Sorry there was little to report from
Charante last week. I did have a news report from Napoleon Birdapart, but the
news was not as exhilarating as previously.
Barney has not been seen and is
rumoured to be in the hills looking for a mate. But a contra-suggestion that it
may in fact not be Barney, but Betty confuses everyone.
Trouble at ‘ome suggests that Sparrows
are campaigning to oust the Blue Tits from the birdhouse with a sheer show of
numbers around the surrounding bushes. In turn the Sparrows are getting spooked
by a large pecker that is carrying out recces on holes in the nearby Oak trees.
Could this be a Middle-spotted Pecker?
More views needed + a photograph to help positive i.d.
As I write this, Wednesday 30th
January at 18.45, it is not
unreasonable to say that the challenging 100 species by midnight tomorrow, is
now very much a non-goer, alas. A combination of distinctly iffy weather and
pressure on me to find a Tax adviser to clarify a difficult issue, has meant
that Slimbridge is off the visiting list tomorrow. I’m not letting Chris down, because she does
want to be at home with John who developed a mobility problem whilst stumbling
in Scotland. (Stumble? Scotland? Whisky?
Q.E.D.)
But the 100 is not the end of the
world - like the annual 200, a January
100 is just something to aim for. And of course, one can do one without the
other. I do still have high hopes for
100 by my next blog (10th February)
I had my second Volunteer Librarian
duty this morning; good job I made it through the snow and ice, because the
other 2 volunteers did not make it. Baptism of fire as they say!
Saturday February 2nd, as in 2018 I went on the DOS walk at Witches Oak. This is
a working Derbyshire quarry site on the south of the A50. What is a DWT site, is only accessible
to DWT and DOS authorised people, so 3 DOS members were escorted by Rod Key of
the DOS and Vic from the DWT.
-1.5C
was on my car thermometer at the start and it did feel like it. Wellies were the wrong
decision the cold easily penetrating the rubber. However, we were all well
rewarded for our endurance
with plenty of Goldeneyes, Shovellers and a pair of Goosanders.
Martin a
volunteer from Willington gravel pits picked up a two Smew on one of
the many lakes. A superb male with a red-head (female) and we added another redhead on the Trent later on.
It was this tree that was the highlight of the day………..The Witches Oak.
But it
was not just the tree…… as all 5 of us neared the old tree, a Barn owl
obligingly flew out of top branches and after a short circuit to decide where
to go, set off South East. Rodney proclaimed it his first Barn Owl on
this site, and it will no doubt be included in his DOS web site column.
… and
the end of the week, Sunday 3rd
February, was
to be announced that the previous night was the coldest in this spell,
temperatures being well in the minuses!!
As a result,
and with the road conditions being somewhat iffy, I sent Amanda my apologies
that I would not be at the Carsington Bird walk, as did some 9 others of the 23
people booked. She did persevere with the stalwarts, seeing 34 species.
It
did however mean that whilst pondering on life, in my study with a cup of
coffee, I was able to wonder at and enjoy the sight of some c35/40 Fieldfares
that decided to patronise 4/5 trees at the bottom of the garden. Very mobile,
and a brilliant sight. …and a lone Raven flying over quite high allowed me to end the week with a
count currently of 78.
To-day
was a special day to remember for Mary. 100 years ago, on 3rd February
1919, her Grandparents married and started what we call the Ellis family dynasty!!
Happy
Birding
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