This is one of our local walks and today, I was following up a belated report of a possible Pallid Harrier seen here. Marsh harriers frequent this area, both a male and a female were seen along with a Common Buzzard. The usual array of waders were on the mudflats, with Redshank, Greenshank, Kentish and Grey Plovers being seen from the paths. As we were setting off, I met with Guillaume returning from the same walk and he told me of some Stone Curlews out on the marsh. Each year I see the occasional Stone Curlew so I was keen to have a look in the direction Guillaume had indicated. I was nearing the approximate location when the male Marsh Harrier disturbed eight Stone Curlews, causing them to separate and drop into long grass. I found a few of them after a short search. Not the easiest bird to make out on the ground, but I did have some further views of single birds in flight which was excellent. On the same area of marsh but a long way off, I noticed an adult Peregrine with its prey on a long mud bank. Another Peregrine, this time a juvenile, was flying over the large lagoon. An Osprey was here too, going about its fishing when the young Peregrine decided to annoy the Osprey. The Osprey soon had enough of the Peregrine's wild antics! An enjoyable walk in this wild territory, that was until we returned to the dam where Ellie was seen to be chewing something. A spot frequented by local fishermen, I soon noticed fishing line hanging from Ellie's mouth and a quick look revealed she had swallowed some bait, hook and line. A quick trip to the vets ensued, where Ellie was given anaesthetic, an x-ray and an endoscopy. The skill of the vet avoided the need for surgery and a substantial hook was retrieved from Ellie's stomach. After three hours, Ellie was recovering and we were a few hundred Euros worse off, all due to a careless fisherman. Ellie resting today.
Comments are closed.
|
|