Darren Oakley-Martin
________________
The Post Office truck left early this morning, leaving sackloads of birthday cards, fanmail along with bills and letters from banks asking me to borrow even more money. Oh, and a pizza menu.
(Feel-good factor, 1/10)
Weather good it seemed, sun shining through occasionally, mild and dry so the reports of early spring arrivals in the area gave me no other choice- birding it was. Caffeine kicking in……
(Feel-good factor now up to 3/10)
About 4 miles away, a Water Pipit had been recorded infrequently over the last two days, Ringed Plovers making their returns to the pits and with Oystercatcher and Shelduck also returning, these were to be amongst my targets.
(Feel-good factor remains unmoved at 3/10)
As I set off the sun was shining, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Great Tit singing as if they almost meant it! Walking along the Embankment, people were feeding the geese- right next to a sign that said, 'PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE GEESE.' I guarantee that in Sunday's local newspaper, there will be a letter from Mr & Mrs Unnaybull- Tworeed complaining that their 4 year old had slipped over on goose sh*t and fallen into the river. And that the council should be doing something about those 'Canadian Geese!'
(Feel-good factor rockets up to 8/10)
Walking into the Country Park, I hear Polly the Parakeet playing with her bell in a nearby tree. I toss her some trill and walk on. Not much activity on the lake, a few Great-crested Grebe- paired up now but not displaying. A Kestrel makes a flyby in a place I've never seen one before, Tufted Duck and Pochard numbers good, 20 or so Shoveler, a couple of Grey Heron and a few loafing Cormorant. Someone has spray-painted a pentagram on the hide door.
Now here's a thing- the local fishery manager goes out onto the lake every morning and beats a stick on the side of the boat. This tactic, I am informed, is to scare away the evil Cormorants! Recalling this made me laugh to myself.
(Feel-good factor makes ground to 8.5/10)
Out through the park and at the sewage works. 250 odd gulls, mainly Black-headed but able to pick out a few Common and 2 Herring. A nice flock of 220 or so Starlings overhead, although I have to admit, I’m always a little nervous when large numbers of Starling are directly overhead. (Has anyone seen these birds in really good numbers recently?) Behind me, the clear and nervous call of a Green Sandpiper. A year tick.....good stuff......
(Feel-good factor steady at 8.5)
The first spits of rain on my notebook............
(Feel-good factor............
To be continued.
(Feel-good factor, 1/10)
Weather good it seemed, sun shining through occasionally, mild and dry so the reports of early spring arrivals in the area gave me no other choice- birding it was. Caffeine kicking in……
(Feel-good factor now up to 3/10)
About 4 miles away, a Water Pipit had been recorded infrequently over the last two days, Ringed Plovers making their returns to the pits and with Oystercatcher and Shelduck also returning, these were to be amongst my targets.
(Feel-good factor remains unmoved at 3/10)
As I set off the sun was shining, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Great Tit singing as if they almost meant it! Walking along the Embankment, people were feeding the geese- right next to a sign that said, 'PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE GEESE.' I guarantee that in Sunday's local newspaper, there will be a letter from Mr & Mrs Unnaybull- Tworeed complaining that their 4 year old had slipped over on goose sh*t and fallen into the river. And that the council should be doing something about those 'Canadian Geese!'
(Feel-good factor rockets up to 8/10)
Walking into the Country Park, I hear Polly the Parakeet playing with her bell in a nearby tree. I toss her some trill and walk on. Not much activity on the lake, a few Great-crested Grebe- paired up now but not displaying. A Kestrel makes a flyby in a place I've never seen one before, Tufted Duck and Pochard numbers good, 20 or so Shoveler, a couple of Grey Heron and a few loafing Cormorant. Someone has spray-painted a pentagram on the hide door.
Now here's a thing- the local fishery manager goes out onto the lake every morning and beats a stick on the side of the boat. This tactic, I am informed, is to scare away the evil Cormorants! Recalling this made me laugh to myself.
(Feel-good factor makes ground to 8.5/10)
Out through the park and at the sewage works. 250 odd gulls, mainly Black-headed but able to pick out a few Common and 2 Herring. A nice flock of 220 or so Starlings overhead, although I have to admit, I’m always a little nervous when large numbers of Starling are directly overhead. (Has anyone seen these birds in really good numbers recently?) Behind me, the clear and nervous call of a Green Sandpiper. A year tick.....good stuff......
(Feel-good factor steady at 8.5)
The first spits of rain on my notebook............
(Feel-good factor............
To be continued.
B 
