A text from Dr Weedon woke me up at 07:53 this morning.
It said:
"Bastn fen. Seo 2bo 3goosandr over. M".
Which, translated into English, means:
"I am at Baston Fen NR. I have seen a Short-eared Owl, two Barn Owls and three Goosander. Mike".
There was another at 08:16:
"Bfen. 3 beardies buzard. M".
Translation: "I am still at Baston Fen NR. I have also seen three Bearded Tits and a Buzzard. Mike".
Then there was a phone call, urging me to get out and see the Bearded Tits ("can you hear them pinging? You could almost have that on your yearlist!"), so I dragged myself up there and spent an hour and a half standing around in the cold, not hearing any pinging before one of them let one out, as it were, and the tension was relieved. I didn't see any of the little buggers, though.
Now I don't have to worry about getting them on the yearlist anymore...
For me, the Bearded Tit experience was put in the shade by the adult male Merlin - the blue uppers showed up nicely against the dark soil - which shot over the counter drain and put up a big flock of Woodpigeons and Stock Doves from the setaside across the bank.
Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteWe are participating in the Project Feeder Watch this winter, and this morning I was greeted by a Carolina Wren (who should have gone south for the winter) and a Hairy Woodpecker! The Downy is a common visitor to my feeder, but this was my daughters first good look at a Hairy. So for us ... a happy new birding year!
It was just a single 'ping' that was let out by the Beardie... Having been told how vocal they were being earlier in the day, it was a bit annoying to have to hang around. Still, they say good things come to those who wait.
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