Last week really did end on a high note and watching
the Grey Phalarope at Old Moor and it’s non-stop ducking it’s head in the water
searching for food, reminded me that it was 11 months earlier on 11th
November 2017, that I saw a Grey Phalarope at Cley in Norfolk.
On both occasions, the bird would busy itself
for a period, then dash off to another feeding point. Being so small, if you
did not see it when it left, you could spend a long time trying to see which
stretch of water it had moved to. Old
Moor, in the wetlands hide, there were enough birders to keep it under
observation.
Whereas at Cley, when I arrived at the site
late morning, I was told it had not been seen that morning. Spotting the bird
within 5 minutes of entering the relevant hide, gave me more than a little
personal satisfaction!
In my post after our holiday in Cyprus, I
told you about the coincidence of sitting next to Vanessa, a lady who had been
on my BwB walk at Carsington some years ago.
IT’S HAPPENED AGAIN!!
On Wednesday, I attended a Patient Group
(“Friends of…) for my local GP. My first attendance, I arrived last minute and
found myself sitting a little way back next to another late arrival. I just had
a feeling I had seen him somewhere before, and when the meeting closed, he said
“I’ve been on your bird walk at Carsington, but not for a long time.”
I think I’ve got to develop a disguise.
I am so pleased (Ed: Yes – that’s OK) to tell you that from January 2019, whilst Keith and Gary will be
continuing with the Carsington BwB walks, my conductors’ baton will be
transferred to the well-known and popular Amanda Palethorpe.
Regular birders on my Sunday walk will have
met Amanda when they reach the wildlife centre where she is invariably on duty;
she has also been a great support to Keith with the BwB checking-in admin when
I have been sun bathing in the Royal, or having a bedbath in The Med. (But not
necessarily in that order... still a bit confused!!)
As Amanda and me, and also Pat are honorary
members of the Carsington 5FT3IN club, I know you will be in safe hands from
January 1. In 13 years, we have never varied from the same 12-hour walk (apart
from escaping to the classroom) but I don’t know whether Amanda will make any
changes - that will be her decision.
Even as I write, an e-mail has just winged its
way from Amanda, presently in Scotland, telling me that to-day she has reached her
200 species target for 2018, with Crested Tit. She is chasing Christine, currently
on 202, but with a Scottish bird holiday currently in progress I suspect Amanda
will be in pole position very soon.
Sunday 21st October This was
my pre-penultimate (Ed:
Pardon?) Bird Watching walk at Markeaton. I will be leading the walks in November
and December, but whether a leader can be found to lead from 1st
January 2019 remains to be seen.
8 people turned up for the walk today, a nice
sunny and comfortable day, but alas only 19 birds to show for our 90 minutes. A
little Egret flew over before the walk started, but our only notables were a
Tree Creeper and a Mistle Thrush.
Dogs
running wild near the feeding table inhibited the passerines coming for the
food that once again Pamela was generously providing.
Don’t forget, Sunday November 4 BwB Carsington Water 10.00am
Happy Birding
Good to know that the Carsington Bird Walks, which were your creation, will be in a safe pair of hands.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am so pleased that your Editor is so pleased that you are so pleased that Amanda is taking over.
According to Wiktionary (sic) a better alternative to pre-penultimate would be antepenultimate. Of course one before that would give you preantepenultimate...and a headache