Ouch

Have not posted anything for a while, sadly after taking ill, i spent several weeks in hospital due to an infection and gangrene setting in to my big toe.

Result was amputation of said digit and part of my foot, bit sad really, with Michael Flatley retiring my chance of taking over Riverdance has been nipped in the bud.

Presently in waddle mode, doubt i will be getting out much for a while. Mind with the current weather im not missing much, but the Pratincole has hurt a bit.

Ive been lucky as at one stage it was a possibility that i might lose my whole foot, these things are sent to try us.

Quick update

Went to the lake the other day, sadly the grebes have deserted the nest and no eggs, cause unknown.

Mutes have 4 cygnets, the first young ive seen this year, perpetual cold must be having an effect.

Started to feel ill, so off home, barely made it to my front door, and i have spent the last few days in bed.

Decline and Fall

Of late ive become disillusioned with the standards of birding that now apply. No longer the simple days of going out and enjoying your hobby for the sheer enjoyment of reveling in contact with the natural world.

Sharing information was a privilege that others more experienced would only do once they were sure that you could be trusted to act accordingly. These days with the web, pagers and phones it rapidly gets into the public domain.

Recent talks with others have not surprised, that info is now being withheld to prevent the hordes turning up and disturbing the wildlife concerned. Recent behavior at a site has caused disturbance that is completely unnecessary, and because of a pet lip on another info is being broadcast from someone just out of a fit of pique.

I wished i could believe it will improve, sadly i think it will decline further. Our wildlife faces enough pressures with persecution, farming practices, and habitat destruction, the last thing it needs is bad human behavior adding to the woes.

17th April 2006

A visit to St Marys and a nice find of a Blue-winged teal on the wetland, no phone so i was unable to put the news out and worried it would go before others saw it. It did fly once but came back. Then MH turned up and after passing on the news to him it had disappeared, but thankfully it showed itself again and others turned up to see this smart bird,

Grrrrrrrrrreat crested grebes.

The old codger pair of GC grebes performed  well today on Killy Lake, mostly quite they occasionally put on a performance but the long awaited shot of the pair running side by side still eludes me. 10 years of living in hope. Was in great company today one of Northumberlands finest photographers was hoping for the same.

St Marys meander.

A wander round the core of St Marys on Thursday in something approaching more Springlike weather turned up 37 species. No returning migrants yet, but departures noticed.

Not much in song except the Skylarks and Reed Bunting but breeding behaviour noted in a few species, no Fulmars at Hartley and a single Scandinavian Rock pipit on the north beach.

Few Golden plover now, but Sanderling numbers up from last visit 60 +. It was a day for chinwagging with fellow birders and passing walkers. 5 Grey seals on the Island ran the gauntlet of the public many of whom did not realise they were there.


Scandinavian rock pipit. (littoralis)

Was that it then ?