P
peter hayes
Guest
I was scoping a lovely Curlew this afternoon from the viewing platform just off Bowling Green Lane, Topsham, near Exeter. It commands a superb view of the River Exe. The tally in this section of the day alone, went as follows:
300 Curlew
100 Oyster Catcher
75 Shelduck
50 Black-tailed Godwit
2 Little Egret
Back to my particular Curlew. Just as I had a monumental close up through my Swaros and was admiring the Curlew's fine colours and patterning, it caught a sizeable crab. Making no attempt to eat the crab, it juggled with it in its mouth until its bill was holding it by its legs. It then shook the crab off until a couple of legs broke off and the crab fell into the water. The Curlew repeated this process five times, each time dipping its curved bill back into the water to pick up the crab, which of course had fewer and fewer legs as the process unfolded. Finally, a legless crab was tossed into the water. This time the Curlew picked up its prey and swallowed it whole. Result! It was astonishing to watch this cruel and very private session of afternoon tea.
Peter
Postscript: on the way to the platform I saw Izzy the Glossy Ibis all on his own in a field with no one paying any attention to him whatsoever. When I think of that marvellous day last year when he arrived, with twitchers coming down to Devon from all over the country to see his marvellous green sheen in the late afternoon sun, the contrast could not have been greater. Now, Izzy is a confirmed long stayer and becoming almost house trained. People don't seem to bother him at all, and I got within five feet of him. For me though, he will always be magic.
300 Curlew
100 Oyster Catcher
75 Shelduck
50 Black-tailed Godwit
2 Little Egret
Back to my particular Curlew. Just as I had a monumental close up through my Swaros and was admiring the Curlew's fine colours and patterning, it caught a sizeable crab. Making no attempt to eat the crab, it juggled with it in its mouth until its bill was holding it by its legs. It then shook the crab off until a couple of legs broke off and the crab fell into the water. The Curlew repeated this process five times, each time dipping its curved bill back into the water to pick up the crab, which of course had fewer and fewer legs as the process unfolded. Finally, a legless crab was tossed into the water. This time the Curlew picked up its prey and swallowed it whole. Result! It was astonishing to watch this cruel and very private session of afternoon tea.
Peter
Postscript: on the way to the platform I saw Izzy the Glossy Ibis all on his own in a field with no one paying any attention to him whatsoever. When I think of that marvellous day last year when he arrived, with twitchers coming down to Devon from all over the country to see his marvellous green sheen in the late afternoon sun, the contrast could not have been greater. Now, Izzy is a confirmed long stayer and becoming almost house trained. People don't seem to bother him at all, and I got within five feet of him. For me though, he will always be magic.