Thursday, July 12, 2012

How To Keep A Sense Of Humour

We approached this morning’s ringing session with some apprehension as it was our first for a month, the four weeks interval devoted to bemoaning our luck with the continuous bad weather of a so called “summer”. 

We were right to be cautious in our expectations with a four hour session yielding just 9 birds of which three only were juveniles. Last year we ringed over 130 Whitethroats in this prime warbler location at Out Rawcliffe, today nil Whitethroats. The seven new birds comprised 4 Blackcap (3 adults) and 1 each of Wren, Robin and Willow Warbler. The Wren and Robin were juveniles, the Willow Warbler an adult in heavy moult, the moult indicating a bird which has completed its (probably unsuccessful) breeding season. Two recaptures were a Blackbird and a Dunnock. 

Blackcap

Willow Warbler

Robin

Birding wise was equally quiet, a noticeable feature being an early morning movement of Siskins heading south with a minimum of six individuals. Others: 1 Kestrel, 1 Little Owl, 3 Corn Bunting, 4 Yellowhammer, 2 Reed Bunting, 15 Goldfinch, 8 Linnet, 2 Great-spotted Woodpecker. 

Readers of a squeamish disposition should maybe skip the next gruesome paragraph and picture because there’s a reasonable shot of a Grey Heron at the end of the post. In between bouts of netting boredom Will and I mooched about, looking at butterfly larvae, reminiscing about the summer ringing of 2011or then searching the sky for Swallows, when we came across the fresh entrails of an animal. Not far away we found the corpse, a headless, partly eaten Brown Hare. Countryman Will explained how a Fox had killed the animal, and unable to carry the heavy carcass off, had eaten a meal but would be back later for another helping of now slightly less fresh meat. OK it’s a grisly tale but at least it’s filled another paragraph about an otherwise dismal session. 

Brown Hare

Brown Hare 

This was another grey, wet and miserable morning when I looked out of the window hoping for a spot of sunshine but spotted the Grey Heron on a neighbour’s roof. They do say that herons often land on wet roofs as from a distance they mistake the shiny surface for an expanse of water. Well there have been plenty of those around lately. 

 Grey Heron

Now excuse me as I really must get back to my evening meal, but more from Another Bird Blog soon. 

8 comments:

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Cahem, how does one miss that greesome sight ;'), when one must scroll down to get to the comments section;') Looks like something had a nice meal. The Blackcap, what a superb image of a gorgeous chap. Have a good one Phil~

Isidro Ortiz said...

Buenas fotos,me gusta mucho la del retrato del macho de Curruca capirotada y la foto del juvenil de Petirrojo.Saludos

grammie g said...

Hey Phil...Should I be laughing..my since of humor behooves me form finding the poor brown hare in this state to be humorous...for heaven sakes you people can't even spell humor right,but far be it from me to judge the English spelling!! lol..; }
Don't you just love my sense of humor or is humour, even my spell check told me there is no "u"in that word!!
I just love that I can give you a razing Phil..and that you can dish it right back!!
Sorry that that your weather is so dismal..while I bask in the lovely stretch of sunny weather!!
You do have a great eye shot of the Blackcap,with those little beads on the under lid so vivid!!
Cheer up my friend..or is that "cheers"!! : }
Grace

El rincón de Ceditas said...

Como de costumbre excelentes!!!
Un abrazo

Russell Jenkins said...

Love the owl header. Amazing black-cap portrait too. How long between shots for the two hares? The first is a stiking portrait. They look like powerful animals but I guess the fox has it's abilities as a hunter.

eileeninmd said...

Phil, sorry your weather is so dreary. And where are the birds, I guess they are not in the mood for ringing? Love the cute bunny, the live one of course. Great shots of the birds. Hope you have a lovely weekend.

news said...

Hi Phil: the header is brilliant managed to get out on Thurs: a trip into the Trough of Bowland what withe weather people on holidays & moving hse I have been stuck in lately All the best JWB.

Jenn Jilks said...

Wow. Great shots. The dead hare wouldn't last long here. The vultures are pretty vigilant!
Greetings from Cottage Country!

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