Aug.12th: Part Two: The Wasp, The Greensand and The Fox
Thanks Sid, I can't edit the title, however! Note all: earlier thread's date's wrong!
14:00 - 16:00
Warm, sunny but cloud increasing, blustery.
As I walked down the field's edge a Fox stopped at the opposite end before bounding through the hedge, possibly disturbed by not-so-distant shotgun fire.
Two chicks visible on the nest - one of which spent an inordinate amount of time peering over the near edge - perhaps at its sibling which had jumped ship.
Within a few minutes a calling for the off from the trees, then the female Hobby led the way out south. Both climbed rapidly, as if racing each other, but kept station by allowing the other to catch up in turns. They stooped a few times at their partner as they powered into the caverns of the sky - reaching a blue grotto at a couple of thousand feet.
It was here they found the Swift. It was probably the only one in ten cubic miles of roaring air - had their rendezvous been co-incidental? It seems unlikely - so had they spotted it as it passed their watch at that distance? If so their eyesight is simply phenomenal. But they were with it now, and now the hunt began.
Four or five dives at it each; between each a powering up to keep it in touch, the Swift evading every time. They seemed to have the better of it, but simply turned away and carried on to the south - disappearing distance-ward.
The Swallows had watched them with quiet alarm, but a few minutes later all hell broke loose.
Forty each of Linnets and Goldfinches, twenty or so Pied wagtails, Starlings and Swallows were piling towards me and alarming madly. A dot in the sky grew rapidly and became a Sparrowhawk, the wind behind her, wings practically closed.
As she neared the tree next to me she tilted slightly and aimed for the lowest branch. Too late the Blackbird there spotted the danger and launched off and down, swerving back round to the opposite bough as it screamed a chattering scream.
The Sparrowhawk, audibly clipped the first branch, followed the prey and connected as it re-landed. A few final sounds came from the tree, then silence. The whole thing had taken three seconds.
The wind had got up and gusty air brought solid cloud, in-filling blue gaps. I took shelter behind the hedge and sat on my jacket, waiting for falcons to return.
As I did so I heard a strange sound. At first I thought it was my phone. But no. Was it a mammal - had I sat on a mouse or vole? I got up and checked. No. But when I stood the sound ceased. Perhaps it was only audible out of the wind. I sat again. There it was. Was it some audible illusion - bouncing across the field from the trees? I got up and moved closer to them. Nothing.
As I sat back down there it was again. I checked my jacket - and my phone again. Turned my pockets inside-out. Nothing. I hung my jacket on my 'scope and sat down: there - still audible. Was it distant Jays ventriloquising? Strange. I stood up. It stopped.
Last resort. Turn out my trouser pockets. Out flew a tiny wasp! End of the noise!
I resettled, now noise free. But a new sound now: a Green sandpiper was passing not far away. As I scanned around, trying to find it, all I saw was a Hobby in the long distance, circling with some prey dangling beneath: another bird being plucked in the air.
Before the falcon returned the Wood pigeons were up once more - and a male Sparrowhawk passed the trees carrying its prey. This is not the place to be if you're a passerine!
