Who am I?

My photo
An individual, of no great importance, who is unable to see the natural world as a place for competition. I catch fish, watch birds, derive immense pleasure from simply looking at butterflies, moths, bumble-bees, etc - without the need for rules! I am Dylan and this is my blog - if my opinions offend? Don't bother logging on again - simple!

Followers

Tuesday 24 March 2020

#BWKm0 - the first real effort

My shift didn't start until 14.00 hrs so I had all morning watching the garden. well it was the least I could do as Boris had so nicely asked me to stay at home unless absolutely necessary! Unbelievably, making digital ink is a key role within these troubled times and, therefore, my job is that of an essential worker. To be perfectly fair, some of our inks are specifically produced for medical and food labelling amongst so many other applications. I would imagine that Covid-19 warning posters are consuming vast amounts of our products as the public awareness program kicks in? So, unless we get instructions to the contrary, I will remain at work so long as my, and Bev's, health does nothing to cause a period of absence due to self-isolation.
It was a very pleasant affair, out in the garden, binoculars, camera and coffee to hand, enjoying the sunshine, just watching the activity around the feeding station and over the farmland beyond our boundary hedge. I ended the morning with five more additions to the BWKm0 total and, even more pleasing, two more species captured for the garden photo challenge, that I'd embarked upon on 1st Jan. I think the most frustrating thing was my inability to nail the id of four passerines (finches/buntings?) which flew east, but to the south of our garden. Not a squeak, nor any plumage features due to the position of the sun, I was left ruing a missed opportunity. Chaffinches being my gut feel, but it don't cut it if I ain't 100%. There'll be others, of that I'm hopeful. So here's a brief summary of what happened to my garden list today.

22 - Jackdaw. Several birds very active around the Vine Close area and I happily took the opportunity to nail a flight shot for my garden 50 photo challenge.


23 - Sparrowhawk. One of the local males soaring and wind dancing above Newlands Farm
24 - Rook. Two birds flew east, calling regularly, but kept low and well out of camera range
25 - Common Buzzard. I recorded four separate individuals during the morning although the commotion around the local gull colonies suggested there may have been many more?

Welcome to Thanet - a very typical reception
26 - Peregrine. An adult male was seen on two occasions during the morning. Always distant, I rattled off a few record shots as insurance for the garden photo challenge.


A very enjoyable time spent, for the most part, watching ordinary birds going about their daily routine. If this is the only option available it is going to be as much about learning more about species which are so familiar as to be overlooked in normal circumstances. Apparently Dunnocks lead a rather promiscuous lifestyle, I should have plenty of time to have a look for myself as they are numerous and active around the garden at present.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Dylan. Thanks for keeping up with your blog, now more than ever I find it a really great read and a valuable link to the outside world. The bird challenge is a great one for these times. I'm at home but working from a makeshift office when I'm not trying to school an unwilling 4 year old. We live in a very rural location and there is a lot of bird life just outside my window and the land I can see beyond it. Earlier today I saw a heron circling before it landed by a pond on the land over the fence - an elderly man owns this small plot of land and excavated a small pond which he has stocked with carp! Plenty more bird life to see but that was a sight I haven't witnessed here before! Binoculars on my desk now so I'm going to keep watch - I'll let you know if I see anything else unusual.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In these crazy times, anything which helps get us through the day has to be a positive?
      Cheers for the comment - keep safe and stay calm - Dylan

      Delete