Latest news with #birdlife
The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
UK's most remote inhabited island with rare birdlife and the wreckage of a Spanish Armada ship
THE UK's most remote island measures just five kilometres by three kilometres - yet has a lot to boast about. The southernmost of the Shetland Islands, Fair Isle, is home to only 60 people - most of whom are located at the south end of the island. 5 5 For those heading to the island, it is home to a large variety of different birdlife including Kittiwakes, Puffins and Gannets. In fact, over 350 bird species have been recorded on the island. Having only recently opened in May, The Fair Isle Bird Observatory offers visitors the chance to look out for many of the rare species or experience a guided tour. From 2026, you can even stay in the Observatory. Alongside the bird life, there is a wealth of other fauna and flora to see across the island, making it the perfect spot for a hike. There are a number of coastal walks or you could follow the road up to the North Haven and North Lighthouse. And if you want to learn about the island's history, head to the South Lighthouse for a tour arranged through the Fair Isle Lighthouse Society. The island is also famous for Fair Isle knitting - a traditional style of knitting with patterns using two colours per row. The creative knitwear suddenly rose in popularity after the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) wore Fair Isle jumpers in 1921. Whilst much of today's knitted creations do not follow the original process, some of the island's craftspeople do still create garments using the traditional pattern. Rather unusually, Fair Isle also has a long history of shipwrecks with some dating back to the Viking period. One of the most famous shipwrecks is the Spanish Armada ship El Gran Grifón. The 650-ton 38-gun ship sank on September 27, 1588 and for many years remained untouched. However, over the years many of the ship's parts and items were excavated and taken, with some brought to Lerwick, where they can be seen at the Shetland Museum. 5 5 The island can be reached from Mainland, Shetland's main island, either by sea or by flying. If travelling by sea, the Good Shepherd IV ferry carries 12 people and the journey takes around two-and-a-half hours. Alternatively, you can catch a 25-minute flight from Tingwall airport. There are flights to the island each day, providing the weather isn't too windy. Elsewhere, the UK's 'happiest islands' have white sand beaches and attractions older than the Egyptian pyramids. Plus, five islands off the coast of the UK you can visit without needing your passport.
News.com.au
06-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- News.com.au
Mount Eliza: $10m+ grand country estate hits market
Fourteen years ago the owners of the grand country estate, Fenton Park, fell in love with the property. 'I still remember walking down the front driveway before even stepping inside – we instantly fell in love,' they say. 'There was just something about the setting, the sense of arrival, the feeling that this was home.' A rural oasis set on 8.9ha, the property features an in-ground pool, floodlit tennis court, five paddocks, a dam, ornamental pond, barn and five-bedroom residence all set behind the electronic wrought iron gates, at the end of a tree-lined driveway. 'This place gave us the lifestyle we dreamed of,' the vendors say. 'Summer days were spent around the pool; we got into horses, welcomed new arrivals, both four-legged and two-legged, and built the stables and fencing ourselves.' The natural surroundings have also provided a sense of serenity and relaxation for the family. 'What's unique is the way the home is positioned toward the front of the block, you don't realise how expansive it is until you step out the back. 'There's a full track that loops around the property, roughly a kilometre in length, and I walk it every morning. 'The wetlands at the rear attract beautiful birdlife, and the sunsets out there are nothing short of spectacular,' they say. 'The privacy, the greenery, the bushland that surrounds the home. You can hear the birds, not the traffic.' The Mount Eliza location, only minutes to the private schools, beaches, and the village, is convenient and helps create a balanced lifestyle for all family members. 'Mt Eliza offers a unique blend of village charm and country atmosphere,' the vendors say. 'It's that slower, more grounded way of living surrounded by nature, horses, and space, yet just minutes from the beach, leading private schools, and within easy reach of Melbourne. You truly get the best of both worlds here.' The home itself, built in 1988, offers period elegance with open fireplaces, Victorian-style bay windows, French doors, a turret ceiling, a stunning entrance hall, a sweeping staircase and polished timber benchtops and floorboards. Featuring four living areas, five bedrooms, a private library or study, a billiards room, and an attic studio, the light-filled home is spacious and grand. 'It has that classic character,' the vendors say. 'A true country home feel with soaring 6-metre ceilings and warm, welcoming spaces. There's room for everyone with multiple living zones and enough space for a billiard table, table tennis, and more. It's a statement home.' Homes and Acreage, Balnarring agent Grant Perry has listed the 8.9ha estate at 60 Grant Rd, Mount Eliza, with price hopes from $9.5m to $10.45m.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cockatoo's Attempt To Keep Mom and Dad Apart Is True Toddler Life
Cockatoo's Attempt To Keep Mom and Dad Apart Is True Toddler Life originally appeared on Parade Pets. As a bird mom myself, I can tell you that birds are all basically just strange, feathered toddlers. I only have little Budgies, and they're annoying enough as it is (said with love). Bigger, crazier birds? I can't even imagine actually having one, though I love to watch other people try. Recently, one cute Cockatoo decided that he actually wants to make sure mom and dad are never allowed near each other. His reason for that seems to be that, as long as they're apart, their main focus is going to be him: Charlie Junior the Cockatoo is so dramatic. It's one of the things I love most about him: he's one of the most dramatic birds around. He is fully committed to being the baby, and he's not going to let anything stand in his way. It's hilarious. His favorite parent, by the way, is his dad. He doesn't even try to hide it, even though it offends his mama deeply! His dad didn't even want to get him at first: mom kind of had to force it! He's happy now, and he adores Charlie, but you'd think the bird might show mom some love! He does not care, and Cockatoos do not care if they hurt your feelings, either. In fact, if you teach them mean words, they will literally insult you for fun. Choosing your words carefully around a Cockatoo (or any mimicking bird) is essential, otherwise they could end up with quite a... Colorful tend to have a favorite human, that's just how life goes. There are steps you can take to try to help your chances of being your pet's favorite, like: Feeding them. Being the person who sleeps with/puts them to bed. Sneaking them treats and toys. However, there's sometimes just nothing you can do to prevent them from "imprinting" on someone else. At least they're bonding with someone, right? Even if that someone was the person apprehensive about getting the bird in the first place! Come on, Charlie! 🐶🐾🐾 Cockatoo's Attempt To Keep Mom and Dad Apart Is True Toddler Life first appeared on Parade Pets on Jun 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade Pets on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
ABC News
01-06-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Rising water in Menindee Lakes prompts increase in tourists and birds
As water levels steadily rise at Menindee Lakes, so too do the numbers of tourists and birdlife in the area. Floodwaters from Queensland have been flowing from the northern basin catchments into the lake system for several months. The lakes are dotted along the Darling River about 100 kilometres south-east of Broken Hill in far west New South Wales. River Lady Tours owner Rob Gregory said tourist numbers in the area had risen on the back of the influx of water. "Certainly a lot more people hanging around a bit longer, but our warmer weather has also hung on a bit longer too," Mr Gregory said. "Normally [by] Anzac Day, it's starting to get down cool but it's taking sort of four weeks and it's still quite pleasant. "[There are] a lot of different number plates [on vehicles in the area] … the occasional overseas tourist, as well." In an update in April, WaterNSW said modelling suggested 800 to 1,200 gigalitres of water from the northern basin tributaries could be received into the lakes by late May or early June. The lakes are sitting at 60 per cent capacity. Mr Gregory said so much water had come through the Menindee Lakes, he had to move his tour boat along Wetherell Lake to a spot where he could "access it a bit easier". "[Tourists] are seeing a few birds, water flows … around where we go, there is a bit of current there which is unusual to see in here because we're normally pretty placid," he said. "Lots of the dead trees, scarred trees, a few fish surfacing. "It's a good look." Mr Gregory said when the lakes were at maximum capacity, the 500 square kilometres of water in the middle of the desert made it "one special region". Tourists Bill and Jen Tom made their way to the Menindee Lakes on a five-week road trip. Ms Tom is a keen birdwatcher and Mr Tom made sure to bring his bagpipes with him, which he played by the lakes. "We live on the Murray at Cobram [Victoria], and it's nice to see the contrast in the [Darling and Murray] rivers," Mr Tom said. "I'm also interested in seeing what's happening here at the lakes. It's beautiful to see, there's so much water coming down." Menindee publican Deena Tangey said she had seen an uptick in the number of people around town, with people visiting from all around the country. She said the pub's lunch service had "probably doubled" in the past three months. "Meals have gone through the roof at lunchtimes," Ms Tangey said. "In the summer, you might do eight or nine tables … now we're doing anywhere from 15 and above." Ms Tangey said residents and tourists alike were having luck fishing — but as for where, she couldn't say. "The fish are on, everyone's catching fish, and they're catching quite a big perch," Ms Tangey said. "I don't know where because that's a big secret. 'In the water,' you get told."
Times
09-05-2025
- General
- Times
Robert Macfarlane: Why shouldn't rivers have rights? Companies do
Robert Macfarlane has been thinking a lot about rivers. Sat under the huge limbs of one of his favourite trees, an oriental plane in Cambridge, he points to where the 'elbows' of its branches rest on the ground, drawing water from a nearby chalk stream. Talking about his new book, Is a River Alive?, the renowned nature writer's conversation is punctuated with his sightings of the birdlife around us: blue tits, goldfinches, a jay making an odd noise. Few would argue they are not alive. But in a mix of travelogue, nature-writing and philosophy encompassing journeys along waterways in Ecuador, India and Canada, he argues rivers are alive, too — and should have rights. The modern 'rights of nature' movement was arguably born in
