Pheasants from the back fence

On Thursday 23rd April, I heard a quiet "mewing" sound and very carefully looking over the back fence at about 6.30pm, and at just over 1.5 metres away on Fallowfields, were 3 Pheasants, a resplendent male and 2 beautifully lit females were getting intimate, they certainly weren't respecting social distancing! Not wanting to appear voyeuristic or wanting to disturb their nuptials, I beat a hasty retreat. After a while, they started feeding and it was only at this point, I managed to get a shot of one of the females with my backup EOS 700D camera and 100-400mm lens set up at 400mm, F5.6. I don't know if Pheasant are polygamous, like their avian counterpart the Pied Flycatchers for example, but I look forward to seeing the results of this encounter, their progeny, in the very near future.

Back to Fisher Row

On Wednesday 22nd April, feeling better, for my daily exercise, I cycled to Fisher Row late afternoon using the back roads and was there in no time. I could heard a mixture of 5 Chiff- Chaffs and 4 Blackcap singing. Given I have a blocked ear at present, I was relieved that I could still hear up to 4 Grasshopper Warblers reeling away, plus a Whitethroat calling (2 firsts for the year) plus a couple of Swallows and then a couple of House Martins flying over the tea gardens. The whole area looks great and especially looking over Peto's Marsh but armed only with binoculars and looking into the strong sun (which is never a good idea) I couldn't make anything out over there other than Cormorants and Swans. I was also really pleased to hear around 5 Sedge Warblers and an early brief song of a reasonably early Reed Warbler too (in the usual area in reeds by the river just before the western bend in the river). By the bowl, a Woodpecker heard tapping and walking back by the entrance Hill, a Song Thrush seen. Opposite the church, 4 fine Stock Doves fed in a field pretty close and were resplendent in the afternoon sun, but again sadly no big lens to capture them photographically. No butterflies seen. Cycling back, it was good to see Rob H, and have a catch up, he was about to cycle down for his evening constitutional and he tipped me off about a Moorhen's nest and lovely to see the Moorhen so close to the road, (but too far away from my accompanying 150mm macro lens) I quickly left it in peace.

Curlew over the Paget

As I was walking into work at James Paget Hospital this morning at 7.55am, I heard a Curlew calling as it flew over.

A few goodies from the garden

On Sunday 19th April, I went outside into the back garden and heard a "tui tui" call of what I initially thought was a Redshank going south at 9am and in my eagerness to tweet it out, I had my doubts and Rob H rang (who had heard it too) and we both agreed it was a Greenshank, (Rob lives just 3/4 mile due south-south-west of us, and a wonderful new record for the garden) lockdown list 44. No doubt at all about the calling Yellow Wagtail (lockdown list 45) that flew over the garden and west at 11.58. At 12.25pm, 2 House Martins flew over the house.

Tribute to Tim

I was shocked and very saddened to hear of the death from Coronavirus/ COVID-19 of one of my childhood heroes, Mr Tim Brooke- Taylor. I first came across him as the deeply patriotic Union Jack waistcoat wearing (I wonder where Geri Halliwell or the creator of the Spice Girls concept got her/their idea for the Union Jack dress, possibly from Tim in the Goodies) Goody in "The Goodies" which was a staple of the 1970's and early 1980's TV schedules and ran for 12 glorious years. Tim was accompanied by Bill Oddie and Graeme Garden to complete the iconic and deeply funny trio, all 3 masters of the comedic art. Something light- hearted that we especially need during these uncertain and unsettling times. I was a big fan of the show. It was a major part of my childhood. The achingly funny and often satirical scripts were written by both Bill and Graeme and Tim was portrayed as the posh fall guy, who would often go into his hilarious "I'm a teapot" routine, whenever he was stressed. Tim's character was the brunt of many jokes and he would perform many death defying and acutely dangerous stunts himself, in order for us to have a laugh. I loved the comedic situations that they encountered and of course, Bill's fondness of birdwatching. I was delighted to complete my collection of all the Goodies episodes, which were only officially released last year on DVD for the very first time. About time too! Although their clothes, hair styles and their office environment look very dated and reflect the 1970s fashion, the comedy hasn't dated one bit and remains deeply funny and hilarious today. Although I never met Tim, I am told he was such a nice man and very down to earth. But I did see him live in the "Goodies live" show at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester on Saturday 17th March 2007, where he performed live on stage together with Graeme Garden, sadly Bill Oddie was unable to appear live at the time and he had pre-recorded his bits by video link, interacting seamlessly with Tim and Graeme, it was a very funny and nostalgic show from these three masters of comedy. I'm so glad I was in the audience to witness the magical comedic routines. I remember my good friend, Ricky and I talking about the latest Goodies episodes broadcast on TV at school, one episode particularly springs to mind, when the trio were marooned inside a cabin with appalling weather outside and Graeme dressed up as a Crane (the bird), to perk up Bill and peek his interest from his boredom, it was a masterful ornithological and comedic moment and we almost split our sides laughing so much. The whole show's premise was for the team to do "Anything, Anywhere, Anytime", which was a masterstroke, as they could dream up all sorts of comedic situations. The show was a mixture of sharp banter between the 3 main protagonists, excellent witty repartee (not fully lauded to the fullest extent in some quarters, in my opinion) and slapstick, with speeded up elements borrowed and updated from the silent Buster Keaton era of comedy of the 1920s. It was iconic with the three stars riding on a tandem bike as their main form of transport (and rather ironically they found it extremely difficult to ride) and the wonderful music composed and written by Bill, especially tunes such as the famous top five hit "Funky Gibbon", which landed them a spot on "Top of the Pops", wonderful stuff. Both that deeply memorable tune and the Goodies signature theme tune "Goodies...goody, goody, yum yum" are indelibly etched in both my memory and the memories of many children of the 1970's. Of course Tim had also appeared for many years in "I'm Sorry, I'll Read that Again" and his masterful comedic, wit and timing of contributions contributed greatly to the long running success of this iconic radio show. A truly unique master of comedy, who will be very sadly missed. R.I.P. Tim.

Lockdown cumulative update

Apologies for not many posts as I have been very busy working at the Hospital having volunteered to help with the fit testing PPE (personal protective equipment) for all our clinical staff, colleagues and JPUH friends. I am both proud, happy and greatly enjoy doing this role, so I haven't been out so much. Also I am on medication for tooth problems and some days are better than others. On 7 April, a Grey Heron (finally) flying east 6.35am takes the garden lockdown list to 41. Also 5 Jays flew over Fallowfields flying east then west and back into the trees, calling a weird "mewing call" I've never heard from this species before! Also on 7th April, the Snake's Head Fritillary bulbs we bought from the £1 shop a couple of years back, 3 (1 white, 2 ordinary now flowering nicely in the garden right now! On 8 April, 2 House Martins flying back over the house, brings the garden lockdown list up to 42. on 10 April, a Blackcap singing from our Parkhill garden brings the lockdown list up to 43. On 10 April, 2 Buzzards James W initially had going west seen just east of the garden. 11 April Male Blackcap singing on the top of a tree on Parkhill Hotel grounds bordering Fallowfields seen from looking over the back garden fence! On 12 April, a House Martin flying east over garden towards Park hill estate 11.45am. Also on 12 April, a hard cycle ride to Lound Lakes (keeping within the 1 hour of permitted exercise), lovely to see a singing showy male Blackcap on the hedge almost opposite the entrance to Blue Door Loke, only problem was I only had my 150mm macro lens and camera with me (far too heavy to carry the 500mm lens on the bike!), a further 9 seen or heard throughout the cycle ride. A total of 3 Swallows recorded 1 lining over the lake east of Blue Doors Loke and 2 further Swallows heard flying overhead on the walk west as I cycled back through Lound village, I heard the "psssst" call of a Redwing in the copse just north of the Village Maid Inn of there. On 13 April, a fine cock Pheasant was in the garden wandering around. Next day, I was flabbergasted to see this bird or another cock Pheasant walking over the plastic grass abomination laid on the front lawn of a house 6 doors down (the Pheasant was lovely, the plastic grass looked hideous and ghastly). On 16 April, in the morning at work, a young juvenile Blackbird (sadly no camera with me) flew into the Lecture Theatre, I was able to catch and release it quickly unharmed outside where it was reunited with its father on the grassy green outside. I'd bee hearing its calls for the last 4 days while we were PPE Fit testing. a Grey Heron calling flew east over garden, my 2nd lockdown sighting of this species.

Black Redstart duo at Gunton

On 4th April 2020, having had the bikes repaired at Halfords, I cycled to Gunton and at the Burial ground I walked along the path by the Gunton ORT from Hubbards Loke, halfway down a bird flew up and settled in a bush, expecting it to be a Dunnock, I was very pleasantly surprised to see it was the excellent female Black Redstart, it perched here for several minutes and then flew towards the small trees planted. Walking back in the south-east corner, the female Black Redstart seen was incredibly joined by a second female Black Redstart by the small trees and the bench where it was perched briefly. A Robin briefly joined them too. The 2 Black Redstarts flew along the southern hedgerow bordering Hubbards Loke. Meanwhile I heard a male Blackcap singing right in front of me and it eventually showed itself showing a nice blackcap. I cycled over to Corton Woods and 5 Chiff- Chaff heard and 1 seen, 2 Long- tailed Tits were seen gathering feathers in their bills for a nest being built in the north section deep in a bramble bush. A couple of showy Robin and Wren seen too, before my hours was up and I had to cycle back to conclude my allotted exercise bike ride.