The Monthly Flyer Bonus issue - November 2019

My given title is absolutely appropriate for this bonus post.  Read on -

THE MONTHLY FLYER   No 4(a).    November 2019

Saturday 2^nd November 2019, the day when my family witnessed my “coming out” in an area that they had always thought I was 100% true to my beliefs!!    Yes - they were to witness a happening the likes of which they had never seen before.

I had told them about my witnessing a similar activity in c1953 in Navarino Road, Hackney but both then and since that time I had always been true to my beliefs and never wavered from them.

This time we were “en famile” in London at a restaurant on the North bank of the Thames, celebrating a significant 50^th birthday so it was not an occasion when they expected to hear about my weakness of (or even “for”..) the flesh. Whilst the group felt they knew all there was to know about me, it was to be an incredible surprise (and a privilege for them!!) to watch this unprecedented moment.

There have been a number of similar and difficult decisions to make in my life, when I could not decide which one to choose, and here once again I was faced with a dilemma to resolve. Mary was heard to say “you go first” a common remark from her, which put the pressure on me… no more time to think or ponder….I had to make the landmark choice.  It wasn’t but it could have been, on my bucket list.

It was unprecedented, and only on one occasion in Spain some 30 years ago had I found myself with a similar sort of dining landmark decision. On that occasion, my choice was overtaken by a “Hobsons Choice” situation which was forced upon me, thereby removing my options. 

This 2019 momentous decision, admittedly mine, has made me ponder extensively whether or not I have previously encountered such a situation and whether in fact I should be said to be a hypocrite and therefore no need to “come out” as I am “out” already.

“Coming out” is the moment when you publicly acknowledge that you have an opinion, a view, a way of life, or a secret aptitude or leaning towards something that you have previously preferred to keep quiet.

At this point as I reflect on previous weak moments in my life, and decide whether I am indeed a hypocrite, I must confess that the event of the 2^nd November was equally a surprise to me (and to others, and my readers), and was very close to being precedented twice before.  

And, yet I don’t know.    Where was the precedent?  It certainly was not (1-a) Chrysolophus Pictus but more probably  (1-b)Phasianus Colchicus, both memorable in their different ways. It could also have been (2) Gallus Gallus Domesticus.    Do they both breach my ethical view? They both fall in the same categories in one way, but not in another.  In the case of the first, it has a running speed of c30mph, but in the latter a record flight of only 13 seconds.

And another factor, which is the appropriate adjective? Wild, Feral or Tame? Does it make a difference?

I HAVE REACHED A CONCLUSION and decided that I do not need to come out, because I am already “out”.  I am not a vegan or a vegetarian, but an outright carnivore. Which is why my starter at the excellent meal at The Sky Garden Restaurant in the Fenchurch building (also known as The Walkie Talkie) in the city of London was ....... Feral Pigeon!!

The Feral bit still bothers me. I can recall occasions at Carsington Water when I have suggested that Severn Trent should institute a self-service scheme to pick your goose for Xmas. This would be a) a money earner; and b) help keep the Canada Goose stock down.

I cannot therefore help but wonder whether, when the Chef at our restaurant has an order in the kitchen for Feral Pigeon, does he pop down Fenchurch Street and select one of the plumpest resident pigeons. 

ANYWAY, I must admit that for a first-time experience, I did enjoy Pigeon. The meat was firm, red and very tasty and there was not a scrap left on my plate.

By way of nostalgia, this is picture of a Derby relative of my now deceased City of London Pigeon.

This one's name is Graham.

And what does Mary dish up last Sunday lunch?.......... Duck in a Cantonese style plum sauce – equally delicious.

I feel somewhat hypocritical to end with my usual post with “Happy Birding”… so instead "Bon Appetit."

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!