Six thirty am and the sun is rising. The picture was taken just after I had finished loading my first load of the day. It's good to see daylight at that time in the morning, not only that but there was a Mistle thrush singing in the hedge, well singing is perhaps a little strong, shouting is a better term for the song of a Mistle thrush. But for all that I like to hear them, they are the earliest bids to start singing. On the way to Kiirkbymoorside store I drive along the side of the small river that runs through the village where I live. For the second time in two weeks I saw a barn owl hunting the banks. It's a delight to see a barn owl, their numbers were decimated by two sucessive severe winters, unlike tawny owls they refuse to eat road kill and find hunting very difficult when there is a substantial snow cover. Many of these beautiful birds starved to death and their numbers are slow to recover from such a serious set back. On the other hand I am seeing more kestrels along the road sides and in the surrounding fields than I have for many years. I am also seeing an ever increasing number of buzzards on my travels, when I was a teenager the sight and or sound of a buzzard was a rarity to be remarked on. The bad news on the wildlife front is the far too numerous pairs of magpies, the damage they reek amongst the smaller birds is huge and devastating. If we want the recovery of song thrush numbers the magpies must be removed, every dead magpie is a good magpie. Back to the driving. The second load was to Carlton store followed by three small farm drops, all went well with nothing remarkable to report. Then a collection from Howden Dyke and back to base. I'm seed dressing tomorrow, I hope it's not raining. See you tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment