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Easter Monday

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, the lens of my glasses came away from the frame. I'd forgotten my hearing aids and my Aircast was getting rapidly clogged up with mud. I shook my head and pondered on my outdoor situation over the last few months. I hadn't started the new year too well and it was hardly a success a story. I started to feel sorry for myself. This was rather unlike me. The leather working projects had gone well but I felt I just needed a boost to get motivated again.

I looked about for something to fix my specs. A nettle fibre or strand of paracord would do it but I opted for some fishing line I carry in my possible's pouch. It been in there for years and I've never used it until now. Just goes to show you.

I'd brought along my home made possible's pouch and was pleased with the extra space it provided. I designed it not only to hold normal possible's stuff but other bits I come across.

I was able to fit in this jaw bone. I'm pretty sure it's from a fox.

With the specs fixed I continued my trip spotting early spring flowers like this Cuckoo flower or Lady's smock (young leaves are tasty)

... Ground Ivy

... Celandine

... Primrose (leaves and petals are tasty)

During lunch I spotted 3 fallow does browsing along the hedgerow. They were about 30 yards away and the closest I'd got to them this year. The recent cull had made them more alert so this was a good sighting. Things were beginning to look up...

...and, in fact, on looking up, I saw this chap.. a male Greater-spotted woodpecker.

Suddenly it was all happening for me and I felt as though I was getting back on form. No sooner had I had that thought when I saw a movement to my front and to the left.

It was a fox about 50 yards away. I put the camera on video mode and called him in with a squeak. To my delight, he turned towards me and came trotting up stopping about 10 yards away and stared straight at me. I was relaxed and zoned-in enough not to appear as a threat. He then turned to the left and was probably going to circle where he thought the squeak originated but my own movement as I turned the camera spooked him and he was off in the direction he came.

It's encounters like this that make it all worth it for me and the earlier melancholy moments faded away.

Below are some moving pictures. They are only a couple of minutes long.

Greater-spotted woodpecker (male)

Calling in a Fox

This weekend I'm going flint-knapping with John Lord.  Thanks for the visit.

Back on Form

Easter Monday

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, the lens of my glasses came away from the frame. I'd forgotten my hearing aids and my Aircast was getting rapidly clogged up with mud. I shook my head and pondered on my outdoor situation over the last few months. I hadn't started the new year too well and it was hardly a success a story. I started to feel sorry for myself. This was rather unlike me. The leather working projects had gone well but I felt I just needed a boost to get motivated again.

I looked about for something to fix my specs. A nettle fibre or strand of paracord would do it but I opted for some fishing line I carry in my possible's pouch. It been in there for years and I've never used it until now. Just goes to show you.

I'd brought along my home made possible's pouch and was pleased with the extra space it provided. I designed it not only to hold normal possible's stuff but other bits I come across.

I was able to fit in this jaw bone. I'm pretty sure it's from a fox.

With the specs fixed I continued my trip spotting early spring flowers like this Cuckoo flower or Lady's smock (young leaves are tasty)

... Ground Ivy

... Celandine

... Primrose (leaves and petals are tasty)

During lunch I spotted 3 fallow does browsing along the hedgerow. They were about 30 yards away and the closest I'd got to them this year. The recent cull had made them more alert so this was a good sighting. Things were beginning to look up...

...and, in fact, on looking up, I saw this chap.. a male Greater-spotted woodpecker.

Suddenly it was all happening for me and I felt as though I was getting back on form. No sooner had I had that thought when I saw a movement to my front and to the left.

It was a fox about 50 yards away. I put the camera on video mode and called him in with a squeak. To my delight, he turned towards me and came trotting up stopping about 10 yards away and stared straight at me. I was relaxed and zoned-in enough not to appear as a threat. He then turned to the left and was probably going to circle where he thought the squeak originated but my own movement as I turned the camera spooked him and he was off in the direction he came.

It's encounters like this that make it all worth it for me and the earlier melancholy moments faded away.

Below are some moving pictures. They are only a couple of minutes long.

Greater-spotted woodpecker (male)

Calling in a Fox

This weekend I'm going flint-knapping with John Lord.  Thanks for the visit.

Portugal

For the last 8 days I've been to the beautiful country of Portugal. Although I wasn't as mobile as I wished, I did manage to see quite a bit of the countryside by going on a standard day's jeep and boat tour with a guide.

The guide, Jose (they pronounce the "J's" in Portugal) was the Portuguese version of Bill Oddy, but much more entertaining. He also had an excellent knowledge of the wild plants and what you could do with them.

The first area we visited was a natural salt marsh where hundreds of migrating birds can be seen at the right time of year. We spotted Great flamingoes feeding in the shallows.

Storks took every opportunity to occupy any available chimney or tall structure. Being protected, it was odd to see unused pylons and chimneys in the middle of nowhere with just a nest perched on top.

More common birds seen were hundreds of Goldfinches, Swallows and Azure-winged Magpies (above) which is endemic to the Iberian peninsula. I has a fleeting glimpse of a Hoopoe but couldn't get a picture. 

As you can imagine the further we got inland, the more plants were evident. Rural produce consisted of the citrus fruits, figs, olives, almonds, grapes and the carob bean. ..

... which are grown and farmed on the hills. The dried seed pods taste like chocolate and are used as a sweetener and chocolate substitute. They actually taste delicious when dried.

At this time of year you'll find these white rock roses everywhere.

Cork trees can be hundreds of years old and the bark is harvested only every 30 - 40 years.

 

Don't you just hate it when people get hold of your camera!

Marsh Frogs (Rana ridibunda) were very vocal at this time of year. You can get them in the UK but only in Kent and Sussex.

The trip finished on a boat travelling south along the River Guadiana, which splits Portugal (on the right) and Spain (on the left).

The Portuguese boat driver allegedly loves to wind up the Spanish by meandering close to the Spanish side. I didn't see anyone protest.

We scoffed down quite a few of these freshly caught and barbequed sardines.

If you ever come across this wine - don't drink it! It tastes evil... until the 6th glass!

Hope you're having a good Easter break.

Pablo.

Portugal

For the last 8 days I've been to the beautiful country of Portugal. Although I wasn't as mobile as I wished, I did manage to see quite a bit of the countryside by going on a standard day's jeep and boat tour with a guide.

The guide, Jose (they pronounce the "J's" in Portugal) was the Portuguese version of Bill Oddy, but much more entertaining. He also had an excellent knowledge of the wild plants and what you could do with them.

The first area we visited was a natural salt marsh where hundreds of migrating birds can be seen at the right time of year. We spotted Great flamingoes feeding in the shallows.

Storks took every opportunity to occupy any available chimney or tall structure. Being protected, it was odd to see unused pylons and chimneys in the middle of nowhere with just a nest perched on top.

More common birds seen were hundreds of Goldfinches, Swallows and Azure-winged Magpies (above) which is endemic to the Iberian peninsula. I has a fleeting glimpse of a Hoopoe but couldn't get a picture. 

As you can imagine the further we got inland, the more plants were evident. Rural produce consisted of the citrus fruits, figs, olives, almonds, grapes and the carob bean. ..

... which are grown and farmed on the hills. The dried seed pods taste like chocolate and are used as a sweetener and chocolate substitute. They actually taste delicious when dried.

At this time of year you'll find these white rock roses everywhere.

Cork trees can be hundreds of years old and the bark is harvested only every 30 - 40 years.

 

Don't you just hate it when people get hold of your camera!

Marsh Frogs (Rana ridibunda) were very vocal at this time of year. You can get them in the UK but only in Kent and Sussex.

The trip finished on a boat travelling south along the River Guadiana, which splits Portugal (on the right) and Spain (on the left).

The Portuguese boat driver allegedly loves to wind up the Spanish by meandering close to the Spanish side. I didn't see anyone protest.

We scoffed down quite a few of these freshly caught and barbequed sardines.

If you ever come across this wine - don't drink it! It tastes evil... until the 6th glass!

Hope you're having a good Easter break.

Pablo.

Ear, Ear

"Can you put the rubbish out?" said Mrs P.

Silence

"Deaf old bugger."

"I heard that!"

"I thought you might. I call it selective hearing. When are you going to get your ears tested anyway?"

"I don't need my ears tested. You need to speak more clearly."

And so starts another repartee between Mrs P and me that has been ongoing for a few years now. To be fair I've known my hearing was getting bad for a while and I've always thought light of it. To me it's an inevitable result of a fair amount of shooting in the Armed Forces, including a couple of very loud explosions that actually knocked me off my feet. Not many people can say they've been blown up twice. Twice in one day that is! That made my old ears ring a bit!

The time came to actually take up Mrs P's incessant advice last autumn. I was also more than fed up with the continuous tinitus. The last straw came when I was tracking with Shadowhawk and inevitably the subject got on to bird language. Privately, I became quite upset when somebody identified a predator walking through the wood 200 yards away based on the alarm calls. If I was to do the same it would be a good idea if I could at least hear the birds!

My trip to the audiologist showed I was deficient at high frequencies in both ears but especially the right. I would need a hearing aid. I explained my hobby and she became sympathetic when I said I probably haven't heard a skylark for a good 10 years and explained about my wish to hear certain bird calls, which she listened to attentively.

After a moment's thought she said, "You'd better have two then," she said. I wasn't too sure what to say about having two plastic lumps hanging off both ears like some kind of lop-eared rabbit! To try and consol me she said, "But at least you've learnt to lip read." I frowned at this puzzling statement. She turned away, lowered her voice and said something incomprehensible. She then turned back and said "It often happens and people don't realise it. There you go. I've just said the same thing twice. I bet you tell your wife to speak more clearly."

After two months I received my new ears. I decided to stick with the NHS ones until I got used to them; nevertheless, the NHS ones are now full spec digital pieces with 3 programmes, a volume control and don't look that bad cosmetically. To buy the same pieces would cost someone £700-00 so I think I'll stick with these. I also realised how lucky I had been when the audiologist provided me with two of them.

After fitting and a blast of sensory overload at the audiologists, which made everything seem like I was in an echo chamber, I waited until I got home to try them out properly. I pushed them into each ear as shown and gradually turned up the volume to about half and went out in the garden. I sat down closed my eyes and took in the sounds around me. I was amazed! I heard every bird, every song and every note of every song. I looked around to find who was singing what and of course realised that I had to relearn what song belonged to which bird.

So there we have it. I have now got a new sense or it seems that way. I can hear again. Not only that, I can cheat and turn up the volume or engage the programme that activates the built in directional microphone! Brilliant! Bionic ears!!

Of course over the last month I've realised that there are downsides. I am literally having to relearn and reinterpret what I hear and not just bird sounds. I also have to turn down my "Sound Enhancers" if the wind gets up; and I can't get them wet. I still get sensory overload when both are in so apart from quieter areas I only tend to have one in at a time at the moment. Oh, and rustling crisp packets are deafening at any volume!

So now the scene plays thus:

"Can you take the rubbish out?"

"Okay...but you don't have to shout!"

Mmmm... no more excuses, but it's worth it!

All the best,

Pablo.

PS I'm taking Mrs P for a very un-bushcraft break in the Mediterranean for 10 days or so. I'll catch up when I get back.