If you want to see live airplane traffic check this out http://www.radarvirtuel.com
It shows the current position and status of planes over Europe. You can also add labels, see the current position of the volcanix ash cloud, and filter out any of the aircraft based on many parameters.
I regularly fly to Northern Ireland so I use it to check what it happening to those flight paths only, useful to see if the incoming plane is on time.
The weather looked good so Helen and I decided to catch up on some birding. We parked up at Wilstone reservoir car park and headed off toward the church to the north east. On the way we saw a couple of year firsts, Pied Wagtail and yellow wagtail (did I mention we had some birding catching up to do).
The sun was out but it was bitterly cold around the reservoir where there was nothing to stop the wind but once you were sheltered a bit it was pleasant. When we got to Tringford reservoir we headed to the hide/shelter, and on the way heard a very vocal bird but had trouble seeing it. We (well more I) had a few theories about what it was, after five minutes we got a quick look, it was a Blackcap but because it was so close it sounded like something bigger.
We then headed off toward Marsworth reservoir, and lo and behold what did we spy? A Sandwich Tern, I had noticed that one had been reported at Wilstone earlier, so when I noticed the bird in the distance I did have an inclination that it could be, but first had to satisfy myself that it was not just another Black-headed gull. Decide it was worth reporting to RBA not something that I have done very ofthen as it is usually me responding to the alerts not sending them out. Anyway we headed off to Bluebells Cafe for a bite to eat. I ordered a cheese and onion toasty (and thought a piece of cake might be in order later) and Helen order beans on toast and some chips. Turns out the cake would not be needed as there were enough chips for three.
We then headed off back toward Marsworth reservoir and it was obvious that the Tern report had got though there were quite a few Birders about, one of them said that there was a Sandwich Tern about, I was happy to reply that I had called it in. The bloke said thanks for calling it in and that the Bucks birders would be happy because the edge of the reservoir was in Bucks, and usually the Terns congregate over Wilstone. We headed off back towards Wilstone, and passed LGRE the local Birding celebrity, he nodded as he passed not sure if he recognises me but whenever I have come across him he has always seemed friendly enough.
We took the longer route back and I got some pictures of colts foot which we found a big patch of near the end of the canal. We headed up over the hill and got a view of Wilstone neither of us had seen before, it was about the bridge over the empty Wendover arm. We popped into the hide at Wilstone and got great views of a Wren just outside the hut windows, but there was not much else about as the water levels were really high even the island were not showing.
We then fished off the walk we were both a bit tired over 6 miles done.
Later reported by LGRE on his Herts blog http://hertfordshirebirding.blogspot.com/2010/04/saturday-3-sandwich-tern-spends-day-at.html
This might be a map.
“The Informant” is a true story that parallels a mixture of “A Beautiful Mind” and “The Insider” — where real life Ph.D.s had done something extraordinary. Based on Kurt Eichenwald’s 2000 book, “The Informant” is the tale of Mark Whitacre (played by Matt Damon), an Ivy League Ph.D. who was a rising star at Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) in the early 1990s. Executively produced by George Clooney who has a history of sponsoring interesting films in the tough mainstream environment. Saying no mopre to give nowt away 🙂
Met up with Ange, after picking up Helens folks. We set off up to the left hand side of the castle up the fill and past the gated community at the top. Great view on you left as you go up the hill, at the top we cam across a couple of Munkjak deer. We then headed over towards the common on the edge of Ashridge estate. It was a bit muddy out and about. We saw the usual birds, lots of Bumble bees, and even a few Butterflies.
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A coming of age drama. after a youth orchestra practice Jenny Miller accepts a lift from a stranger, and a relationship develops. He truns out to be a bit of a gentleman rogue, but you get the impression his intentions are genuine.
There are lots of funny moments in the film and it is a great story. Many well know British actors.
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Helen and I went for a walk round little Hampden on Sunday, starting at the car park at Whiteleaf, and I used a new Blackberry App calls GPSLogger to record the walk. It was not too warm to start with and warmed up as the time went on. After 2 hours of walkig we had both had enough, stopped off at Tesco in Princes Risboro on the way back to get a couple of naan bred to do with Daal and Potato and Spinach curry.
Saw lots of birds they seemed to be out eating the buds of trees, particularly the Larches. Saw a ChiffChaff in an Oak tree on the edge of Hamden House.
Got this through LoveFilm, a great way to lazily see current films & good value too. It’s the story of a bomb disposal team in Iraq. Good cast & acting but the plot felt weak. We were a bit disappointed but may have been hoping for too much from the Oscar winner. 3 stars
in a car… We decided to make the most of the very welcome spring weather with a trip to Wimpole Hall. The National Trust were running a free access weekend for many of their properties. Unfortunately the journey was somewhat elongated by major road works on the A14 which seemed to nobble every assoiated road in the vicinity. However we got there at last! and toured the house (refurbished in the 1930’s by Rudyard Kipling’s daughter). Well worth a visit, and the gardens look like they will be impressive once a few more flowers are out. The farm is great for kids – lots of new born lambs, piglets and some huge shire horses. Then back to the ranch for a lovely chinese and a game of whist. A good weekend.
Not the the faint hearted, this film is full of swearing. Two Irish contract killers (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) are sent to Bruges by the boss (Ralph Fiennes) to keep out of the way. One is not glad to be there the other loves all the culture and old stuff there is to offer.
The plot gets thickens and twists and it is very funny.
