EAGLE OWL WATCHING

These are big birds but it is not until they fly that can you see their massive wingspan. I had the pleasure of watching two fly together, in the early evening with full sunlight. What a terrific sight.

I have been to this same location on several occasions and I have been fortunate to have seen one bird on at least half of my visits but only when daylight was disappearing. 

Today, I got lucky! The sun was shining from a clear sky right onto the ridge which is their habitat. I checked out the tree line and after several sweeps with the binoculars I found a big brown blob in a tree. I scoped in on it and there it was with its back towards me. It eventually turned round. I could see its face with the ear tufts clearly visible. After twenty minutes another Eagle Owl flew around the perched bird which also flew. Wow! I was watching two flying around together.  

This is a very good area for peace, quiet, no phones, only some passing traffic with the biggest owl in Europe flying in full view. All of this was being accompanied to Green Woodpeckers calling and then I heard the distinct call of the Common Cuckoo. On the way home I saw two Little Owls and after what I had just seen, they really did look small.   

The Chinese Attack by John Bishop - A Review

I was asked to read and then review this book by a friend.  Here are my comments.

It is not what it seems at a first glance at the title. John Bishop has turned his knowledge of a major historical event into a full length novel. The early chapters give some insight into the layers that run through all the pages but there is some distraction to the reader in him doing this.

The story is set towards the end of The First World War and his account of it I found gripping, very interesting but depressing for the graphic detail of the conditions and the waste of human life emphasised it to a great degree. The past lives of some of the characters are intriguing, add tension and are regularly referred to which was fascinating although a little over done at times. I did think that some parts had been edited out causing me to wonder if I had missed something. There are amazing details included  as this story involves through various scenes and sub-plots. It moves rapidly through 400 pages but I did wonder if my interest would hold, and it did. The Chinese involvement was purely to act as labourers but there is more to it than that. I liked the dialogue as it moved the story on and the ‘snatches’ of songs added to the feeling of it all. 

There is regrets, guilt, self- blame, revenge and how life could be that cheap. You will find the arrogance shown by many to be disturbing and wicked. Of course, there is a romance which is indicated in early chapters but I will not spoil the end result for you. I was totally absorbed at times with this well written novel. Read it and see for yourself.