I'm the first to admit that I am not the world's best at relaxation...but this morning I said I was going bird watching, come what may. So wind and rain came. And I went anyway, to the Wetlands and Wildlife Trust reserve at Welney, just up the road from me.
It was grey:
But, out there on one of those islands there were two cattle egret, a first for me.
Plus most of the UK's common ducks, thousands of black-tailed godwits, two marsh harriers, three dunlin, a curlew, lapwing, plenty of tree sparrows and much else.
And later, whilst having a coffee I watched a weasel move kits in its mouth, one after the other, which was amazing
Sometimes I need to remind myself what a stunning world we live on. And why we need to value it.
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if rain stops play or you get incapacitated by illness there’s two films by Ron Fricke I heartily recommend,
Samsara & Baraka
without words Ron takes you on a trip around the world looking at natural wonders and human activity, he specialises in timelapse techniques and some of the nightime shots are pretty breath taking,
it’s good to be reminded quite how amazing our planet is from time to time.
I might search them out…
……..meanwhile some pretty nifty Springboks were strutting their stuff 🙂
I suffered rugby at school, and am still in recovery
Another thing we agree on Richard
Reminds me when I saw an Osprey eating a lunch of salmon at the Test Nature reserve near Southampton. Glorious. That year I spotted an Osprey every single day in September.
Amazing
Great birds
But I was pretty happy with a couple of marsh harriers this morning
Me too!
Just to clarify, my brief comment was in response to your school experience of rugby and not marsh harriers – lol
🙂
John D says:
“Just to clarify, my brief comment was in response to your school experience of rugby….”
A nifty fly half gets the best of the game. Always gets to handle the ball always close to the action and rarely gets squashed.
Anywhere else on the field is either dangerous……. or boring and usually cold. 🙂
We now live in the Ariège and are blessed with an abundance of bird and other wild life.
We had an Oxford Ornithology Professor staying in our gite, his speciality was the sex life of chickens. (the egg really did come first)
We were treated to a startling examination of the huge numbers of raptors circling above our house.
He was here for a wedding and we were invited for a short glimpse of the proceedings, including the groom awaiting his bride, binoculars in hand, pointing out migrating honey buzzards.
Now that is enthusiasm….
I hope she’s a twitcher
I’m not. I noted those making lists yesterday and counting up sightings. I can’t be bothered. Birdwatching is just to be enjoyed.
Mind you I do like our local buzzards, no sharing Ely skies with red kites for the first time on a fairly regauilr basis
Geoff says:
” an Oxford Ornithology Professor staying in our gite, […] .. was here for a wedding and we were invited for a short glimpse of the proceedings,….”
The mind boggles as to what our continental friends get up to. 🙂
What a coincidence Richard! My wife and I saw about 50 egrets on the backs of sheep being driven alongside a road here in Spain yesterday; a first for us too! Amazing sight. I have pics but don’t know how to post them here.
Not possible in the comments, I fear…
But that must have been good to see
I was happy with two!
A weasel moving kits – at this time of the year?
They normally breed in spring. What’s going on?
They breed twice a year, apparently; and the kits did have fur, but I do agree with you that this seems late
This thread confirms your most fervent supporters are indeed oddballs like yourself
When did you have the charm bypass?
Harry May says:
“This thread confirms your most fervent supporters are indeed oddballs like yourself”
Hoist by your own petard there, Harry if that’s a criticism; otherwise welcome aboard. 🙂
I’m curious Harry, how old are you?