Well, I have not been able to post much over the past few weeks and for that I apologise. A quite few weekends back I took part in a Duke Of Edinburgh practice expedition in the Forest of Dean. The first day was wonderful, we got to walk in the forest (rucksack free!) and observe many different things such as fungi, particularly an interesting bright orange one that stuck up from the bark of a tree like multiple pillars and was made even brighter by the decaying autumn leaves surrounding it. There were many species of birds, including cormorants which flew over the camp every so often, crows which invaded the centre of the camp once we had left to pick at any titbits left on the floor, a robin which let you get really close to it by the water tap and multiple small bird species that flitted in and out of the canopy in the deep forest. There was also an amazing amount of nocturnal wildlife, a herd of around 5 female roe deer entered the campsite and you could see them standing around and eating next to the hedges. There was an animal in the bush that let its appearance be known by its eye shine but we did not find out what it was, it was probably another roe or even possibly a wild boar. Pipistrelle bats flittered above and beside out heads, swooping close but never hitting us, warned of our presence by their ultrasonic squeaks bouncing off our dark silhouettes. In the woods, multiple tawny owls hooted throughout the night, calling to each other and defending their territory. A barn owl screeched in the early morning, a different alarm clock to the stereotypical cockerel which people may be used to. Ducks flew overhead and the air was filled with the dawn chorus. On the practice expedition with backpacks we passed through many different places but trying to get to a destination and holding a heavy bag on your aching back made it harder to focus on what was going on around you... After hours of walking for longer than we should have and with the soles of my feet covered in painful blisters and pressure sores from the weight of a tent and multiple other objects we finally neared the destination which we had not meant to reach. As we were a few miles from the destination I spotted a black and white feather on the floor. A small, thin feather, slightly bent but completely recognisable. A greater spotted woodpecker! It had the same markings as ones found on the bird, it must be from the bird! Awkwardly I picked it up and shoved it in my pocket, along with multiple common pheasant feathers with the intent of adding it to my collection, since I have not come across a woodpecker feather before. This was great and in my opinion a good souvenir of the experience. It is surprising that considering the greater spotted woodpecker is supposedly very common that I have only ever seen it once. I have seen plenty of Green Woodpeckers flying between tree’s but hardly any Greater Spotted, so I guess that makes this feather a bit more special. After the trip I got home and sat down to give my aching feet a rest, allowing the blisters to go down wincing at aching muscles. I searched up the Greater Spotted Woodpecker feather and as I thought, there were ones like mine! I have added it to the collection happily. (I also found a blackbird feather but managed to lose it on the way :/) I wish I had brought my camera to get some more photographs, but I left in a hurry and did not get the chance to grab it, maybe next time. (A photo will be added... I am just waiting for the camera to charge...)
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About Me!Hello, I am a young birdwatcher and wildlife enthusiast here to talk about my interests and other things on my mind. I hope you enjoy my blog. Archives
April 2017
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