Two Firsts For Me!

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

I'm SO behind here, peeps. I mean't to tell ye about this first one a week (or two?!) ago when it happened. But anyway .....

 

I don't drive and so habitually try to thumb a lift into town. In order to up my chances, I've taken to walking down to the nearest road junction where I get more 'choice'. In fact, so 'regular' am I in my habits that I've actually managed to beat down a quite distinguishable little patch in the roadside vegetation where I sit my bum down, then stand more respectably 'at ease' on spotting the approach of a potential lift.

 

My little patch then is just to this side of a field gate, on the opposite side of the road, and a bit down from a more open gate which ends the wild hedgerow and abutts onto a manicured, roadside lawn.

 

And there I'm sat, quite at peace with the glorious afternoon, beneath the shade of the big trees behind and before me. And I noticed the soft, fluted notes of a nervous blackbird across and to my left. Just a gentle 'Poot. Poot, poot!'. But I registered that something had unsettled it and, after a cursory glance, kept my vigilant gaze directed at the turn in the road. Ever ready to clip and hide my roll up should a motor approach.

 

A few minutes later - maybe five? A small movement across and to my right drew my eye. Something had revealed itself to my peripheral vision, then darted back out of sight. Small. Serpantine. Definately not a mink or a pine marten. Perhaps a rat? But I'd have been kidding myself to think so. What ever it was seemed to be gone now and so that was probably that. I continued to watch the curve in the road. Must be a moter along again presently. Maybe the next bugger would - There it is!!!

 

And with that, something small, dark and sinuous flowed out of the roughage opposite. Just before the track that bisected nature from manicure. My on board computer went into overdrive. Trying to capture each and every nuance of it's shape, size and movement as it stole across the road, right on the border of tree given shade and clear, brightly sunlit tarmac.

 

Then it paused, as if seeing or sensing my presence in the wayside. And it halted right there. Smack bang on the bright side of the shadow. Half my brain saying, " Reach for the camera on ye hip! What a shot for THL this'll make! ". The other half saying, " Be still! She hasn't spotted ye, or doesn't fear ye yet. Enjoy this moment! ".

 

Well, sorry, peeps. I'm a selfish old b*stard with not so long to go now. But I can tell ye; I enjoyed just watching that stoat, as she, maybe, watched me. I made no movement. Just sat there and drank her in. Then she was on her way into the rough on my side and, when I heaved my bones up and went to look a bit later, there was no earthly sign of her passing.

 

My first sighting of an Irish Stoat. Protected creature, over here. Made my day!

 

 

 

Other thing was this afternoon / evening. I decided to go up and check my post box and, as she's throwing heat and confined to her chain just now, went alone; No Small Dog for company.

 

And, as I plodded up the first leg of my home track, between the long ditch and the home acre of fenced off hay field, just at the far end ..... Meadow Pipit! Only she erupted from the grass just in front of me. Running like a rat, right wing trailing. All the time looking back at me. As soon as she burst out from beneath the fence I recognised her as 'Bird' and stopped dead. I symaltaniously recognised her as not flying, and so not 'right'. The next instant brought it all into focus:

 

This was the first time in my life I've ever actually wittnesses for myself, live and in front of me, the 'wounded bird' display the books talk of! Little bugger was trying to draw me away from her nest or young! Bless!

 

I must say; In such a real life situation she might have done better. She actually ran like the clappers but barely covered six feet before vanishing back under the fence and into the grass again. But I'd already marked her. Fourth post back.

 

So I went on up, to peer into my customarily empty post box. Then I strode determedly back down to the fourth post and began searching. What a find This would be! Photo's for THL. Records for the BTO. Where, oh Where was JD when I oh so obviously and woefully needed his expertise, patience and ~ dare we say it? ! ~ Nose for such situations?!

 

Suffice to say, I ran out of time, patience and the sheer will to be trampling my own valuable hay. I gave her best and trudged on down to my cottage. Maybe she just had chicks in that grass after all. I'd never have found them. Though a second clutch would have elated me. I know they've bred earlier on that field.

 

Anyway .....

[J Darcy 5,871]

Sounds linke you got some great views there matey.....

[martin 332]

Nature in the raw is a beautiful thing Ditch ............................Martin.