Smug
A Great Northern Diver turned up at Farmoor Reservoir last Thursday, because of course it did: they always wait till they know I’m busy. I assumed that all the dinghy sailing, kite foiling and angling that goes on at Farmoor … Continued
Chiaroscuro
R and I went to London today, leaving from Warwick Parkway just after the end of the expensive commuter timetable on a train rammed with fellow oldies, to see the exhibition Wright of Derby at the National Gallery. It was … Continued
Cheeky grin
I went to Draycote Water today, where three Great Northern Divers were reported just before I arrived. “Two,” said the first birder I met. “One over there, and one back there. Distant though.” “Two,” said the next chap I spoke … Continued
Cracked ice
I managed to get my trip out today, leaving for Slimbridge as soon as I’d polished off my Saturday morning chores, and returning home mid-afternoon very sore and tired, but quite pleased with myself. I recorded 50 species for the … Continued
Storm-tossed
R and I went over to Farmoor Reservoir this morning, where a Great Northern Diver was reported, and photographed, yesterday. Sadly, we found that it had moved on overnight, which was pretty ungenerous of it as today is my birthday, … Continued
Ducking out
By coincidence, I had two unconnected appointments at Stratford Hospital today – routine blood tests at 11am, and an eye clinic consultation, for which R would need to drive me, at 2pm. Rather than us making two separate car journeys, … Continued
Greater Scaup
The virus I’ve been trying to shake off ever since receiving it as a Christmas present from the Boy Wonder hit a Victorian novel kind of crisis last night, before apparently turning a corner, and this morning I got up … Continued
Water on a duck’s back
I spent this morning expunging the most festering items from my to-do list. Sadly the only satisfaction this gave me was that I can now see the surface of my desk again: there’s still a huge heap of paperwork there … Continued