Micro-Tibialism goes International

International publicity for the  Micro-Tibialist

Hold the phone! Hold the press!.. just hold on.

Roy (or Royston to his Mum) has been a friend for over 50 years, and we go back to the days of tenpin bowling in league at Hove then Croydon then Tolworth, always under the team name Little Squirrels (because that was the name of his house in Claygate.) Now that WAS a surprise.     An e-mail from a friend of many years standing, who now lives in Portugal, and from time to time, in Devon. 

We went to the same church youth club, I was his best man, and we made an 8mm cine film about the name Hardy to celebrate his father’s promotion to a Masonic master. (Don’t know anything about that organisation, but I know we had a lot of fun making a cine film on my Eumig 8 camera, to show at a Ladies Masonic night.)

The subject was the Hardy antecedents, and the film linked Roy’s father with such well-known Hardys as Laurel and Hardy, Freeman Hardy & Willis, and of course Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, a Royal Navy officer of the Battle of Trafalgar fame. The filming of the latter called upon the actor playing Hardy (Roy) to kiss Nelson (me). The consequential camera shakes due to the laughter by Mary and Barbara (Mrs Hardy) ensured such a blurred picture that censorship was not needed.  

But I digress…or reminisce

.Roy e-mailed to say that a batch of programmes sold by the BBC and deemed to be non-showable were being screened on his local Portuguese network.  Roy happened to be watching the channel last Sunday and found himself watching the Antiques Road show edition in which I appeared with my leg collection, in 2014, in the days before I became a Micro-Tibialist. In the same show, my daughter Sarah could be seen in the crowd.

Now that is what I call a coinicidence… all those leg fans – what fame!

Whilst I’m on the subject I’ve added a couple of rather odd additions to my leg collection. Not the usual sophisticated antique examples, but novelties to be added to my “naff” section. Well they are legs after all.

 Bottle Stoppers !!!!

                                       

Life is full of surprises, like last Tuesday 24^th April, when Chris, Gill and I decided to catch up on the Warbler arrivals at Attenborough. As Chris and I passed each other on the drawbridge to the visitor centre, she said, “What a shame no Red Crested Pochard, to which I could only reply. “There’s one behind you!! Proves the point 6 eyes are better than 2!!

We had a very good morning (it rained p.m.), and being early, it was quiet, we beat the school trips, and the sun was out. Whitethroat and Common Tern were on the list in no time, plus this confiding pheasant who almost ate from my hand.

A fellow birder told us where to find the Grasshopper Warbler. Recalling over the years how many hours I have loitered on the path near Wheatear field, hearing the fishing wheel whine of a Gropper, but not seeing it. This time we, and several other people, heard, saw and even photographed up to 2 birds on the bushes opposite the Kingfisher hide. What a thrill.

Sedge Warbler and Sand Martin were added to the list before we repaired for lunch. Gill decided to go shopping, so Chris and I took our cars to my house, Mary did a quick brew, and having parked up, Chris and I both set off for Carsington for the evening annual Yellow Wagtail walk, run by the Severn Trent volunteers in cahoots with Carsington Bird Club.

Roger Carrington and John led us round Stones Island in a very damp and drizzly 2-hour evening walk, and whilst we dipped on the Yellow Wags, Hirundines were around and I added Willow Warbler and Little Ringed Plover.

SO (!!) at the 28^th April, I’m now on 146, and Chris is well ahead on 172, helped by a bit of travelling, and more to come.

Next BwB?   Carsington    Sunday 6^th May 10.00am as usual.

…..oh and the res is 94.1% full, and still rising.

Happy Birding

"Always look on the bright side of life!"

You will probably realise that I like odd snippets of information and news, and I try to share them with you if I think they may be of interest.

“So!”… a couple to start my post for this week.

Carsington Water. Regular visitors will have watched the rises and falls of the water level and will know that the  level only goes up when there has been a good rainfall AND the Derwent is running fast.   Over the last few weeks the reservoir level has started to rise again, due to the pumps being turned on at Ambergate.   As at today, the Res is 93.7% full.

A headline in the Friday 13^th April issue of METRO, made my pulse race. “ANGRY BIRDS - The Eagles and the Seagulls go beak-to-beak”.

Imagine my sigh of relief when I found it was not about a trained eagle chasing off coastal Herring Gulls, but a psyche-up article for football supporters for about a forthcoming match between Crystal Palace v Brighton & Hove Albion.  The Eagles (Crystal Palace) won 3-2!

I know I have said it before, but “it’s been a funny old week”!

Tuesday, I spent a couple of hours at Carsington, updating the courtyard press cuttings board, emptying the bird feed donation box, banking the bird food donations, and paying the Volunteers treasurer, the generous donations from people on my BwB walks for 2018 to date. Whilst chatting to Pat and Gill, a swallow did a double fly past, so that upped my 2018 list to 135.

During my visit I also collected my copy of the annual Carsington Bird Club report. The 2017 issue is the 26^th report by the club, since it’s inauguration in 1992 when the Queen officially opened Carsington Reservoir.

The report is a huge credit to Gary Atkins (who regularly helps me on the Carsington BwB walks) and fellow club members who have contributed to and prepared this 68-page report in only just over 3 months after the end of 2017. Comprising 26 pages of articles and 39 pages of bird sighting reports on all the species seen in 2017, the report is an excellent benefit from being a club member.

I have said before that a Black Necked Grebe was chosen as the club logo because it was the rarest species on site on 22^nd May 1992. Wondering which species would have had that honour on 22^nd May 2017, the CBC on-line archives revealed it to be a Black Tern – well 3 actually!!!

By the way, Amanda is currently on 147, but confesses that a short break in Norfolk earlier in the year did boost her count.

Wednesday, I encountered a kamikaze Robin in the garden such that I had to do an emergency stop with the mower. He got the worm – I missed the Robin.

Wednesday I took Mary to see Spamalot at the Derby theatre. It was very funny and well worth seeing. None of the celebrities that were in the West End version were in the cast, but the 12 actors worked so hard for 1 hour 40 minutes. When the audience joins in with well-known songs like “Always look on the bright side of life” you know everyone is enjoying themselves.   If you haven’t seen it, if it’s in your locality (again) try and see it. Our local vicar has seen the show 3 times, including London. And the fact that I didn’t fall asleep speaks volumes.

Inspired with happiness, Thursday 19^th April, the hottest day this year (so far) I went to Old Moor, with a list of goodies that Amanda gave me.   Missed the lot!!!!!, but I did get a pair of Mediterranean Gulls and a “lost” Sandwich Tern………. Which takes me on nicely to 137.

The hot day inspired me to get to the grips with the garden, and included installing this fountain, which we hope will give another source of drinking and bathing for our garden birds.

Now looking forward to next Tuesday (24^th April), with the 6pm Yellow Wagtail safari at Carsington. Meet at the Visitor centre. (That's after a day at Attenborough, with high hopes!!)

Happy Birding