It was just after 05.30 hrs that I made my way across to work. Several Golden Plover flushed from the newly planted potato field and there was a flurry of Redwings, passing overhead; the first for some while. I had a blinding day at work - deeply insulted when my boss asked me to sweep the outside perimeter, taking care to ensure the chiller units were cleared of leaf litter! Are you sure? The same dough as I get for grafting, just to push a broom around in the sunshine - oh! the utter humiliation.
Despite my protests - off I went into the great outdoors, thinking of penning a letter to my member of parliament about this shoddy treatment. The skies were clear and the gulls busily going about their courtship routines - perfect for raptor indication. A couple of false alarms before, at 10.50 hrs two Common Buzzards were seen, as they spiralled north, causing some minor irritation to the flock.
 |
| Common Buzzards over Newland's Farm. It happens every year - can't stop it being exciting. Spring is very close. |
As I arrived back home, a little after 13.00 hrs, there was a massive reaction over Pyson's Road, but I failed to locate the cause from my back garden. Shouldn't have worried because less than ten minutes later the gulls were up, over the estate, as a group of six Common Buzzards drifted leisurely westward. The gulls remained agitated, although I failed to spot any more Buzzards. Just to put the cherry on the top - a Reed Bunting landed in the garden Elder, calling loudly, then flitted into one of the, heavily pruned, Buddleias beside my aviary - allowing a quick record shot before it moved on. Spring is very close!
 |
| Reed Bunting in a garden Buddleia - nice! |
I bumped into Franny, yesterday, and spoke about the local birding (and mothing) - very quiet at present. He enquired about my March eel? I have got one more session available, tomorrow night, before I have to "chuck in the towel" on the local drains. With another two weeks, of the month, remaining, it might be possible to salvage the project, should I fail tomorrow, by giving the RMC a bash? (No close season restrictions)
 |
Open bale arms - monkey's on angled needles, there's an awful lot I have to
offer as conclusions from this fantastic angling adventure.
One thing is for sure; I will never again view eels as a nuisance species! (Which is very different from a pain in the arse!) |
I have quite a few ideas, and things to say, about this particular angling challenge - the post has already been started and awaits my final thoughts, some more photos, and results, but will be appear on my blog no later than 1st April.
Dyl, it's fantastic to see such large raptors these days. I think back forty years and all I ever saw were Kestrels. Two days back I was walking a woodland ridge outside Watford and there was a Red Kite and Buzzard just yards from each other, brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI guess in birding terms, 'you had to experience the rough to appreciate the smooth'.
Those Cardinal 66's (or 66X's) are great reels. I bought my pair in 1980.
Rich, I still remember my excitement at seeing my first Hertfordshire Common Buzzard, circling above the golf course, just outside Potten End - that would have been around 1984? Today I can guarantee to see Common Buzzards in many areas of Thanet, such is the dramatic change in the status of these magnificent birds. Spring passage in the skies above Thanet is now a well documented occurrence and can provide some incredible day totals when conditions are right. Red Kites are similar in their appeal but are more a result of re-introduction than natural population spread - it's never detracted from my enjoyment of seeing them in the skies above my "patch"
ReplyDeleteThose 66X's were purchased in 1975 and are as good today as when I first got them. They are solid Swedish engineering and were built to last. Not always my first choice, they remain a joy to use when I give them an outing. Take care - Dyl