A celebration of birding and natural history, generally within a 10 mile radius of Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire, UK. It would be great if you wanted to share your Ely 10 birding news, experiences, photos, art and video through this blog. Please contact hairyfolkster@gmail.com with your post or to join the authorship, I'll get you on the list quicker than a fly over Alpine Swift.
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
The patio delivers again prt deux
I wasn't able to get out to do any nightjarring despite the excellent conditions, overcast, still and warm. I wasn't able to get out to join the old boys playing football either. I cajoled Geordie Steve to join me for a beer on the patio (phase 2) under the pergola (phase 1) and after a fly through Barn Owl and a little purring from the Turtle Dove, a Quail piped up and gave 3 rounds of it's distinctive triplet song. It would be difficult to underestimate the hours I have accumulated listening for nocturnal birdsong hoping that I would eventually hear a Quail out there. Ironically Whimbrel, which I optimistically thought would be an almost annual spring flyover, has also finally made it onto the garden list this evening. A bird whistled twice on it's way over while I spent a further hour listening for the Quail to no avail. All in all a very good way to break in the new garden hardware.