(Tuesday) Not yet the end of the week, but it does not
bode well on the birding front for this week.
However, life has not been without some interests, at
least for me.
Tuesday morning, I had my first session as a patient
volunteer participating in the teaching programme for aspiring Doctors at Derby
University Hospital. I have been accepted as an Expert Patient, principally
because I have had medical issues which the identification and understanding
thereof will give the students some hands-on experience.
Volunteers are utilised not only for the advancement of
knowledge, but they are also used as live dummies in examinations.
My first session (with 2 other volunteers) was for Dermatological
education, in my case covering skin
cancer and also skin damage. 4 students at a time talk to each of us individually,
looking at and questioning the evident dermatological issues. As over 35 years I
have had all 5 different ways of treating skin cancer, I make a good test case!
After 15 minutes the bell rings, my group ask their final
questions, and 2 minutes later it rings again, whereupon they move to the next volunteer
and I go through it again with the next group. When all 3 volunteers have been
scrutinised, the students return with the tutor to do an over-review what they
have learnt.
In the second session, on Thursday morning, each of the 6
volunteers were the centre of attention for 7 students at a time together with a
Doctor/teacher and this time entirely based on my abdomen. Students did a mock
bedside inquisition saying what they could see, and with
some actual hands on elements. I leave it to you to decide what is the range of
an abdomen, but sufficient to say I had to cough hard 7 times for each group!!!
There is a small expenses/honorarium per session, well
justified under the circumstances!!
Wednesday, Mary and I went to London to the Haymarket
Theatre to see the musical, “Only Fools and Horses”. With Paul Whitehouse
playing Grandad (and Uncle Albert!) it was a very entertaining 2 hours. Scenes
were changed by a very clever segmented revolving stage and all the favourite
characters were included.
Many memorable moments are included; the falling chandelier,
falling behind the bar, Boysie firing blanks (an extremely clever and amusing
sequence),Del boy getting a beating from the Driscoe brothers, Mike and Del-boys’
unpaid bar tab, and the grotty food in Sid’s caf.
Well worth a visit. Let me know if you plan to go – I can
save you £10 on the cost of the visit.
You can borrow my programme.
Mary and I did a bit of a health survey during our London
visit. We walked from St Pancras to The Haymarket, (12,200 steps), saw just 8
people with face masks, and it was only in the 5th chemist that Mary
finally got some hand cleanser. At St.
Pancras the assistant told us that bottles were flying out at 20 a go, so she
restricted sales to 2. (Mary bought 2.)
Sorry I’m off the birding track, and I wish I wasn’t, but
at least I’m keeping occupied!!
Anyway, as I was saying, I have seen Peregrines on the
Jury Hotel sign twice this week, in close viewing proximity for them of the
nest box on the Cathedral. Good omen.
And another positive snippet. At the Nestles factory in
Hatton, 20km West of Derby, 2 Peregrines are seen regularly on the factory
roof. Even though the nests have been temporarily removed, the birds are still
staying loyal to the location, and the nests will be replaced soon.
Some compensation for the rotten news about the Peregrine at Belper’s East mill which was
found to have lead shot in its body. Despite RSPB surgery and care it could not
be saved. The male was about 4 years old and originally ringed in Dorset.
Knowing that another male Peregrine from East Mill was
shot in 2015 really does make me who the misguided killers are.
EH?? What happened
to Sunday?? Sorry I missed it….to-day is
Monday. I’m definitely losing the plot.
MONDAY March 9th 2020 (just
to remind me)
As part of my birding programme I had intended to try and
include a trip to The Wirral, specifically to Parkside to try and take in my
favourite experience, the high tide spectacular. Peak tide time in March was Tuesday 10th
but as I was on Library duty that day, my plan had been to go to the slightly
lower tide on the Monday. I arranged an early 7am call from my carer, to enable
me to get to Parkside for 10.00am…. but best laid plans etc meant that I did
not feel 100% until it was too late to get to my destination for the planned
time.
Plan B. See what is around locally. DOS sightings reports indicated that Locko
Park may be worth a visit. Locko park is a private estate on the northern side
of Derby, open to pedestrians and including a moderate sized lake.
I have been there on two previous occasions, the first
time being when my bird watching knowledge was very much in its infancy,
although I do recall a highlight was a Green Woodpecker. And, on a day in
April, the birding group saw both Fieldfare and Swallow from the same view
point. Out with the old and in with the new.
This time and 8,500 steps later in a lot of very muddy
ground I had nothing to add to my year list in the 2-hour walk. The lake had 3 Goosanders, and a Tree Creeper
was quite oblivious to my presence. But that was it.
Apologies for diverting from my normal routine and
timetable. I’ll
have to put an alarm on my phone to make sure I don’t miss next Sunday!
Happy Birding.
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