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. 

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

Yesterday I reached, with a certain amount of luck, the age of 67 years and I keep on asking myself where has it all gone? I had a cracking day and just after I had downed my first cup of tea I was having a conversation with one of my grandsons before he went off to school. For me that set the day of, very nicely. I had some writing to do and I did get on with that but I am still working onto the ending of this 4000 word story. Will it be good enough? Michelle went off to the gym and then came back with a bottle of red. We opened it, of course, and it made a pleasant lunchtime and a break from trying to put a story together. Maybe that it is why time flies by! We then finished the day off by visiting a local restaurant and having some really good food.

The previous Saturday we saw swallows passing through and then on 21^st I went up to the eagle owl site and it kindly obliged. There seemed to be plenty of activity and we suspect there is young to be fed. Today, while downing a beer in town I saw the first sand martin of the year. It was paying regular visits to an old nest. There might be a chill still in the air but birds are on the move.

That reminds me for I wrote a poem called ‘chill’. It came from a theme mentioned in a writing mag. And then I got thinking about my bedroom when I was a child. It’s really reminiscence and going back into memoir mode-but here it is.

CHILL

Eiderdown, white cat, cold linoleum

internal images reflect on the scene
that was once a smaller place.

Moon shine, star light,

white answering frost provoke
shadow through the window pane

throw straight edges on to the wall,

gleam comes off the glass bowl:
picks up the memories,

focuses them in. I hold them in
my palm, everywhere I go they
glance up, to remind me                          

of winter wind, creeping cold,
frost patterns on glass of 
the sliding window on worn runners

that chatter, share with the wind,

their rattle of combining tells
volumes in nature’s tongue

I speak their tittle-tattle to the same

rhythm of the resonating wood;
a reminder of togetherness

On cold nights they never ask ‘can you recall?’

knowing that I am inside the room; to talk,
share what is being said, just the three of us.

Trio of Chiff Chaffs at Hondon

Taken at Hondon.  There were so many of these around one of the hides.  Photos taken by Michelle Edwards.

Penduline Tit

BIRDING SUCCESS

This week I have made three attempts to see the Eagle Owl and have been successful twice. This evening Michelle was with me. We could hear them calling and then it perched in view, moved its position and then flew. I was delighted and so was Michelle for this was her first view-albeit courtesy of the scope-of this very large bird.

Yesterday, we went with Costa Blanca Bird Club to Pego which is a rice growing area with plenty of water, reeds and muddy fields. There is flowing natural water with dykes, drains and regulated water levels. It is an incredibly important sight for resident birds, nesting area, for wintering birds and for passage migrants. It was not our first trip and it will not be the last.

We saw numerous lapwing with a few golden plover, snipe in abundance with egrets, herons and the occasional raptor. There were many smaller species such a blue throat, wagtails, pipits and even the welcome sight of a few robins. However, the stars of our day was a birding restauranteur from The Scillies who ‘pished’ up eight lovely penduline tits who poked their heads up to look for who was talking to them. It’s good to talk, you know! The other star find was a Spotted Crake and both finds were firsts for many of us. Well done to Bryan Thomas for his ‘pishing’, for his enthusiasm and his willingness to help those with less knowledge. Also, thanks to Julian Sykes (www.juliansykeswildlife.com ) whose knowledge and spotting ability was of benefit to us. This was another great day out in good company.

THE WRITING SIDE OF THINGS

Prior to my last entry and the build- up to the ‘open mic’ I had made a decision to write less in at least one area of what I have been doing. I found that I was getting stale and I(we)certainly needed to get out into the big outdoors, to feel the wind in the face and just get out of the house. The net book was being given too much attention!

I still have the focus of Stanza Mar Menor and our project of Portman and its mining past. Poetry wise I have had a final look at a poem I wrote a few week ago and the poem emanating from our trip to Portman has had a few more touches added to it. I also have some other ideas that I wish to work on before our next poetry meeting next Friday.  I have plenty to write but I want to keep this in balance with our other interests.