MK5 Golf GTI
General => Photography Section => Topic started by: RedRobin on September 05, 2010, 04:34:54 pm
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A warm sunny evening, so the kitchen window was wide open... I came into the kitchen and detected movement and immediately went on full alert! Turned out to be a young bird of the feathered variety, and a very pretty one. Fortunately I'm used to handling birds of all sizes and used to keep free-flight Macaws, so I knew to keep calm and all my movements slow.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FPondLife%2FGoldfinchJuv1.jpg&hash=13ab59d1cfc33fedb715f45e34c9f5736c0ecfb5)
^ The water in the pan was still hot and so I was worried a terrible drowning might occur.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FPondLife%2FGoldfinchJuv2.jpg&hash=a74a3138d288ade2bd5082f2cf08368e5e88bb9a)
^ Easily identifiable as a juvenile Goldfinch.
She/He was very calm and without a racing heartbeat and so easily allowed me to gently spread a wing and check the bird over for possible injury. No damage whatsoever so it was time to release back in the wild.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FPondLife%2FGoldfinchJuv3.jpg&hash=41251c5778b1bcecbdd16145019aa91dd92b7952)
Once in the garden I took her/him to a bush and after hopping onto a branch I was then delighted to see proper flight upwards into the biggest tree.
I see a great variety of birds in my wildlife garden but the limitations of my Fuji 200EXR camera rarely allow a good enough photo. It's good to know that the Goldfinches are about again as they seriously declined in the 1970's and 80's.
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And poached Goldfinch for dinner! :party: :laugh:
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Wow!! :congrats: What technique do you use to get a bird to come on your hand? (ooh er, Should I rephrase that?) :grin:
....It's a bit like Horse whispering - I used to work with Horses a lot doing Natural Horsemanship where most, not all, horses can be controlled by body language and fingertips and not the harsh strap-them-up and show them who's boss which the British Horse Society preach. Fundamentally it's about being very calm and trusting and understanding that most animals/birds are hard-wired into sensing fear and fleeing for their survival. You have to be extremely patient to gain trust. It took me over 6 months of being literally alongside my first Macaw before she trusted me enough to be fed by hand and finally climb onto me. From that moment on I was given complete and unconditional trust and to my amazement found that other Macaws I'd never even met before gave me trust but might attack other people.
If you own dogs you'll know some of what I'm saying.
As most of us already know, females of the human species are much more complicated! But once you're allowed to be in there... :wink: :evilgrin:
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Great story and pics Robindoolittle. :happy2:
If only the other variety would get trapped in your kitchen without having to deploy your usual technique of ammonia and rope. :evilgrin:
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What I really want to know is, if he had two hands on the bird, what was he using to hold the camera and take pictures? :scared:
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:grin:
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What I really want to know is, if he had two hands on the bird, what was he using to hold the camera and take pictures? :scared:
.... :signLOL:
Daughter Sky took the bird-in-hand pics on my camera :happy2:
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Aww! great pics!!
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did nt know you was into you parrots mate , ive kept them most of my life :happy2:
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did nt know you was into you parrots mate , ive kept them most of my life :happy2:
....Absolutely my favourite bird. I donated my last Macaw to Blean Bird Garden in Kent which isn't open to the public all year and where many are free flight. Unfortunately I don't have any digital pics so this will have to do:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FRR%2FMaxOlly.jpg&hash=5f68a98aa40466f41843d4b853e3e2d04e12b52e)
^ At home in London (I had a big garden and they were never caged, even indoors).
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^^^^
I see that the young Goldfinch has now clicked me a 'Thank You' on the forum :laugh: :wink:
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did nt know you was into you parrots mate , ive kept them most of my life :happy2:
Pieces of eight, pieces of eight, Custard code custard code. :laugh: :evilgrin: ( Iknow! i'll get me coat. :ashamed:)
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I saw the thread title, the the author, and thought to myself, Do i dare read?! haha!
nice shots Robin! ;)
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I saw the thread title, the the author, and thought to myself, Do i dare read?! haha!
nice shots Robin! ;)
....That's what you were meant to think, Jay :evilgrin:
Just to oblige, here's a Paris pic from last week of my daughter and her mates:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FRR%2FSky3_Paris.jpg&hash=2901e7993527f52eebd38e755a5c0cc72dbdf555)
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I saw the thread title, the the author, and thought to myself, Do i dare read?! haha!
nice shots Robin! ;)
....That's what you were meant to think, Jay :evilgrin:
Just to oblige, here's a Paris pic from last week of my daughter and her mates:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FRR%2FSky3_Paris.jpg&hash=2901e7993527f52eebd38e755a5c0cc72dbdf555)
I know thats what you want me to think, but sometimes i worry!
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^^^^
Sometimes I worry too! I'm thinking that perhaps the average age of the females in my current life is a tad low, but it's just the cards I get dealt. I'm co-producing and playing on an album for a 21yo singer at the moment and I wish that A) she wasn't quite so pretty, and B) that I was at least 30 years younger.
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Pictures please Robin. :wink:
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Pictures please Robin. :wink:
....You'll have to buy last week's local paper - She did an interview.
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...I hardly think my local paper is the same as yours. :sad1:
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Nice one Robin :happy2: Good to see the poor fella ended up in the right hands and had a happy ending.. :congrats:
The last bird that was in my kitchin didn't have such a happy ending unfortunately... :sad1:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg829.imageshack.us%2Fimg829%2F2927%2Froastchicken.jpg&hash=888d04a6e592d8e416bc29d6ced8835e35dc4728) (http://img829.imageshack.us/i/roastchicken.jpg/)
Well not for him anyway.. :party:
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^^^^
Talking of birds having unhappy (for them) endings:
I was on my knees peering into my wildlife pond when "flap! flap! flap! bang! crash! thump!" a body falls out of the 50ft Leylandii tree in my garden. I investigate and find a young Wood Pigeon... Very dead with its neck and jugular ripped open and the rest intact. Not quite ready to leave the nest and quite large. I was wondering what the heck had done the damage - A vampire squirrel? Anyway, I picked it up and disposed of the body in a hedge off my property to let nature take its course.
I then continued my pond watching and had just spotted a diving beetle when I heard more frantic flapping up high in the nearby tree. Looking up into the dense branchwork I spotted another dead pigeon on its way down but attached above it was what I at first thought was an Owl due to stubby wings and brown colouration. I soon discovered it was a Sparrowhawk and that he wasn't going to let go of his prize. As he was so focussed he wasn't much bothered by my presence only about 15ft away. As Leylandii trees have masses of branches he was having difficulties finding a way through and was somewhat handicapped by the size of his prey being almost as big as he was. He then spotted an old nest and took it there. After staring at each other for a few minutes he got the message I wasn't a threat and then proceeded to pluck and rip apart the pigeon, occasionally showering me with bits below.
Two hours later he still hadn't finished his feast! I tried to grab some photos but the bloody autofocus on my compact digital camera kept focussing on small branches and there wasn't enough light. What I also saw was a Blue Tit perch within only 6ft of the Sparrowhawk and be totally unruffled - Obviously realising it was safe at the moment.
I have a seat at the bottom of my Leylandii tree and it's amazing what goes on very privately in there.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FPondLife%2FSparrowhawkLey.jpg&hash=135d9e9012719e7fef32a08db55ca4683314c203)
^ The best shot I could do (not very good) - Spot the Sparrowhawk.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FPondLife%2FRobinLeylandii.jpg&hash=6c1151f518391662bca9354711af06e80b50dfe1)
^ Seat under my Leylandii tree - Spot the Robin!
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Continuing the Sparrowhawk's Wood Pigeon Fest....
When I went on a garden walkabout at about 11:00am I noticed my garden seat was covered in even more bits of pigeon and looked up into the tree to spy the Sparrowhawk still feeding! Had he stuffed himself to the point where he couldn't leave? Had he roosted there for the night? Had he been home and returned? Surprising he was there this morning from about 6:00pm the previous evening, but he was gone at about 1:15pm when I returned home.
Some people I've told this story to have had a "Eugh!" reaction but they're all meat eaters themselves so what's the problem? It's Nature's way and we all predate on something, even vegetarians. I've bought some tasty Lamb Chump Chops from my local butcher for tonight :party: - I'm in the mood for meat!
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I'm in the mood for meat!
Steady on there Robin. :laugh:
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Sometimes I find the way animals feed fascinating. Over hundreds or thousands of years, they've developed a particular method or style. Simply amazing. Much better to watch than some muppet stuffing his face with food.
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Sometimes I find the way animals feed fascinating. Over hundreds or thousands of years, they've developed a particular method or style. Simply amazing. Much better to watch than some muppet stuffing his face with food.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FMeets%2FSantaPod_Stealth.jpg&hash=b36c3113072e7cd82d6fa4bac6371f7910257b3d)
^ Sorry! I know you've seen this shot a hundred times but I couldn't resist it :evilgrin: :happy2:
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Sorry! I know you've seen this shot a hundred times but I couldn't resist it :evilgrin: :happy2:
I was debating whether to write what I did. The thought of you posting that pic did enter my mind but I figured you'd have risen above it by now! :grin:
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^^^^
:laugh:
Moi? Rise above something? Surely you know me better than that by now when it comes to posting pics :evilgrin: :happy2:
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On the subject of having tits hanging off the end of your nuts.....................................................
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs264%2Fphilmcavity%2F004.jpg&hash=1a60d77ed9fce667c96edba5854b2d4b1f4842ea)
sorry to disapoint Robin :wink:
The look says it all from this little poor sod!!
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Some interesting shots again Robin, nice to have a sparrow hawk in your garden, is that pile of wood I spy meant for beetles and insects?
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Did you take that tit on yer nuts shot, Steve? You should have lots of birdies around your place with woods at the back :happy2:
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Did you take that tit on yer nuts shot, Steve? You should have lots of birdies around your place with woods at the back :happy2:
I did mate, have lots of Tits in my Garden :chicken:
Seriously, get Blue, Coal, Great ,and long tailed versions as regular visitors
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Some interesting shots again Robin, nice to have a sparrow hawk in your garden, is that pile of wood I spy meant for beetles and insects?
....Yep, that pile of rotting logs is specifically for mini-beasts and perhaps a sheltering hedgehog or toad.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FPondLife%2FKitchenView_Aug2010.jpg&hash=003166e0c5b3e5280f9c4b6e6a2bb623e8003fa8)
^ View from my kitchen: High bird table well stocked, bonfire stone circle, log pile, wildlife pond since June, sunflowers and long grass etc, picnic table.
When I divorced, my good friend Nicola found me this property and I told her I wasn't interested in having a garden! Bless her! (she's got gorgeous tits too).
You sound like you have a wildlife interest too, Rich.... Yes?
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(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs264%2Fphilmcavity%2F004.jpg&hash=1a60d77ed9fce667c96edba5854b2d4b1f4842ea)
^^^^ That's a great shot :happy2:. Can I suggest adding a bit of colour saturation?
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Did you take that tit on yer nuts shot, Steve? You should have lots of birdies around your place with woods at the back :happy2:
I did mate, have lots of Tits in my Garden :chicken:
Seriously, get Blue, Coal, Great ,and long tailed versions as regular visitors
....Me too. Bird watching becomes addictive.. As does wildlife pond watching!
This is a crap photo technically and shows up the limitations of my digital pocket camera:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FPondLife%2FTits_Feeding_Sept2010.jpg&hash=24bd344ec62fe3606d705ed2883441bc755f03dc)
Which is why I'm interested in a compact Leica X1 or Panasonic GF1 - Serious money for the Leica though. Gotta have 24/7 pocket ability - You never know when a satisfying photo opportunity will present itself.
Actually, after a bit of tweaking, that photo ^ has come out better than I thought - Still not brilliant though.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FHotties%2Feaglechic.jpg&hash=0302680aba42d6d5424b8ce85693dca2b1d82ff0)
^ Not one of my pics but sort of on topic.
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Yeah love being out doors and birds and beasties, unfortunately I dont have space for a nice garden to relax in, but always enjoy sitting out in my dads garden and watching whats going on, and agree with your choice of garden we need more of the like to help our native creatures to survive. Your pond looks like it has a shallow edge to allow things to crawl in and out :drinking:
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@ Rich:
Then you'll enjoy this book - An invaluable "Guide To Garden Wildlife" and with stunning illustrations. Cost about 13 squid (none of those in my pond!).
Linky: http://www.richardlewington.co.uk/books.php
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F51MSU-n9h8L._SL500_AA300_.jpg&hash=424eda26d43c3693d381d8d6993c86056cb683d4)
I think I'll post some pond pics later and give some info about its creation.
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Im quite lucky as i can get as close as 5ft to get some close up shots.... Just a few more..
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs264%2Fphilmcavity%2FGardenBirds120.jpg&hash=82f2e15b85c68b6fcdc5ac4a46350e6a652aa653)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs264%2Fphilmcavity%2FGardenBirds073.jpg&hash=fb4495374589e5d4e72adc6822be7bbc0757740f)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs264%2Fphilmcavity%2FGardenBirds092.jpg&hash=8ce1624b1c8aeac62534e7ebb0d995d9c50fdfcb)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs264%2Fphilmcavity%2FGardenBirds110.jpg&hash=096b6c11c94a190e764e4278b2d0f97945cfb8a7)
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs264%2Fphilmcavity%2FGardenBirds067.jpg&hash=fc502255e686d79fc1a385e53572350679bc368e)
is this next photo a Dunock?? not sure on this one.. any help?
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi154.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fs264%2Fphilmcavity%2FGardenBirds036.jpg&hash=706ed152105ff22f8405713db1b84d3d40b490b9)
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^^^^
Those are much better, Steve (imho) :happy2:
I especially love the first two shots :notworthy:
Is that last bird a Dunnock?
Judging by your peanut feeder, you don't have a neighbourhood squirrel!
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Those are much better, Steve (imho) :happy2:
I especially love the first two shots :notworthy:
Is that last bird a Dunnock?
Judging by your peanut feeder, you don't have a neighbourhood squirrel!
Fortunately they cant reach this one Robin!!, they are a pain!!. Normally next doors table gets raided by a family of 4 that come from over the woods :fighting:
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Wow... im amazing how tame it was, but then i guess being so young it didnt know any different!
Peeeeka-boo!
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm2.static.flickr.com%2F1085%2F4606186033_83b943acb4_z.jpg&hash=dcd0fa69de0e72ae890eac9b3bc518489a3c61ec)
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^^^^
Yet another photo of yours I love, Rich!
Great humour in that one :happy2:. Superb image quality too.
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Some fantastic pics there Robin, the Paris pic.... is that taken on the bridge opposite the Eiffel Tower up the road from the Alma Tunnel where Princess Di Died?
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I have one of these visit my garden every so often...can anyone identify this beast? It's one hell of a big and ugly bird.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnm6xcq.blu.livefilestore.com%2Fy1pHX4qfuiL8hrYTCgN7UnXPXeZ2D5Tt4A4dwDw2WqOOTdEJzI0KqSw1ZIhMAlctbYq2xRXpWywlHw10QfPHS7-hz9rV1qBOf2R%2FBlack%2520Ibis.jpg%3Fpsid%3D1&hash=18d09949a06106f488e8960da827a4dc04b00ece)
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Your Next door neighbour is of the strange looking sort :scared:
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I have one of these visit my garden every so often...can anyone identify this beast? It's one hell of a big and ugly bird.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnm6xcq.blu.livefilestore.com%2Fy1pHX4qfuiL8hrYTCgN7UnXPXeZ2D5Tt4A4dwDw2WqOOTdEJzI0KqSw1ZIhMAlctbYq2xRXpWywlHw10QfPHS7-hz9rV1qBOf2R%2FBlack%2520Ibis.jpg%3Fpsid%3D1&hash=18d09949a06106f488e8960da827a4dc04b00ece)
Doesnt look like a bird from the UK.
Fat b@$tard Robin.....
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4062%2F4383560002_bc7e7fe91b_o.jpg&hash=117337cde5114743e96faac30800a96bb9a90e90)
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^^^ thought for a minute you were commenting on our resident Red Robin....
untill the photo loaded!!! :chicken:
Great Photography :happy2:
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QUACK...LOL!
For those interested...the ugly looking bird is the mighty Red-naped Ibis (Pseudibis papillosa) - native to my back garden.
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^^^^
That's a stunningly excellent photo of me a red robin, Rich :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: - 5-star!
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I have one of these visit my garden every so often...can anyone identify this beast? It's one hell of a big and ugly bird.
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnm6xcq.blu.livefilestore.com%2Fy1pHX4qfuiL8hrYTCgN7UnXPXeZ2D5Tt4A4dwDw2WqOOTdEJzI0KqSw1ZIhMAlctbYq2xRXpWywlHw10QfPHS7-hz9rV1qBOf2R%2FBlack%2520Ibis.jpg%3Fpsid%3D1&hash=18d09949a06106f488e8960da827a4dc04b00ece)
Dunno - but I bet it tastes nice! :evilgrin:
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Fat b@$tard Robin.....
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4062%2F4383560002_bc7e7fe91b_o.jpg&hash=117337cde5114743e96faac30800a96bb9a90e90)
Isn't that just puffing itself out in the cold? They do that to conserve warmth.
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Isn't that just puffing itself out in the cold? They do that to conserve warmth.
....That's right. It's the same principle as a duvet. ^ Stunning photo by our very own richwig83.
My next flute will have a Robin 'block'. My latest (in the Middle Eastern Hitzaz scale, back to my roots) has a Ram's head:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FRedRobin_05%2FRR%2FRamsHead_heather.jpg&hash=4bba1697c1e5ff848b9cca35f53576e4df85dd02)