You will no doubt of heard of Indian Fakirs
that walk on glass, fire, and also sit on nails.
Well we have one at Carsington! Well actually this one is a Redshank, which
appears to get some sort of transcendental satisfaction from sitting on the
Camera pole at the wildlife centre, presumably to get a good view of passing
meals. The point is that the post has spikes all over it to discourage raptors
from perching and predating, but this Redshank has developed the technique of
parachuting in so that his feet touch the pole before the spikes touch
his……… I spotted him on Friday, but
identification was difficult. Sunday morning, I saw him land!
Remember my golden rules with birding. 1) Always look up; and 2) never be surprised!
Tuesday July 9th 9pm and I’ve collected Chris from Phoenix Park
for a trip to Old Moor.
For a change, I decided we would by-pass
Broomhill Flash, and go straight to Old Moor to the Bittern Hide.
A good number
of birders were concentrating on the reedbed, and our 90-minute endurance gave
us good views of a Kingfisher (No 200 for Chris!!), seeing it hovering and then
grimly clinging to a thin reed as the reed swung to and fro in the wind!! A lady** in the hide and new to birding did
get a fleeting view of a Bittern, and Amanda’s advice was that as it literally
jumped clear of the reeds then straight back in, this was the technique of the
juveniles.
I picked up an elusive Common Sandpiper, and
then found the reported duck with unusual markings, which turned out to be a
Silver Teal. Don’t check your Collins,
this was undoubtedly an escapee as they normally dwell in South America……. Or
at Slimbridge!!
After an early lunch, we returned to the
Bittern Hide, and half an hour later, the lady ** now a more experienced learner!!,
called "Bittern", this time it was an adult which flew about 200 yards left above the
reeds, affording good view to all of us. Excellent, and being on Chris’s “want”
list moved her on to 201.
Popped into Broomhill Flash hide on the way home... nothing to add to my 31 species for the day, some quality and nice to have my first full birding day for almost six
weeks.
SPORTING DIARY NOTE FOR THE RECORD: Tuesday 10th July.
17.45 David: “Mary, I wonder what will happen about the
meeting of the Patient consultation group at the Doctors to-morrow evening at 7pm, with the World Cup on?”
17.46 Mary:
“Do you think it will go ahead? and
if so how many will actually be there?”
18.47 E-Mail from Surgery: “I’m sorry to
advice you that…the meeting is cancelled due to the Chairman being unable to
attend”
….. well I suppose it was just within
the 24 hours’ notice period - saved me from throwing a sicky!
Tough for the England team, but they did play
well. The subsequent beating by Belgium (again) suggested to me that it was not
to be this year. But with a few ghosts exorcised, and if Southgate can take the
pressure, here’s to the next World Cup.
Another thing, it all worked quite well in Russia, didn’t it?
Health permitting, and both Chris and I have
“issues”, we plan over the next 2/3 weeks, for a new venue (for Chris) of Middleton
Lakes perhaps with Kingsbury Water Park.
I guess many of my readers have a favourite
place in the UK that they like to sit and relax. Maybe in the garden, or a nature reserve,
or on the coast somewhere, but this is the UK one that gets top marks from Mary and me.
Add a comment if you think you know where it
is, and tell us about your own favourite patch. (I'm expecting Slim Bridge to rate the Bempton Quarry pretty highly!!!)
Just to mention that the Markeaton Bird walk will be 10.30 on Sunday July 15th,
but it’s Ok it will not clash with the World Cup, nor the Tennis! 10.30am Walled Garden, Markeaton Park.
The next Carsington BwB will be Sunday 5th August, and just to keep you on your toes, don't forget the day trip to Old Moor on Sunday 14th October. More details of that day trip in due course.
Devon Doodles - Day 1
ReplyDeleteScaffolders arrive
Sandy (the cat) climbs into an empty drawer and closes it behind him
Valerie (the wife) shuts herself in her sewing room
Me? I'm on my third G&T
All is well.
Best performance from the England team for decades, I hope Gareth Southgate and the team feature highly in the next Honours List.
Not sure about your 'golden rules with birding'. Rule 1 perhaps needs amending: Look up - carefully!
Glad you got the Bittern and the Common Sandpiper, not to mention the Silver Teal! They all get a tick in my book.
No, I can't identify the top spot for you and Mary. Reply please. Bempton Cliffs for me...and the Quarry. Joint top with Slimbridge, of course