Why the Sky disappeared....

[Catherine]

Some years ago, we were watching a programme on Sky TV when the picture suddenly wobbled, then disappeared. Looking out towards the garage, we saw the culprit sitting on the transponder arm and blocking the signal to the dish. He activated the security light when he flew up to the top edge - and 'posed'!

(Sorry this is such a poor quality pic - scanned from a 2004 print. I thought folks might find it fun anyway - particularly those who work with - or have - satellite dishes!)

[rolf]

Nice one Catherine, is that a Little Owl?

[Catherine]

No, it's a Tawny Owl, Rolf. (Sorry, thought I'd said so on the post)

There were many round our home in Ayr - and are still many near us down here.

[rolf]

Ahh, of course, it's a zone 2 minidish, so is larger than the Southern minidish, making the Owl look smaller than it is.

I've had a couple of customers over the years who have had to fit plastic bird guards on the dish boom to stop pigeons blocking the signal, but never Owls.

[Catherine]

That was our old dish, Rolf - our first digi one!

(The analogue one behind it was kept for watching live F1 on RTL when ITV went to adverts!)

Blackbirds were the other common culprits - but at least you could SEE them as they arrived during the day!

[Chocky]

Lol. wWon't go into the dishes but he is a dishy little owl