A Tapestry of Wildlife

Friday I ended up going hither and dither. I had to do a laundry run but even this I was was not sure I was going to get this done as I received a summons from the land owner of the land where the otter Holt is. While I was looking forward to this, it was made clear that I had to be there at a certain time and date, that was this morning. While I do try to be accommodating, I am not well disposed to being ordered about.

I attended the meeting and arrived in good time. It was clear that the land owner was used to having people jump to his bark, as when I politely introduced myself, I was curtly ordered to go and wait by the stables. No good morning in fact no servility at all. So I just stood there, to this he asked if I was deaf? While my hearing is not perfect, I told him no, but I just don't like curt orders. At this I really expected to be ordered away, but at this he laughed and this really seemed to break the ice.

Anyway while I can understand him wanting to be cautious about allowing a relative stranger on to his land, he and his family have suffered a number of thefts and burglaries, I don't see this as an excuse for rudeness. Even though we are supposed to have an egalitarian society there are still many people like this landowner who seem to believe that we still have the class structure of the nineteenth century.

While we were looking at the Holt area and I was talking about wanting to watch and film the Otters, one came swimming up the river. I broke off talking and we both watched the otter for a good five minutes.

I don't know yet if I will get permission, but I felt happy to see the otter today. I was able to get my washing to the laundry, a good job too or I would have had to become a nudist as well as a naturalist. When I went back to collect it, I had just got off the bus and was walking up the road when I disturbed a small flock of sparrows. One took off with a piece of cellophane in its beak, it flew for about twenty yards until it disappeared into a hedge, still with cellophane in beak. As the piece was longer than the bird it was amusing to watch the bird with this colourful streamer.

Everyday there is something new or different to watch when it comes to the natural world. It was funny but as I was trying to get into the the centre of the village latter after getting back with my washing, I stopped to talk to my neighbour. We were talking about the Red Kites when right on cue one appeared in the sky. As we were talking it was quartering the gardens of houses near by. A real delight for both of us.

It had been my intention to go out filming today, but with the demands of the day and my chores, I was never able to make it. But I got some clues about other things that may be worth trying to see and film. Not least from my neighbour. However, some of the best information came from a chap that was obviously going fishing. As frequently fishermen (and women) are better naturalists than most, when I saw this chap at the bus station in Consett I made good use of the chance to open a conversation.

While he was a relative new comer to fishing, the recession magicking his job away, he knew the river well and was well aware of the places where the otters are active. But it was other snippets of information that are helping build up a clearer picture of the natural history of the river. I wished him good fishing and that he did not catch to many trees. While there was a moment of satellite delay, he realised what I meant and left the bus saying that adds a whole new dimension to the tales of the ones that got away.

While it occurred a couple of days ago, there is a retired chap that I am friendly with who is interested in the local wildlife. Anyway while talking about the Lapwings nest, he said that he would ask a farmer friend of his if I could be given access to his fields as there are lightly to be Lapwings nesting there. It will be new areas for me too, and it will be close to a location where I suspect there is a Buzzard nesting.

I think I need to add a few extra days to the week to do all I want, yet I am grateful for the information I am getting. It is like I am putting together a jigsaw puzzle of tapestry of the wildlife that colours our countryside. The more pieces I garner the clearer the interactions are.