With my wife away for a few days (at Legoland with my daughter and granddaughter), I thought that I 'd make the most of the fine weather and go out and do a bit of owling - as one does! Having investigated (unsuccessfully) a few potential sites, I ended up near Snarestone, where I have a couple of Little Owl sites. It took a while to find the first bird as it was in a tree that I hadn't seen it in before, and was well-hidden. I started to make a stealthy zig-zag approach (trying to look nonchalant), banking a few safety shots as I went. All of a sudden a second bird flew past my left shoulder, not more than two metres from me!! I have no idea where it came from, but it disappeared from sight as quickly as it arrived. You could say that this made me the dozy old git - but it's not this that I have in mind (even though it has probably taught me to check around thoroughly before making a move), so please read on.
Anyway, back to this well hidden bird - I was doing really well, and nearly where I wanted to be when a loud voice called out 'hello mate'. A bloke in the next field with a metal detector decided he wanted to come over for a chat. "Are you birdwatching?" he called - I resisted the temptation to say "I was until you came along". Anyway this 'intrusion' was enough to send the bird away. No, this is not the dozy old git either! I went off to explore bits of the farm I'd not been to before, coming back a couple of hours later to see if the owls had returned - they hadn't. I did find a resting Hare which I manage to snap before he spotted me.
Anyway, back to this well hidden bird - I was doing really well, and nearly where I wanted to be when a loud voice called out 'hello mate'. A bloke in the next field with a metal detector decided he wanted to come over for a chat. "Are you birdwatching?" he called - I resisted the temptation to say "I was until you came along". Anyway this 'intrusion' was enough to send the bird away. No, this is not the dozy old git either! I went off to explore bits of the farm I'd not been to before, coming back a couple of hours later to see if the owls had returned - they hadn't. I did find a resting Hare which I manage to snap before he spotted me.
a well-hidden bird!
Little Owl - near Snarestone (my LO Site No. 06)
Brown Hare - near SnarestoneI returned to my car to grab a snack of couple of biscuits and a quick drink, and then set off across the fields to investigate my other site on this farm. This bird (I've only ever seen one here) has a real penchant for sitting in deep shade. True to form, he was well hidden and I nearly missed him. Compared to most, however, this is a relatively confiding bird, so I was able to approach quite close without disturbing him.
hiding in the shade!
Little Owl - near Snarestone (my LO Site. No. 05)After spending around four hours near Snarestone, I set off for another of my sites near Sibson. I made a quick investigation of the site, but no owl to be seen. I decided to set up my hide next to what I believed to be the nest tree, and sat down to await an emergence. I spent two and a half hours sitting waiting. Was there an owl there? - yes, I heard one call from deep inside the bole of the tree. Did one emerge? - well, I don't really know. Having spent a good few hours walking in the morning, and getting warm and comfortable in my hide, I nodded off!!!! Now that is a DOZY OLD GIT!!! All I managed was a shot of an overflying Grey Heron. To make matters worse, I got home in the late afternoon and realized that I'd managed to get sunburned!
Grey Heron
An excellent story Richard, it was brill the way it unfolded, just to let you know I too have fallen asleep in my hide!!!!!
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