With all the hysteria over Tiger Woods’ ‘apology’ and Amy Williams gold medal for going down a chute on a dinner tray, I was reminded of a line from Joseph Heller’s glorious Catch 22 “Like Olympic medals and golf trophies, all they signified was that the owner had done something of no benefit to anyone more capably than everyone else."
Still, it is easy to escape the media overkill and there is no better place to flee to than the quiet and austere terrain of Fenn’s and Whixall Moss. The English Nature managed site is not a reserve of great numbers of birds, more a reserve of great birds and this morning I set off with the hope of connecting with one of its most sought after visitors - the Great Grey Shrike.
Heading off from the car park I was encouraged by the news that a GGS had been clocked near the old peat factory at the north-east corner of the moss. Today must have been about attempt number six or seven for an over-wintering Shrike here, but despite bumping into another satisfied birder, I failed miserably yet again despite walking over what seemed every hectare.
That’s two misses in one week now, but at least when I looked last Tuesday I was treated to a Marsh Tit and a Green Woodpecker. Still, a Treecreeper, a Goldcrest, a lovely pair of Bullfinch, plus a single Raven is not a terrible return for three hours work.
It was after last week’s visit that I stumbled on a webpage detailing the birds, butterflies and dragonflies of the moss. It’s quite interesting as Mr Fry might say - the list of butterflies is particularly impressive.
Link: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/whixallweb/species.htm
Until later.
Still, it is easy to escape the media overkill and there is no better place to flee to than the quiet and austere terrain of Fenn’s and Whixall Moss. The English Nature managed site is not a reserve of great numbers of birds, more a reserve of great birds and this morning I set off with the hope of connecting with one of its most sought after visitors - the Great Grey Shrike.
Heading off from the car park I was encouraged by the news that a GGS had been clocked near the old peat factory at the north-east corner of the moss. Today must have been about attempt number six or seven for an over-wintering Shrike here, but despite bumping into another satisfied birder, I failed miserably yet again despite walking over what seemed every hectare.
That’s two misses in one week now, but at least when I looked last Tuesday I was treated to a Marsh Tit and a Green Woodpecker. Still, a Treecreeper, a Goldcrest, a lovely pair of Bullfinch, plus a single Raven is not a terrible return for three hours work.
It was after last week’s visit that I stumbled on a webpage detailing the birds, butterflies and dragonflies of the moss. It’s quite interesting as Mr Fry might say - the list of butterflies is particularly impressive.
Link: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/whixallweb/species.htm
Until later.
Hi Paul,
ReplyDeleteWe had a fruitless search for the shrike on Sunday 21 Feb. In fact the whole place was devoid of any birdlife except for a couple of Carrion Crows. I think the bird must roam across a large area in order to obtain any prey, from what appears to be a meagre supply.
David Benson