Passport

I had to re-new my passport today. That was an experience! 
I filled out the form. I got my photo's done. I dusted off my old passport and trundled off to the post office. 
First shock. They charge £9.95 just to look at the form for you!
Second shock. They rejected it because my signature had gone over the line by 2mm!
Third shock. I had to re-write the entire form again and return to the lengthy queue!
Fourth shock. I had to pay £72.50!
And on top of that, the assistant was actually quite rude and patronising at the start. Finished with a smile and enjoy your holidays though.... Once they got my money!
Glad i only have to do that once every ten years!

In other news. Housework done!

Space, and other stuff.

It's an interesting night in deep space tonight. Comet Lovejoy is still just about visible with a telescope as it disappears away from us for the next 8000 years, and Asteroid 2004 BL86 flies past us at 1.600.000 miles away. Also visible with a telescope. If you want to catch it again it'll be back in 200 years. The ISS will be gracing our skies again very soon too. Never tire of seeing it. Incredible to see in a telescope. You can make out the giant solar arrays as its trundles by at a leisurely 17,500mph! A must see for space fans.

In other news. Had a productive day today. Got lots of catching up done thanks to some very useful assistance. Always a good thing. Also, visitors from another Zoo were very complimentary about our charges, always welcomed. Jasiri showed really well as he came down for his treats. Found out his dad was the biggest Lion in Britain! No wonder Jasiri is so huge!

A good thumbs up day :-)

A week of natural events.

What a great week this has been. Started with a fantastic Starling show with over a million birds displaying above my head. Four sightings of a Great Grey Shrike, although i have personally yet to see it, but here's hoping. A pass of a large asteroid is coming close to Earth tomorrow night, (26/01/2015). The largest object to come close to us for a further 12 years. This object won't return for 200 years. I'll not wait up! 
Did some filming for the Zoo, which was fun and interesting, and made a booking for another magazine and TV interview. All involving Zazu the Rhea. It's great to take him for walks.
Plenty of spring flowers popping up everywhere too, making the Zoo look colourful again after a bit of a dull spell in winter. A fun filled interesting week.
Oh, and this blog thingy is taking off pretty well too. Hundreds of views of both my witterings and videos. Thanks to everyone who reads them.

Great Grey Shrike

A Great Grey Shrike, or Butcher Bird, has been spotted at Dartmoor Zoo over the last few days. Four people have reported the same bird. Excellent news as they are rare in the UK. I am also a tad annoyed that it is on my turf and i haven't seen it! I saw one in Kenya but to see one in Devon will be awesome. A pair is resident on north Dartmoor and are protected. To have a sighting at the Zoo is brilliant. I have reported it to the Rare Bird Network and the RSPB. Good news. This takes the species total spotted at the Zoo to 55!

Starlings.

Went to Shapwick Heath in Somerset yesterday to see the Starling roost. What can i say. I'm lost for words, except for the ones i'm writing here about it!
Arrived just in time to see the start of what must have been one million birds flying together! Incredible. Emotional experience. One of my bucket list must see events. They wheeled and strayed all around us. Directly over our heads with a thunderous flapping of wings and squeals of a million voices. Nature's wonder at it's best. You have got to see it for yourself. 
We followed the flock to its roost in Ham Wall, just across the reserve. We sat amongst the flock in a hide to hear a deafening crescendo of noise just 50 feet from where we were. The reeds turned black as they landed amongst them, then gold again as they flew away to land again nearby. 
A truly wonderful experience. One i shall never forget, and hope i can see again.

The video doesn't do it justice. Poor quality in poor light from an iphone. It does, however, give you an idea of the size of the flock, but bear in mind, it was impossible to get the entire flight in shot as it spanned over 180 degrees across the sky. A small proportion of the flock captured. Enjoy.

 

Comet Lovejoy

So, I've been out in the cold to look at Comet Lovejoy. Great to see, and so glad to have seen it. Missed so many due to weather. This one won't be back for 8000 years! Not sure I can wait that long, besides, my tea will go cold! 
Jupiter is cool tonight too. Four visible moons with the scope. Very cool.
Get out and take a look. It's awesome out there. 

It's been a while.

So. I totally forgot i had this blog thingy on the go. I guess it's time to update it. I'm still here and my nuts are functioning fine, just in case you were wondering. Two hernia's since last post mind! They're not so good!
Anyway.
I will endeavour to write a bit more often now i have remembered this is live! 
Cheers an that.
Laters scuttlers.