THE MONTHLY FLYER No.3. October 2019

I suppose I can understand why some species go into hibernation at this time of year. With my current non-success rate bird-wise, maybe I should do the same. I have been known to “drop off” at the drop of a hat, particularly pm, but I do benefit from a very good human wake-up system, the magic words at c3pm…” do you want a cake with your cup of Hornimans?”  (please note the change of brand over recent months!!).

Wednesday 2^nd October I was doing my weekly duty at Crich Tram museum and found myself chatting to the Museum Chaplain.  I mentioned the bird hide along the woodland walk, and he told me it was quite new. 

I mentioned that whilst the hide was in a good place in the woods, a feeding station or at least a less overgrown view could be more interesting and conducive to attracting some birds. As this volunteer appeared to have the ear of people in higher places(!!!) I think he may take my comments on.

In my duties so far, I have seen little more than corvids, although I did spot a Jay during my tram driving experience. With the proximity of the derelict quarry, I would not be surprised to see Ravens, and possibly Peregrines. It is not a location that birders are likely to visit, so it may well be down to me!!! I will be pursuing the possibilities here

Saturday 5^th October,  Yes, Saturday. I was at a Derby hospital to have a biopsy excision for a cancerous spot on my left elbow. Tanya (my usual lovely specialist) appeared to have morphed into a less attractive male Doctor, and the female tender touch was not in evidence.

Sure, everything was done meticulously, with one stitch to hold things together. Except that it was one running stitch with 9 loops, so for the 10 days until unstitching any wrong elbow movement was quite painful.

Anyway, we took my mind off the inconvenience (can’t mow the lawn; can’t put the plants in etc) by booking a spring holiday in Lanzarote, to go with the already booked Summer holiday in Majorca. No idea whether or how Brexit will influence things, but we are strongly influenced to go abroad whilst we are still young ( Ed; Dreaming again?) and before our annual travel insurance requires a bank loan!!

Sunday 6^th October  I did not make Amanda’s Carsington bird walk due to the aftermath of my minor op,(and the same can be said for our planned visit to Idle Valley on the 8^th) but I gather that just 10 people had excellent views of the Slavonian Grebe; the Phalarope seen earlier in the week had moved on and was just a short stayer.

My SIL Julian got a bit bird snappy whilst staying in Dartmouth and captured a couple of good pictures of a hunting Little Egret.

This first one is a good example of a Little Egret, especially the bold yellow feet. The feet are absolutely diagnostic of the Little, whereas the Great White Egret has black feet.  This differentiation can be important, because some Little Egrets are quite small and in comparison a more mature bird looks like a Great.   So, check the feet!

And this was the result of the patient hunting by the Little Egret…

At the end of the month Mary and I fulfilled one of Mary’s bucket list items, a day in London visiting the Tower of London. Not her first visit there , but one she wanted to do again.

Despite the atrocious weather (necessitating my having to spend £15 on a fold-up brolly complete with Tower of London motif), we kept reasonably dry by dodging from one tower to another, thereby avoiding the worst.

Not long after we entered the curtilage of The Tower, we could hear the distinctive cronking of the resident Ravens. It was to be a call that we seemed to hear wherever we walked.

The legend is that the kingdom and The Tower will fall if the 6 resident Ravens ever leave The Tower,  and by way of insurance and a reduction in numbers due to an unexpected death, there are 7 birds currently resident in the Tower. They are looked after by a resident Ravenmaster. Ravens are recorded as having been in the Tower for 500 years, since the reign of Charles II.

Diet? They dine well!! Each bird has 6 oz of raw meat per day, a raw egg once a week, the  occasional rabbit, and they also have bird biscuits soaked in red blood….oh and fried bread.  Not miles away from my full English that Mary continues to provide daily. (excluding the rabbit!!)

Tuesday 29^th October.  Birding Attenborough?.....abandoned!! again!!

As we say farewell to October, Bercow, Summertime, Amber Rudd and Patrick McLoughlin, we have another visit planned for a day in London. When Mary and I went there last week, we had an excellent meal in the Skylon restaurant in the Royal Festival Hall; this time dining at the hitherto unknown restaurant in the Oxo building, also on the South bank and another of our bucket shop destinations.

1^st November 1922?  97 years ago, the first radio licence introduced…ten bob!!!

Happy Birding……I wish!