18th May 2010
It's a long way to Tipperary
An early morning cycle to the Great Reed Warbler [198] near
Ilkeston was uneventful and on arriving at the small reserve I heard it almost
straight away and from some distance too. Seeing it was more difficult until it
came to the edge of the small reedbed and gave fantastic views. A scarce bird
that I hadn't really expected to see this year, one of the surprise birds that
keeps one going on such an adventure.
After enjoying the company of a group of
birders and twitchers, the first time I had been in a group of such for ages,
with most of my birds on the trip so far being found by me alone, I cycled over
50 miles along the A6 mostly. Through Bakewell, where I stopped to add text to
the blog by using the internet facilities in the library, and then cycling over
the ever more beautiful Peak District roads towards Abney Moor to look for the
reported pair of Dotterel that were about ten miles or so north.
I ended up finding the Dotterel [199] with the help of 'the Mouth from
the South'; a nickname for a birder who with his mate, Mark ensured that we saw
the birds. Actually after searching with Mark Reeder and Jo, he of the fabulous
Pies & Birds blog, from Sheffield and listening to the shouts from the fore
named birder, the two Dotterel flew quickly to the north and seemed like they
were off for good. Still with the Great Reed Warbler in the morning well
chuffed with the day and well worth the sixty-odd miles cycled. Really, it had
been a long way to tick a couple of rarities!'
I
never did find out the real name of the Mouth from the South, and his smaller
accomplice but as he was at least a foot higher than me and built a little
larger too, maybe I won't ask!
I cycled on as evening fell and the sun disappeared behind distant hills and upon finding a field empty of domestic life, pitched the tent and settled down for an uncomfortable night. There had been no room in the nearby Youth hostel at Haversage so the camp was necessary in what I thought was an empty field.
Tickle My Feathers
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