Birders' Nest

[Iota]

But what I want to know is: how come these butterfly naval officers are all admirals, whatever their colour? Where are the able seaman butterflies, the petty officers, the ship's pursers? (Web search tells me there is a 'captain butterfly' somewhere.) It's no use having all these admirals demanding that the jibboom spanker should be spliced if there are no lower order butterfly seamen to splice it. I tell you, the butterfly navy is in crisis.

.

[owlice]

I've been trying to estimate the actual size of this fellow by comparing him with the knife handle: is he about a foot long? I guess that's big enough to qualify as a disconcerting breakfast guest to accommodate on the table. But for some reason he seems even bigger than that in the photo.

Do these help?:

[owlice]

But what I want to know is: how come these butterfly naval officers are all admirals, whatever their colour? Where are the able seaman butterflies, the petty officers, the ship's pursers? (Web search tells me there is a 'captain butterfly' somewhere.) It's no use having all these admirals demanding that the jibboom spanker should be spliced if there are no lower order butterfly seamen to splice it. I tell you, the butterfly navy is in crisis.

There are Common Sailers, which I know are not the same as common sailors, but maybe close enough, especially since they are in the Admiral subfamily?

Will not go down the butterfly rabbit hole, will not go down the butterfly rabbit hole, will not, will not, will not, not not not, nope, not gonna do it...

[Elgarian Redux]

Do these help?:

Good grief. Three of 'em!! It looks like the dinosaurs have taken control. This is not breakfast: it's Jurassic Park. (Did some of them get in the fridge?)

[Elgarian Redux]

There are Common Sailers, which I know are not the same as common sailors, but maybe close enough, especially since they are in the Admiral subfamily?

That is definitely good enough for me. Sailors/sailers - butterflies were never hot on spelling, I guess. The Butterfly Navy lives to fight another day.

Will not go down the butterfly rabbit hole, will not go down the butterfly rabbit hole, will not, will not, will not, not not not, nope, not gonna do it...

It all sounds very enigmatic. I doubt there are rabbit butterflies, so (picking up on the tone of your comment) my guess would be that you shouldn't, indeed, go down there. Stay with us. We don't want to lose you!

[Elgarian Redux]

Here's another 'bird and food' story. Some years ago I was in Folkestone, walking along the edge of the harbour (engaged in research, believe it or not), and I saw a kiosk offering jellied eels for sale. I said to my wife: 'I've often heard talk of jellied eels, but never tried them'. 'Now's your chance,' she said.
So I duly purchased a little plastic pot of jellied eels from the kiosk, and stood for a minute or two looking at them. They didn't look very edible, to me.

And as I hesitated there was a great flurry of wings and feathers, and a giant seabird swept down from the sky, snatched my pot of jellied eels, and soared back up into the clouds. I was dumbfounded. I didn't have a chance against this chap. Flap flap swoooosh and away.

You will of course want to know what kind of seabird it was. It was a Great Black-backed Eel-eating Gullosaurus.

To this day, I still have not tasted jellied eels.

[owlice]

Good grief. Three of 'em!! It looks like the dinosaurs have taken control. This is not breakfast: it's Jurassic Park. (Did some of them get in the fridge?)

Oh, there were a lot more than three! I gave up one morning and went inside so I could actually eat, rather than defend, my breakfast. Not that inside was bird-free, because it wasn't, but the numbers were much lower.

So far as I know, none of them got into the fridge.

[owlice]

That is definitely good enough for me. Sailors/sailers - butterflies were never hot on spelling, I guess. The Butterfly Navy lives to fight another day.

It all sounds very enigmatic. I doubt there are rabbit butterflies, so (picking up on the tone of your comment) my guess would be that you shouldn't, indeed, go down there. Stay with us. We don't want to lose you!

It would be just like an Owlice to go down a rabbit hole, wouldn't it? 

[owlice]

Here's another 'bird and food' story. Some years ago I was in Folkestone, walking along the edge of the harbour (engaged in research, believe it or not), and I saw a kiosk offering jellied eels for sale. I said to my wife: 'I've often heard talk of jellied eels, but never tried them'. 'Now's your chance,' she said.
So I duly purchased a little plastic pot of jellied eels from the kiosk, and stood for a minute or two looking at them. They didn't look very edible, to me.

And as I hesitated there was a great flurry of wings and feathers, and a giant seabird swept down from the sky, snatched my pot of jellied eels, and soared back up into the clouds. I was dumbfounded. I didn't have a chance against this chap. Flap flap swoooosh and away.

You will of course want to know what kind of seabird it was. It was a Great Black-backed Eel-eating Gullosaurus.

To this day, I still have not tasted jellied eels.

I suspect that Great Black-backed Eel-eating Gullosaurus did you a HUGE favor! (Kudos to the bird!!) But what kind of research? Were you studying bird snatching behaviors? Food concepts that should never be combined? ...jellied...eels...

They do not look very edible to me, either, and in fact, I was wondering whether the photo showed jellied eels before a bird got to them, or ... umm... a good bit after snacking on them...

[owlice]

A propos of nothing, here's a smiley dragonfly:

Red Saddlebags

And a snooty butterfly:

Malachite

[Elgarian Redux]

Oh, there were a lot more than three! I gave up one morning and went inside so I could actually eat, rather than defend, my breakfast. Not that inside was bird-free, because it wasn't, but the numbers were much lower.

More than three? More than three?

So far as I know, none of them got into the fridge.

Good. The big thing I learned from Jurassic Park was that fridges and dinosaurs don't mix well.

[Elgarian Redux]

It would be just like an Owlice to go down a rabbit hole, wouldn't it? 

When I first saw your name around here 15-ish years ago (was it really so long?), I'd blithely assumed that an owlice was some sort of American owl and - forgive my simpleton approach - I did not see the connection with the name Alice! I see now (he said, as one awakening from slumber): your real name is Alice! [Fireworks light up the sky.]

Well, I'm delighted to meet you. My real name is Alan, and I don't have anything witty to festoon around that, unfortunately.

This explains why so many of our discussions seem to emanate from behind the looking glass.

[Elgarian Redux]

I suspect that Great Black-backed Eel-eating Gullosaurus did you a HUGE favor! (Kudos to the bird!!) But what kind of research? Were you studying bird snatching behaviors? Food concepts that should never be combined? ...jellied...eels...

The research. I might indeed have switched to bird snatching behaviour at that point, but no, it wasn't. [Warning: off-topic account follows.]

I've spent many years researching the life and work of the C19th polymath John Ruskin - famous among other things as the champion of J.M.W Turner. Oh and he's also the author of an almost unknown and weirdly idiosyncratic book on BIRDS, called Love's Meinie. Here's one of his bird drawings, in the Ashmolean Museum.



(I am on topic after all!)

About 25 years ago I stumbled across one of the books from his personal library, lying unrecognised in a secondhand book fair, and it had a drawing in it, by Ruskin! (One of life's great moments.) I bought this Great Treasure for £5, and I think I could say that I've dined out on it, academically, ever since. I'll show the drawing, below. Just a scrawl, really, made at 2 in the morning - but why and where?

Working it all out took years and eventually led me to Folkestone, where he stayed at a hotel on the edge of the harbour in 1887. On 26th August he had a very bad night (we know because he wrote daily letters to his cousin) and sketched the view from his bedroom window - having no paper to hand, he drew it on the endpaper of the book he was reading.

So you see, I had to go to Folkestone and see it all for myself, and check out the relation between the harbour and the hotel. That's why I was there. It turned out to provide all sorts of insights into the later part of Ruskin's life, and into his understanding of Turner's art.

They do not look very edible to me, either, and in fact, I was wondering whether the photo showed jellied eels before a bird got to them, or ... umm... a good bit after snacking on them...

I understand the uncertainty. I have never actually seen any jellied eels post-snacked by a black-backed gullosaurus, for which I'm thankful.

[Elgarian Redux]

A propos of nothing, here's a smiley dragonfly:

Red Saddlebags

The detail on the wings is fantastic. Would the wings have been moving at the time (as I imagine), or were they stationary? Either way I have no concept of how you get such a superb image.

And a snooty butterfly:

Malachite

By golly yes - very snooty. Clearly fancies himself as an aristocrat among butterflies.

[Kalevala]

I suspect that Great Black-backed Eel-eating Gullosaurus did you a HUGE favor! (Kudos to the bird!!) But what kind of research? Were you studying bird snatching behaviors? Food concepts that should never be combined? ...jellied...eels...

They do not look very edible to me, either, and in fact, I was wondering whether the photo showed jellied eels before a bird got to them, or ... umm... a good bit after snacking on them...

I haven't had jellied eel before, but would be tempted to try it.  I do love unagi--particularly in hand rolls.

Clever and deft bird!

The research. I might indeed have switched to bird snatching behaviour at that point, but no, it wasn't. [Warning: off-topic account follows.]

I've spent many years researching the life and work of the C19th polymath John Ruskin - famous among other things as the champion of J.M.W Turner. Oh and he's also the author of an almost unknown and weirdly idiosyncratic book on BIRDS, called Love's Meinie. Here's one of his bird drawings, in the Ashmolean Museum.



(I am on topic after all!)

About 25 years ago I stumbled across one of the books from his personal library, lying unrecognised in a secondhand book fair, and it had a drawing in it, by Ruskin! (One of life's great moments.) I bought this Great Treasure for £5, and I think I could say that I've dined out on it, academically, ever since. I'll show the drawing, below. Just a scrawl, really, made at 2 in the morning - but why and where?

Working it all out took years and eventually led me to Folkestone, where he stayed at a hotel on the edge of the harbour in 1887. On 26th August he had a very bad night (we know because he wrote daily letters to his cousin) and sketched the view from his bedroom window - having no paper to hand, he drew it on the endpaper of the book he was reading.

So you see, I had to go to Folkestone and see it all for myself, and check out the relation between the harbour and the hotel. That's why I was there. It turned out to provide all sorts of insights into the later part of Ruskin's life, and into his understanding of Turner's art.

I understand the uncertainty. I have never actually seen any jellied eels post-snacked by a black-backed gullosaurus, for which I'm thankful.

Oh, neat!  I can't quite make out what all he wrote under his drawing....

K

p.s. @owlice Nice photos!  Do you ever frame any of your photos?

[Elgarian Redux]

I haven't had jellied eel before, but would be tempted to try it.  I do love unagi--particularly in hand rolls.

It's regarded as a local delicacy in Kent, I believe.

Clever and deft bird!

I can't argue with that!

Oh, neat!  I can't quite make out what all he wrote under his drawing....

Above the drawing he writes: 'Pale quiet moonlight clouds'. Below he writes: '1/4 past two - moon set in misty clouds behind Pavilion Hotel'.

There was more writing at the top, almost completely erased, and again, just below the drawing.

It was the mention of the Pavilion Hotel that led me eventually to Folkestone, because (I eventually learned) that was where he'd stayed on previous visits. (On this occasion it was full.)

[Kalevala]

It's regarded as a local delicacy in Kent, I believe.
I can't argue with that!

Above the drawing he writes: 'Pale quiet moonlight clouds'. Below he writes: '1/4 past two - moon set in misty clouds behind Pavilion Hotel'.

There was more writing at the top, almost completely erased, and again, just below the drawing.

It was the mention of the Pavilion Hotel that led me eventually to Folkestone, because (I eventually learned) that was where he'd stayed on previous visits. (On this occasion it was full.)

Thanks for the info.  From (the little) what I've read PE was/is(?) popular in the East End of London.

Have you ever thought about staying at the Pavilion Hotel? 

K

[owlice]

More than three? More than three?

There were dinosaurs everywhere!!

When I first saw your name around here 15-ish years ago (was it really so long?)

I have a kind message you wrote to me in March, 2012 in sympathy of my then-newly-broken arm (fixed with titanium; I have since evened out the arms by breaking the other [not on purpose], which now sports steel), so our paths must have crossed before 2012. So yes, 15-ish years ago is plausible, possible, and likely some other -ible, too. 

I'd blithely assumed that an owlice was some sort of American owl

I don't know about an owlice, but this owlice is definitely some sort of American owl. 

I did not see the connection with the name Alice! I see now (he said, as one awakening from slumber): your real name is Alice!

Few people make that connection. Really, very very few, maybe one handful in all the decades I've had this handle.

Well, I'm delighted to meet you.

I'm delighted to re-meet you! I was and am happy to see you again, so very happy!

This explains why so many of our discussions seem to emanate from behind the looking glass.

hahahaha!! Yes!

The research. I might indeed have switched to bird snatching behaviour at that point, but no, it wasn't. [Warning: off-topic account follows.]

I've spent many years researching the life and work of the C19th polymath John Ruskin - famous among other things as the champion of J.M.W Turner. Oh and he's also the author of an almost unknown and weirdly idiosyncratic book on BIRDS, called Love's Meinie. Here's one of his bird drawings, in the Ashmolean Museum.



(I am on topic after all!)

I feel I should know this kingfisher... ! It's a lovely rendering. (... birds... squirrels... all prey to this owl... )

I mean... ooo,  an interesting bit of research, and how fabulous that you found Great Treasure; what a serendipitous find!! Yes, of course you had to find the spot, and see it with your own eyes.

And here it is, almost the anniversary of Ruskin's drawing. We must commemorate the event (right? Surely we must!), but how? By observing the waxing slender crescent moon setting that eve? It will be a Chessie cat smile in the evening sky (which is always a lovely site, when one can see it). With tea and cakes? With a reading from Love's Meinie (available on Project Gutenberg)? With a parade of Kingfishers (which is likely to happen regardless...)?

The detail on the wings is fantastic. Would the wings have been moving at the time (as I imagine), or were they stationary? Either way I have no concept of how you get such a superb image.

Smiley Saddlebags was perched, wings not moving, and was a superb model: still and steady. And it's the camera, really!

.@owlice Nice photos!  Do you ever frame any of your photos?

Thanks! And no, I have never framed any of my photos. I have a good bit of art that needs framing, so don't need to add to the framing bill! (And I have dreams of commissioning oil or acrylic miniatures of a set of HiRISE images someday... ).

[Elgarian Redux]

Have you ever thought about staying at the Pavilion Hotel? 

It was demolished in about 1900, so I'm over a century too late. Ruskin stayed at the nearby London and Paris hotel on this 1887 occasion, just a little further along the edge of the harbour, and that does still exist. I called in there to ask about Ruskin's visit in 1887, and they said "Ruskin who?" But they could offer me an Elvis impersonator, performing that evening!

I'm pretty sure his window was one of those right above the door (see photo), and the other photo shows the (present day) view from the doorstep (i.e. in the direction of the drawing's view). The historic theft of my jellied eels by a black-backed gull took place on the left, out of the picture.

[Elgarian Redux]

I'll have to respond to this in bits I think - I have to go out shortly.

I have a kind message you wrote to me in March, 2012 in sympathy of my then-newly-broken arm (fixed with titanium; I have since evened out the arms by breaking the other [not on purpose], which now sports steel), so our paths must have crossed before 2012. So yes, 15-ish years ago is plausible, possible, and likely some other -ible, too. 

Now you mention it, I vaguely remember this, though the date is beyond recall. And now two broken arms! I suppose you'd have been perched on the edge of a cliff, inching forward to get that slightly better shot of a puffin, or something? And then again later with the other arm?! Oh, crikey no....  My belated sympathies. If I'd known, I'd have sent you another message, and a bunch of grapes.

I don't know about an owlice, but this owlice is definitely some sort of American owl. 

I suppose by now you've gone ornithologically native.

Few people make that connection. Really, very very few, maybe one handful in all the decades I've had this handle.

That's a relief, actually. I thought to myself, 'How could you fail to see something so blindingly obvious?'

I'm delighted to re-meet you! I was and am happy to see you again, so very happy!

I echo the sentiment, and it's such great fun. It was a grand idea of Fate to put us within each other's orbit again.

And here it is, almost the anniversary of Ruskin's drawing. We must commemorate the event (right? Surely we must!), but how? By observing the waxing slender crescent moon setting that eve? It will be a Chessie cat smile in the evening sky (which is always a lovely site, when one can see it). With tea and cakes? With a reading from Love's Meinie (available on Project Gutenberg)? With a parade of Kingfishers (which is likely to happen regardless...)?

We could do what Ruskin did that evening - as recorded in a letter. He was not well, and deeply unhappy. On a previous miserable night he'd lain 'awake till past one, through six long hours - but then got to sleep after finishing my cold tea and the bits of waste buttered toast ... very thankful for these mercies.' But on the actual night he made the drawing (1st September) he wrote to his cousin:

'The wind rose as it grew dark, and became a gale by ten, which I stayed awake to watch the clouds in. I drank your health in Beaune at 12. Afterwards the wind became really wild - and I had plenty to look at of moonlight in a rage.'

So for strict historical authenticity we need a bottle of Beaune, Owlice. Unfortunately I've reached a stage of life where I can't drink wine without consequences, but I shall drink your health in something, and call it Beaune!

Smiley Saddlebags was perched, wings not moving, and was a superb model: still and steady. And it's the camera, really!

Well it's a magnificent image. How big is he?

I have never framed any of my photos.

They'd deserve it. [I'm allying myself with Kalevala's question here]

(And I have dreams of commissioning oil or acrylic miniatures of a set of HiRISE images someday... ).

Again I'm intercepting Kalevala's request, but I have some stuff to say on this. I'll come back to you on this later.