SAN PEDRO AGAIN

This time Michelle needed a ‘reflection’ shot for the twice monthly photo competition at Torrevieja Digital Camera Club. She got what she wanted with a Black-Winged Stilt feeding in clear water with a next to perfect reflection.

However these Salinas and canals are worth patience, worth some hard looking and searching. It paid off with the long lens establishing what we actually did see. In one shot were one Little Stint, Dunlin and Sanderling and swimming around were both Black-Headed Gulls with Slender-Billed in close attendance.

One of the latter appears to be a first winter bird.

The best was yet to come for although we were aware that the odd Redshank was therefor it was not until we had our specimen bird up on screen that we discovered it was a Spotted Redshank.

This was on the canal next to the road to Lo Pagan with Black winged Stilts, a Little Egret, Moorhen with flitting movements being added by feeding Chiffchaffs.

Success. After several visits this winter we made another trip to try to see ´The Eagle Owl´. It was a perfect evening, the wind had dropped to a faint breeze so all we needed was to hear a call. A raptor flew, perched and through the scope we could see that it was a buzzard. While watching this bird we heard the faint call of an Eagle Owl.
I scanned the ridge and there it was perched. I screwed the scope down to maximum and could clearly see ear tufts and all. This was the best ever view that Michelle has ever had.We kept watching and listening. It paid off for we heard an answering call. I was relieved for now we had possibly the same pair as last winter. We will check it out again.

BOOK REVIEW - TELLING TALES BY ANN CLEEVES

TELLING TALES is the second book that I have read of Ann Cleeves´ ‘Vera Stanhope Series’. I started with The Crow Trap, thoroughly enjoyed the journey of being carried along by the characters from London northwards.

Vera on TV tells the story very nicely with Brenda Blethyn in the role but for me in Telling Tales there is a plethora of interesting characters that engaged me. The uncertainty of life is spelt out together, with all its anxieties, as bits of the characters are revealed. The setting is on the Humber, not in her usual stomping ground of Northumberland. The excellent storytelling lets us visualise, even smell it.

The murder of an adolescent allows ‘The Ole’ Bill’ to exhibit flaws in character and behaviour that make me want to slap them. A feeling of injustice is created.

This is the story of a re-investigation by Vera and her side-kick Joe – he’s along for the ride only – as she scratches her eczema, as she gets irritated by the characters that drive this story along. (Her asides in italics are wonderful) There is more detail on the back cover but what more do you need to know before you read it.

FIRST TRIP OF THE NEW YEAR

Festivities over, an old year ending with a new one sweeping in it must be time to assess what we want to do, what I want to with all due respect to do that which is ‘do-able’.
Put your thoughts in order and get out into that natural world.
And so, two weeks into 2013 a day out with The Costa Blanca Bird Club was planned, meeting at 10am at San Pedro. We were there early for ‘sun-up’ as the members of Torrevieja Digital Camera Club wanted to get their dawn shots. I ambled around to see the early movements of gulls and the like.
With the warmth of the day arriving we were able to watch over thirty Turnstones flicking over the clumps of deposited vegetable matter on the water’s edge. There was one lone Sanderling among them. In the dunes and amongst the bushes, Dartford Warblers popped up and down. We saw Crested Larks, Meadow Pippits, Stonechats, Finches and Sardinian Warblers together with numerous Yellowlegs.

Upon moving back to the car park we saw a lone male Kentish Plover but nothing else of interest although this solitary bird was worth it.

We moved south seeing soaring Booted Eagles, a Marsh Harrier, Kestrels, and with a beautiful male flying above us. On a water deposit there were both Little and Black-necked Grebes but what caught the enthusiasts eyes were four Velvet Scoters. Close by a Ringed Plover searched for food.

We left the main party to return to San Pedro to search for Black-tailed Godwits where they obliged with really close up views. A Redshank fed nearby also. However, what pleased Elaine and Michelle the most was the simple fact that they captured on camera a Kingfisher. The best part being that it was the former’s first ever view of one. This was a good way to end a day out.

I am now on the quest to for Eagle Owls and to finish my first poem of this year