussion on NatureUK - our ongoing Discussion Behaviour thread.  Following another tweak or 300, I decided to record it, and here for your listening pleasure; Love Autumnwatch - BBC Tribute, bare with me through the first icy bars as I warm up to crescendo.

Beware of UK ice it's fragile all year round but - bootiful

So, celebrating the best Autumn we've had in the UK officially for decades, marking an end of the Autumnwatch BBC series for 2010 (25th November).  A special Diamond rendition of "Love on the Rocks", in The ‘bejewelled’ Plucky Haggis blues style, a humble, hammy and gamesly rendition, parody, ode...

 

Bracket Fungi on old Birch

Love Autumnwatch
Ain’t no surprise
Gave me so much
I’ve heard some replies
Think nothin' to boos
So some just sing the blues all the time

Gave you my mind
Gave telly time
Not felt alone here
With something to hold
Yes seasonally gone
Now all we want is a smile

First they tweet they want you
Hear how they really need you
Suddenly we find we’re out there
Goggling in the mire
And when we know we need you
Then we really need you
Viewing life without you cry
You've got to stay, don't go away
We all know the song

BEEB heed what we need

Best thing about winter!

You know what we want
That much we applaud
When Unsprung is gone
May be more birds above
It's cool when we all love AutumnWatch

First they tweet they want you
Hear how they really need you
Suddenly we find we’re out there
Goggling in the mire
And when we know we need you
Then we really need you
Viewing life without you cry
You've got to stay, don't go away
We all know the song

Love Autumnwatch
Ain’t no big surprise
Just gave us so much
We’ve heard some replies
Yes seasonally gone
And now all we want is a smile :-)

Personally felt it summed up our thoughts, but look forward to reading your critique comments.  Though I doubt if Simon Cowell will be signing me up on the strength of my performance, but surely it’s better than Wagner! (X-Factor)

One of my favourite photographs

During the last fortnight I also launched The Plucky Haggis Facebook Fan Page, my sincerest thanks to those of you already confirming you ‘Like’ this blog, it makes it much more worthwhile putting the work in.  So in addition I’ve launched another new Page; Picasa Album which shows all the photographs included here.  You can enjoy them in the smaller slideshow within Blogger or go directly to Picasa for enlarged pictures.

Great time to visit our local lakes for a Wildfowl duck-fest

Odd ends: I’ve had Wrens roosting in a bird box under my garden shed eve, Long Tailed Tits passing through the feeders and Pied Wagtails dipping in and out the sunnier side of the garden among more usual suspects, but no Waxwings yet, despite apples being strewn throughout the garden in hope, benefiting the odd Wood mouse and Vole.

Least we forget - Scents of Summer

In closing this post, I hope folks remember to keep fresh water, warmish during frosty spells, out for your birds, with some food if you can spare a little it in such tight times.  What's that you say, “I haven’t got a garden”, then send your cheque to plucky me so I can feed mine ;-) TPH