So Close ....!

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Boss was over here, today. Mist Net time then. I opened the side gate and he set the net, as usual, through my hedge line. So we, stood in the kitchen, are looking down the line of its run.

 

Only, being the time of year, and weather it is, we had thrushes on our minds. 'Winter' Thrushes. Redwings. God forbid, a Fieldfare!!!

 

Anyway, the boss can hear birds. I, largely, can't now. And he said there were Redwings calling. So, he fetched his CD player and set it to issue the sounds of a flock of Redwings.

 

Seems these aren't the most socially driven of birds. They flock together. Sure. But, they don't tend to show a vast amount of interest in other flocks. But, hey; It was worth a go and cost us nothing.

 

Must admit, the Dunnock and Robin belting into the net, simultaneously and from the same direction, impressed me! Sound of other birds may well have excited them.

 

The Great Tit came from the left, as I remember. I think the Song Thrush came from the left? I had my back turned at the moment. CD was on the right.

 

Song Trush was notable. Boss fetched it in and I was horrified to see the liquid shit pouring off his hand! Even more so as the bird dribbled a considerable stream onto the floor!

 

No matter. I ringed it and then turned it round in my hand. Jesus F**king Christ!!! Its left eye was a pool of blood!!!

 

Eyeball was in tact, beneath it. But, there was a well of fresh, red blood laying On it. No F**king Way had connecting with the net done that. Connecting with a window? Yes. I've seen That before!

 

Boss mentioned Avian Pox. (I thought of the diarrhoea I'd witnessed) Or, he suggested, it could have had a tick on it.

 

Anyway, the bird flew off perfectly strongly and showed no other signs of stress or damage.

 

Just seemed strange, to me. Glad the boss caught that one. I'd have freaked out, if I'd been alone and caught it.

 

Apparently, Redwings will respond to a tape lure best as the last light fades. Seems they'll look for company to roost with. And my hedge would be ideal for their purposes.

 

Light's fading. Boss and I are stood in the kitchen. Idly staring out at the net. CD player a big, black blob, down beneath the right hand side of it. Against the hedge.

 

Flash! Flash! FAAAAAAAARRKKK!!!!!!

 

The male Sparrowhawk had come round the back of the hedge. Right hand side. Looked, in utter disgust, at the CD player and was gone again!

 

If Only he'd come down from the left. And a foot higher! I'd have had the day of a life time and you'd have been looking at some pretty f**king tasty photo's!

 

As it is? Ye can look at Freddy .....

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rob58 1,607]

Great read pete next time mate next time.

[fireman 11,087]

Grand post Pete and well done on getting a few rung .

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Rob; He was telling me one time. He had a girl Trainee. It was her first ever day at it. One of the first things to hit the net was a f**king Spar! Then they got a rook. Something else too, can't remember what it was. What a bloody introduction though!

 

I just learned that tits, finches and the odd treat ~ like a goldcrest or a thrush ~ was nice. I know there's mouth watering stuff out there to be had. But, that's not what it's about. High excitement is a bonus. We're number crunchers. Not Twitchers.

 

He's next due up here before xmass though and says he'll run a massive net across the Hill Meadow. We saw a woodcock plunge down on there tonight ..... Woodcock? F**k, yeah!

[Outlaw Pete 2,224]

Fireman; Yeah. It was good to be doing it. Goes to show what I've been saying though, about the simple lack of bird movement just now.

 

I'd have likely trapped that great tit. Maybe the robin. Oh, and all but the thrush were retraps. We'd seen them before and they were ringed.

 

Seems we need vile weather in UK. Push stuff over here. Nothing personal but; Freeze, you bast@rds!

 

Anyway, must away. DJh is waiting for my instructions on some more of his superb traps. Sooner I get them, sooner I can up the ante.