birdman
Tuesday 12th August 2003, 23:17
Well, being on the warm (rather than the hot!) side of the weather front, the temperature has been a good 6 or 7 degrees C cooler today, resulting in a pleasant, if slightly muggy evening – and perhaps rain later.
Partnyorsha and I took a walk around the outback, and it is noticeable how many more birds there are today.
We’re not talking huge numbers, but more than of late.
The customary entourage of House Martins was flying around the houses any over the rough ground, their path crossed by a hurrisome Feral Pigeon.
On reaching the pond, we found a single Mallard, and a couple of families of Coots and Moorhens, and as we walked past the northern end of the pond, a Grey Heron skulked into the trees.
In the small trees on the pond-side, there was a small flock of maybe half a dozen Long-tailed Tits, and a couple or warblers of the maybe Chiffchaff/maybe Willow variety.
There were obviously a number of groups of small birds in many of the shrubs, but the only others the make themselves show for the next half hour or so, were a Blackbird, and Woodpigeon and three Carrion Crows – although we did see a bat, whilst it was still surprisingly light (about 8.50pm)
However, between the bat and the crows, it was becoming evident that the owls were stirring, as we heard more and more squawks from in the trees.
Then at around 9.15, two owls (a pair?) appeared. They had apparently flown across the field next to us, but we did not notice them until they were within 30 feet. Partnyorsha saw them first, or more accurately saw the first one, and as she whispered my attention, I noticed the second. They continued to fly in front of us (we just happened to be beneath a tree) and then looped around, one flying directly over out heads about 8 or 10 feet above us. As for id? Well, they were definitely far too large to be Little Owls, but did not seem nearly so massive as the “eared” owls we have seen before. And as they were close enough, and it was light enough (I think) to tell they were dark rather than light coloured, I’m going to go for Tawny… although not with enough confidence to say so for certain!
And to finish on a note that pretty well soured the whole evening? I had to run back home shortly afterwards to ring the Fire Brigade to report the three fires started by the brain-dead morons who think it’s a real good idea to start them.
Birdlist...
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Coot
Feral Pigeon
Grey Heron
Housemartin
Long-tailed Tit
Mallard
Moorhen
Woodpigeon
Unided Owls
Unided Warbler
Partnyorsha and I took a walk around the outback, and it is noticeable how many more birds there are today.
We’re not talking huge numbers, but more than of late.
The customary entourage of House Martins was flying around the houses any over the rough ground, their path crossed by a hurrisome Feral Pigeon.
On reaching the pond, we found a single Mallard, and a couple of families of Coots and Moorhens, and as we walked past the northern end of the pond, a Grey Heron skulked into the trees.
In the small trees on the pond-side, there was a small flock of maybe half a dozen Long-tailed Tits, and a couple or warblers of the maybe Chiffchaff/maybe Willow variety.
There were obviously a number of groups of small birds in many of the shrubs, but the only others the make themselves show for the next half hour or so, were a Blackbird, and Woodpigeon and three Carrion Crows – although we did see a bat, whilst it was still surprisingly light (about 8.50pm)
However, between the bat and the crows, it was becoming evident that the owls were stirring, as we heard more and more squawks from in the trees.
Then at around 9.15, two owls (a pair?) appeared. They had apparently flown across the field next to us, but we did not notice them until they were within 30 feet. Partnyorsha saw them first, or more accurately saw the first one, and as she whispered my attention, I noticed the second. They continued to fly in front of us (we just happened to be beneath a tree) and then looped around, one flying directly over out heads about 8 or 10 feet above us. As for id? Well, they were definitely far too large to be Little Owls, but did not seem nearly so massive as the “eared” owls we have seen before. And as they were close enough, and it was light enough (I think) to tell they were dark rather than light coloured, I’m going to go for Tawny… although not with enough confidence to say so for certain!
And to finish on a note that pretty well soured the whole evening? I had to run back home shortly afterwards to ring the Fire Brigade to report the three fires started by the brain-dead morons who think it’s a real good idea to start them.
Birdlist...
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Coot
Feral Pigeon
Grey Heron
Housemartin
Long-tailed Tit
Mallard
Moorhen
Woodpigeon
Unided Owls
Unided Warbler