We had to visit Notcutt's Garden Centre this morning (coral food for the tank) Normally I always take a camera with me: today I didn't! As we were walking in, Linda and I heard the distinctive call of a Red Kite: we glanced up to see four of these splendid birds circling above us. Linda grabbed a few snaps with her phone (genuine 'record shots'!) as a lovely pale Buzzard joined the Kettle.
I couldn't resist the combination of:
* A super-clear sky
* A super bright pass by the ISS
Coming up through Taurus, the huge craft passed through Gemini and then Leo before eclipsing. Always worth a look: there are lots more chances before the sequence ends in April!
It's been a difficult year for Norman, Brian and me: illness, personal loss and family disruption. It was really wonderful, therefore, that the three of us finally met for a morning's birding at Strumpshaw Fen. It's been a year since I last visited: not all the changes have been positive, but at least there were some birds at which to point our lenses.
Best of these were the seven Garganey dotted around the reserve, but with Chiffchaffs, Bitterns and Song and Mistle Thrushes calling, it felt good to be out. Another of the old regulars - Mike - enjoyed showing us the excellent variety of Bees, Wasps and Bee Flies in their roped off colony.
In Norfolk we were treated to two bright passes by the ISS tonight: the first at 7.00pm, the second at 8.35. The first of these took the station right past M42, the Orion Nebula and on past Procyon the 'Little Dog Star' - the eighth brightest in the northern sky. The later pass was shorter, the ISS going into eclipse at 8.40, having sailed through Taurus.
Given the 20 degree temperature and clear blue sky, it was no surprise that the Buzzards were out in force today! Everywhere we looked there were groups - 'kettles' - of two, three, four Buzzards, uttering their plaintive mewing calls. Even at the Mousehold Garden Centre there were two groups of three drifting overhead - two were almost Osprey-like in coloration. Certainly feels like Spring at last!
Linda and I were supposed to be travelling down to Kent on Friday to give a talk (and hopefully flog a few meteorites!) to the good people of the Mid-Kent Astronomical Society. Sadly, their Chairman phoned to ask if I could 'do' the lecture as a Zoom: apparently the incidence of C-19 is so high in that part of the country that a very low turn-out was expected. Bit of a blow, but hopefully things will return to normal eventually! I believe the Zoom will be an open meeting: if so, I'll post joining instructions on here.
The subject is 'Meteorites and their planets of Origin': lots of new material and some terrific images and charts I've prepared just for this Powerpoint!
The ISS was so bright tonight - magnitude -3.6 - that I was able to photograph it through the clouds as it sailed past Betelgeux.
The International Space Station, with its US, European and Russian crew, sailed overhead last night, passing between Orion and the brightest star in the sky, Sirius. Lots of other satellites out there these days, chiefly thanks to Mr Musk!
Before the Moon came up and flooded the sky with light, I managed a shot of the M42, Orion Nebula. This vast region of star formation is over 1300 light years away: amazing that it can be seen with the naked eye.
We're lucky enough to be regularly visited by a pair - sometimes two pairs - of delightful Stock Doves. These gentle, delicate little birds are extremely timid and easily scared away from the feeders by the more robust Wood Pigeons, but when they grab the opportunity to come and feed, we always take a moment to marvel at their subtle plumage and beautiful, iridescent neck-patches.
Here are the passes of the ISS this month: you never know - the Russians might decide to de-orbit it soon, so enjoy while you can...
A beautiful Moon - one day past full - as well as Orion still prominent in the southern sky.
(And so does a coin collector!)
Not that I'm a 'coin collector' as such: it's just (you'll remember) that I recently refound a near-complete type set of British pennies, from 1902 - 1966. There was one missing: my birth year of 1951. Unfortunately, this is also the second rarest British penny, so I hadn't intended filling the gap. However, I came across one in excellent condition in an obscure location online and bought it for a fraction of the 'going rate': now the set is complete and can go back on the shelf to be ignored for another ten years!
