BOOK REVIEW - FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD BY THOMAS HARDY

Book Review          Far from the Madding Crowd

Author                    Thomas Hardy

Afterword               Ian Ousby

Engravings             Agnes Miller Parker

Publisher                The Reader’s Digest Association Limited, London 

It feels good to have a pristine book in the hand; one that doesn't even feel it's been read! We inherited it and it is beautiful. 

Thomas Hardy, I have heard, uses words in excess of what is required. I have gone along with this, with reservations, and then I opened this book. I read a mix of literature but it is a long time since I have read a ‘classic’. 

It's been included in a local book club year list and it was in the house. I Iike words and the way they move along the line. I wanted to read it for what it is. There is much beauty in everything that Hardy writes. He paints an actual picture for the reader and thinking about his descriptions of the time he was writing he makes the rural life so visual for us. I could empathise with so much throughout the chapters. I loved it and the words we don't hear much of today. 

Enough of the literature. There is reality in this story. The emphasis in the hard rural life with little comfort and the vagaries of surviving. Then the sharp contrast with class; people of standing and the others who are forced to accept servitude. It is also a love story that moves in and around the characters.

By getting away from the frenzy of the city he wanted to go far from the ‘madding crowd’ and created a compelling rural novel in doing so. 

The Afterword by Ian Ousby, of seven pages, is interesting and should be read. The engravings added to the atmosphere of the book. 

What next? We have Dracula by Bram Stoker, The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway and Josephine Tey’s, The Man in the Queue. There is much to enjoy.

LEGAL JUSTICE UPDATE

 FROM LEGAL JUSTICE

Here are several pieces of good news to end the week.

 

  1. Heather burning restrictions in England: if you were one of our many supporters who signed our e-action (with Hen Harrier Action and RSPB) last August you will have been pleased with the measures brought in before Christmas to license moorland management in Scotland and today brings long-overdue movement from DEFRA in England. Today's announcement isn't perfect, we need to read it carefully, but it is bringing in significant change and reform to moorland burning practices over a very wide area of upland England from Yorkshire to Lancashire and from Derbyshire to Northumberland. If you participated in our e-action you helped bring that about. Thank you.

 

 2. Badger petition: our e-petition has passed 91,000 signatures and is heading very rapidly for 100,000 which should generate a Westminster Hall parliamentary debate. 

 

 3. Wales, gamebirds and general licences: we have heard from the Welsh government that they are planning to introduce restrictions on gamebird releases next year. Wild Justice will be involved in those discussions. We are also going to meet NRW to discuss their next steps on general licences.

 

 4. Gamebird releases, England: following our successful legal challenge over gamebird releases DEFRA will issue a consultation in early February. We have been involved in discussions about this. We will be encouraging our supporters to respond to the consultation through a future newsletter a few days after the consultation is launched.

 

5. General licences, England:  changes to the system that have been brought in followig the Wild Justice legal challenge are beginning to bite. See this blog about how Natural England is beginning to clamp down on casual killing of birds

JUST A SHORT NOTE FOR A SUNNY MORNING OUT NEAR EL HONDO

The winds have turned around from bloody cold to warm. Temperatures have jumped up from single figures and even to a high of 27 by mid-afternoon. It's shorts and T shirt weather in the sun!

Got to get out there again the bird movements won't wait for me and so, on Thursday 28th January we headed towards San Felipe Neri via Dolores as our initial target was Palm Farm Road.

And until things change we have to do our birding on our own as we consider not to travel to Gran  Alicant to meet Bryan, although we would like to.

It was not the most productive of mornings and in many ways it was quiet. But never mind you have to take it as it comes. San Felipe was basking in sun and the lagoons are full of water. On a raised bit eight Common Snipe Agachadiza Común basked, but no Jack this time. It didn't matter for we enjoyed the sun’s heat, the birds including a male Teal - Cerceta Común and Purple Swamphens - Calamon. Prior to that we did the usual routes with nothing exceptional.

The beginning was the best with Michelle spotting a flying Raptor and when it flew across the front of the the car it was our first male Hen Harrier - Aguilucho Pálido for sometime. We know they are out there, but you have to be in the right place at the right time. Then nearby, close to where Bryan and I had seen them, four Common Cranes - Grulla Común in a field, then flying and then landing further away. These were Michelle's first sighting of this species since seeing them one spring in Poland. We knew they were out there too.

The season is changing although clumps of brown grass remain, but now there are green shoots. We will still have to be careful as it is almost full lockdown here until mid-February. Hopefully we can get out for the main migration. Almond blossom has appeared too.

Just two photos from this morning. A very obliging Southern Grey Shrike - Alcaudón Real and a Common Snipe.

And thanks to Winter Watch we are getting a ‘fix’ on wildlife to keep us going.  

FOR US TO REMEMBER ON HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY 2021

 THE HARPS OF BIRKENAU

          (a fragment)

..wheels speed along the track

rushing toward the victory of crime,

transporting, transporting, people to gas,

people to a cremator, people to a petrol-sprayed pyre.

Smoke floats, thick foul smoke…

People burn people here.

And on luminous poles

stretch wires shine.

These are the harps of Brzezinka,

harps of Birkenau

Berkenau 1944

Sofia Grochowalska-Abramovich

               1902-1998

ANNIVERSARY OF THE MEETING TO DISCUSS THE FINAL SOLUTION, BERLIN, 1942

20th January

Striding out and not a glance at anyone; focuses on what will happen. Repeats to herself the imminent  conversation with these despised non-people.  The liars who continue to perpetrate a false myth. 

The meeting place came into view. Metal railings create the boundary between suburban pavement and pristine front garden.  The partly open gate welcomes the invitees who are guided by the anniversary and the lights on both sides of the path to a double fronted Georgian house. The two rooms, brightly illuminated, indicate with clarity that their world is on show. The tightly pruned rose bushes seem severe in the glow.  Two tightly clipped topiary trees illustrate the owner’s symbols of peace. 

The music comes and goes on each opening of the door as new arrivals enter.  Mozart plays as the guests move around, glasses in hands.  There's an eclectic mix inside as though a bus has disgorged it’s passengers.  The common denominator is grey hair and black clothing. It looks, and is, a sombre affair as if an outdoor celebration is dampened by a thunder storm.

Preparations complete, full of confidence and a brisk walk takes her swiftly to the front door.  Black dress cut just below the knee for respectability is only partly hidden by the open, flapping shiny black coat. She could be one of them.  Conversation stops as her presence is noticed and they gather around her in silence.  Far too brazen to be cowed; she stands stock still as the gathering parts a little.  Faces him, jaw juts out and yields not an inch, and stares at him.  

They know each other.  Both have done their research and he is aware of her politics and the propaganda that she spouts.  It is reprehensible to him, her beliefs.

He’s gigantic for a Jew, and without any warning a fist connects with her firm jawline and her head glances off the low table on the way down before she folds into the floor.

Unconscious for now, but senses movement.  Jolts, lurches, rumbles and there are hard, cold  wet, boards underneath her.  A pungent smell of urine, vomit and other odious human fluid soaks her clothes.  The living moan, whine, jostle to find warmth as wheels rattle to the rhythm  of the death march.  Days seemingly pass and then the wagon stops and the door bangs open.  In her silent world lips move and then she is outside crawling in snow.  She stares upwards to see the black smoke rising.  The stench of the bodies around her now being supplanted by a sickly smell.  

She wakes up and spews.  White clad arms support her.  Everywhere now is white, clean and the only smell is that of a hospital.  Someone says ‘you were brought in unconscious.  Do you know what happened?’  It’s all distant as though unreal.  She doesn’t answer and stares at the whiteness of the sheets. Whiteness for purity. She still believes that the Holocaust did not happen, but now there is a doubt.

 

WE SAW THE BIG ONE!

 A bright sunny morning, a little wind, but still cool for us. Information shared is always useful and looking at the recent photos of Águila Moteada we came into the Parque Naturel de Hondo via Dolores. Eventually entering Palm Farm Road we put up a Snipe. Once on the straight road Michelle saw this elusive big bird. There was a rectangular area of ‘Petticoat’ Palms and then it flew out and away. Just a quick sighting and no photo. I didn't get enough to see if it was’sat-tagged’. Two Common Buzzards called and then flew from the same area.

We moved on and kept looking and checking for Common Cranes too and hopefully a flooded field. No luck there!

Then by the smelly farm the domestic Guinea Fowl were out on the road. Next time we will get a photo as their plumage and posture deserves it. Opposite, a pylon a Booted Eagle that was not bothered by our presence. All photos from the car of course.

QUICK VISIT TO EL HONDO

 Following on from Tuesday’s trip out with Bryan and in receipt of his photos and after a good look at them Michelle decided she wanted to see her first Jack Snipe. So we zoomed out of bed and zapped down the AP7 and went straight for the lagoon near the information centre. And there it was, virtually in the same place, probing in the mud and with a Little Stint. The brightness made it difficult for Michelle but it was a first for her and a record shot to prove it.

I scoped the lagoon and in the distance a small group of Northern Shovelers - Cuchara Común caught my eye. Resting by them was a Snipe - Agachadiza Comúm, a Purple Swamphen - Calamon and Teal - Cerceta Común. What a lovely little collection! And a Chiff was there too.

Purple Swamphen

On the strung ropes keeping the common people from our priceless birds, an on-show Serin - Verdicillo. What a stunner. 

Serin

We tried Santa Águada but on the way a flooded field. You can't pass one without looking and there among numerous Glossy Ibis - Morito Común, hundreds of White Wagtails - Lavandero Blanco (they are everywhere) a couple of Wood Sandpipers - Andarrios Bastardo and a Greenshank - Archibebe Claro. 

Greenshank

Wood Sandpiper 

What a morning. It was a shirt sleeve one with beautiful sun and only a light breeze. What a change from last week.

PHOTOS FROM OUR TRIP AFTER THE STORM

This is a follow up entry having  received Bryan’s photos from Tuesday. His sharp eyes, never ever stopping his scanning and of course his photographic skills. You can see all his photos on his own site accessed by the address top right on my blog.

The Jack Snipe - Agachadiza Chico had been photographed previously and there it was this little bird feeding in the shallows close to Information centre. Not close enough, but not too far either. It can be seen in UK as well as here, but it travels well and all the way from Northern Russia and the Tundra regions. What a star and so beautiful.

Whizzing down the N332 a Ruff - Combatiente. Sharp eyes again and a photo taken under difficult circumstances. 

Every species we saw we enjoyed and a final bit of luck a flock of Tree Sparrows- Gorrión Molinero. You have to be sharp to spot them as they can be with the more common House Sparrows - Gorrión Común

AFTER THE STORM FILOMENA HAD PASSED

 By Monday 11th January ‘La Borrasca’ Filomena brought the wet and windy period of excessive cold had now passed. It is still cold and will remain so but we will have sun and the wind has reduced to a breeze. Four days of storm would have reduced the weak and hungry birds to corpses. The FB post on Crónicas Naruralles de TORREVIEJA shows how Crag Martins - Ávion Roquero had suffered and perished. It's tough out there and we complain because we cannot get there!

Tuesday morning saw a cold breeze with temperatures down to 3 degrees and not rising above 15     all day. It was sunny though. We did not expect to see the number of Crag Martins - hundreds of them swarming over the marsh- and today we saw only a few. It's tough out there and maybe some will have moved further south.

We started our morning quietly with a quick stop at the Salinas down the hill from the Santa Pola turn-off. There was nothing different. A Great White Egret - Garceta Grande stood out, a Lesser-black Backed Gull swam with Yellow Legged Gulls - Gaviota Patiamarila. I don't often mention Audouin’s Gulls - Gaviota de Audouin but there was a group of of them. A Reed Bunting - Escribano Palustre fed in the reeds. There are a few of them about.

We moved onto the Salt Tower and then to ‘the stones’. Dunlin - Correlimos Común and four Black-tailed Godwits - Aguja Colipinta. In the distance a cluster of Spoonbills - Espátula Común.

We sped off down the N332 with Bryan's sharp eyes picking out a ‘Knott - Correlimos Gordo’ but after some safe and steady maneouvres and a quick fire on the camera it was confirmed to be a Ruff - Combatiente. Our first for ages. What a spot!

We now went inland and had a treat 37 Golden Plover - Chorlito Dorada Europea with a few Lapwing - Avefria  Europea with them and on the way back, in the same field, 51 Lapwing and only a few Golden Plover. That's what winter storms can bring us. And hopefully more besides and we’ll keep looking. It's fair to say whenever there was water with some mud there were birds. Dunlin again with Little Ringed  - Chorlitejo Chico and one Ringed Plover - Grande.

Another Merlin - Esmerejón flew across the road and the car. Only a quick sighting, but enough for Bryan to do the ID.

Santa Águeda was quiet, had water with the environs muddy. We looked over the marsh and the usual flew around. 

Calling into the Information Centre we took the boardwalk. A few Chiffs, several Purple Gallinule - Gallinule Calamon Común. We looked for Snipe - Agachadiza Comun and for the Little One reported to have been seen. It was found feeding close to two Little Stint - Correlimos Común. So we found this little visitor and had good looks at it although it could have been closer! Bryan will show his photo of this bird and also a library one of a closer Jack Snipe - Agachadiza Chico in the Scillies.  

We have been short of ducks, but accept we need to go to other places to concentrate on them. Today we saw pristine Northern Shovelers -  Cuchara Común and one Teal -  Cerceta Común on show. 

We checked out our usual routes hoping to see Águila Moteada and turned up a twenty strong flock of Tree Sparrows - Gorrión Molinero. That shows us to check every sparrow out as we had spent considerable time in the same spot watching Serin - Verdecillo.

We saw more and I have only picked out the more interesting aspects of our morning out. This winter has paid us back with great birds and more to come?

PHOTOS FROM OUR FIRST VISIT TO EL HONDO

Bryan Thomas took these photographs when we were out in and around the village of San Felipe Neri on the edge of the marsh of El Hondo on Tuesday last.

The perched pale morph Booted Eagle was taken about 9am and was probably warming up in the early morning sun. This pylon is not far from the farm buildings which is easily passed by and the smell noted! We see an Eagle often here or flying around. It's  a beautiful bird.

The pale morph is easily identified but the flying Booted Eagle is one to note. This one is a paler version of the dark morph. The leading half of the under wing is brown with a black line separating it from the paler back half wing. The pale morph has very clean white leading half under wing with black on the remainder with a predominately white chest and belly. Whereas the dark morph has a dark brown body. 

Everything to check out when watching this species. Good luck with that and keep looking because I know I will be.

FIRST VISIT OF 2021 TO EL HONDO

TUESDAY 5th JANUARY 

It had to be today, sandwiched between the end of 2020, the Spanish Three Kings Day, high uncomfortable winds and a forthcoming period of rain. Today was calm, only with a light wind, sun, a chill of 3 degrees and a high of only 15.

Bryan and I had a plan. It was to get to Santa Águada as soon as we were able to see what was flying over the marsh. We entered the viewing area just after a fellow birder had left. Not even a wave as he sternly drove by. It was our first opportunity to be able to stay for any length of time on the repaired viewing platform. We reasoned it was our best chance as Águila Moteado flight lines shows us that he had been around. In the distance in the direction of AP 7 we did see a big bird fly and it could have been. Only a possibility and not anywhere near a probability. 

The view from the platform is good. We saw numerous Booted Eagles - Águila Calzada and Marsh Harriers - Aguilucho Luganero fly over and around us. Where else can you see this number that easily? Common Kestrels - Cernicalo Vulgar and a fast flying Merlin - Esmerejón showed at least twice.

Just visible over the reed tops and diving out of sight were at lest five Whiskered Terns - Fumarel Carriblanco . It was a surprise to me, but they are known to over-winter here. Bryan did the ID. Below us in the reeds two Reed Buntings - Escribano Palustre, several Chiefs - Mosquitero Común, and a Robin - Petirrijo . The water has virtually gone and with a quick inspection we saw one Bluethroat- Pechiazul. Squadrons of Glossy Ibis - Morito Común flew around. Was it worth our while? For me a definite yes for the Terns and my bogey bird, the Merlin - Esmerejón

We spent less time on our usual routes which was just as well as there was no flooded fields. We saw the usual flocks. On our way through the Salinas Bryan counted nine Great White Egrets - Garceta Grande and in the same field as last time a flock of Lapwings Avefria Europea but no Golden Plover - Chorlito Dorado Europea. A Raven - Cuervo was our first bird of the day when we were still in Gran Alicant.

In the fields off Palm Farm Road Bryan heard the ground call of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse - Ganga Ibérico. It was not close but heard more than once. Then in the distance they flew away but enough to be identified. We have been told that they have been in this area before and we will look for them again. A good ‘spot’, Bry.

And in the wood yard the smartest cock around, a male Black Redstart - Collirrojo Tizón perched feet away on the edge of the log pile. The Coolpix 900 came into play again!

Rain is forecast and that will be good, but with Covid restrictions being enforced from 6th January our adventures out there will be become even more important as bars will have to shut at 5pm. 

 

GAME KEEPERS RESTRICTED BY NEW LEGISLATION

The law has changed making it illegal to kill species to protect birds reared to be shot. The question I would ask is will it change anything? Old habits are relinquished slowly, old customs and traditions are hung onto. The ‘bloody mindedness’ of some will make them want to carry on as before. I know from the list of poisoned and shot raptors. 

WILD JUSTICE has published their 47th newsletter and what a great job they do. Their lead on this is ‘WHAT DO GAMEKEEPERS DO?’  This is what they say.

Following reforms introduced as a result of Wild Justice's legal challenges, the job description for gamekeepers in England has changed dramatically. No longer is it legal to kill corvids to protect the adults, chicks or eggs of wild Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges under general licences issued by DEFRA. Under the terms of the conservation licence, General Licence 40, published on Friday for 2021, corvids can only be killed to conserve red-listed and amber-listed bird species of conservation concern and not the 60 million non-native Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges released into the UK countryside in a normal, non-COVID-affected year.
 
The Red and Amber lists of species of conservation concern include two main commonly-shot gamebirds; Grey Partridge (Red List because of large population decline) and Red Grouse (Amber List). 
 
Captive gamebirds, such as in rearing facilities or release pens are classed as livestock and if serious damage occurs (which it hardly ever does) then corvids can be killed but only if non-lethal methods are impracticable (see General Licence 42).  However, after release in late summer those captive-bred birds are no longer classed as livestock and cannot be protected by killing of corvids.
 
For most circumstances, the 'protection' of the two gamebird species shot in highest numbers (Pheasant 15m/year, Red-legged Partridge, 4+m/year) no longer provides a lawful purpose for killing corvids under the general licences.
 
Wild Justice suggests that a number of websites describing the role of gamekeepers, particularly lowland gamekeepers, will need to be updated to catch up with this legal change.  Gamekeepers operating crow traps will have to learn a new vocabulary to explain to the public what they are doing and why.

The job of a gamekeeper in England, particularly a lowland gamekeeper, is different in 2021 from what it has been for decades before.
 

MY YEAR END THOUGHTS ON OUR BIRDING ACTIVITIES IN 2020

The summer onwards was a damn sight better than the first half of the year. Physically and legally able to ‘get at it’ again was a real boost. Eventually and working hard at it I was able to boost Bryan’s cheerfulness to just over neutral! He’s always looking for that mega bird. But we had some great experiences. Sometimes just the two of us and sometimes with Michelle. Well it was no good that Coolpix 900 sitting at home was it?

I love the mountains and Monnegre gave us a family of Trumpeter Finches and also my second sighting of Alpine Swifts and a fly past of two Golden Eagles.

Clot de Galvany gave us a feeding frenzy of Gulls and Little Egrets that included a dark morph bird indicating a Western Reef Heron X Little Egret. Bryan's sharp eyes picked it out. That's not all as Kingfishers flew around us and we had so many marvelous views. The number probably indicating that they had bred here this summer. These beautiful birds are one of Michelle's favourite. There was stacks of other stuff too.

The lagoons close to the information centre at San Felipe Neri finally paid us back. They drained the water, exposed the mud and the birds loved it. Really close up views of Dunlin, Little & Temminck’s Stints and more besides. It is a conservation exercise and the water is back in.

Flooded fields are what we want and we get them from time to time. We have not seen so many Wood Sandpipers before in one season and all the other waders too. Our last trip yielded two Greenshanks with them and giving a wonderful clear close up image. They normally are on some shady edge across the lagoon.

This winter the large flocks of Serin are a joy to watch. They need checking out as there are Linnets, Goldfinches, Pipits and some vividly marked Green Finches. Skylarks also in flocks. Seeing the flocking birds is a marvelous sight.

Often over looked, Starlings, can be impressive. At Urba Nova they swarmed into the Olive Trees and then went up and I witnessed my first murmuration in Spain. Recently we saw a flock on the ground and we could see they were our winter visitors from up north with a few Spotless ones among them.

A few weeks ago four Golden Plovers were feeding on worms close to the road. They were gorgeous and yesterday some more in a field with over one hundred Lapwing. Another iconic bird.

Sierra de Toledo was a great experience and again we had clear views of Spanish Imperial Eagles and Michelle had her first day time view of an Eagle Owl. 

So many to choose from, but my birds of the year have to be the family of Barn Owls that lived across the road from our front door. Gone now and hopefully they will be back. We saw one the other night flying.

So much to see and places to go. Clear images is what we look for and we get them most times. Here’s to another successful year and birding as well.

Meeting with like-minded people and spending time with them and then the birds is what I love doing. We live near a real and fantastic birders paradise. It's there to be enjoyed.