It was a day for an afternoon off. A lot has been done this week, and the blog has been a little demanding for the last twenty-four hours. So time was taken to go to Welney bird reserve.
It was cold:
The aim was to see short-eared owls, and this is the best photo I managed against a background of power lines:
They are lovely birds, but they really do not have ears.
A better photo was this goldfinch on their bird feeders:
And the best was this:
That is a female stonechat, sitting on a wire fence and obligingly waiting for me to take its picture.
Also seen, out of the ordinary, were cranes and a snipe. But it was nearly dark by then and time to come home.
Now, I will get back to operating this afternoon's comments.
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Richard, thank you for the window into the discussion around bonds. It was rather enlightening, and must have cost some effort to moderate.
Last summer a friend introduced me to the Merlin Bird ID app from Cornell. As a complete non-birder, it has been a delight. I am now aware of an entire parallel world in my trees and hedges – the gossip, the fanfares, the petty squabbles, the morning greetings, the coy flirting, the indignant scolding. I live outdoors in the summer and although I cannot see them, which I rather like, they are all around, and their diversity and sheer overwhelming busyness is a joy to behold. I see how their world draws you in.
I find that app really useful
I use it much less now – I have learned the calls of many birds
But it is amazing, and free – although I do donate
Time out? Very good call.
It was
Good walk
Good coffee
Good birds
Good company
I learned from some very experienced owlers (owl watchers)
I showed some people a snipe – which was new to them
All very good.
Some lovely pictures there Richard, a much needed departure I warrant. The bonds post was a bit of slugfest.
It was….
Must have been the perfect antidote Richard.
Decades ago – in the Yorkshire dales – I saw a bird making aerial dives with a weird non bird like vibrating sound – was I halucinating?.
I later understood it was a male snipe ‘drumming’ to attract a mate.
Could be
I think they are great birds
And they can – like City conspiracies – hide in plain sight with great ease
pleased you could relax – but did you spot a ‘muskrat’ – see todays Times in the ‘Comment’ section – peter-brookes-times-cartoon-january-11-2025-0t3z6wmpc.htm
I don’t subscribe to the Times