Monday 21st June 2004
Heard a Tawny Owl calling somewhere in the estate for quite a while last night (around 11 pm). I haven’t heard one for ages, so it was a really nice surprise. Not sure what the neighbours thought about it though. It was the Tawny Owl Shakespeare was writing about in his poem “Winter” (from “Love’s Labour’s Lost”), when he said: “Then nightly sings the staring owl, Tu-whit; Tu-who, a merry note”. In fact, what he was hearing was the call of two owls, one calling “Tu-whit” (I think it sounds more like “Keewick”), and the other replying “Tu-who” (“Woo-woooo”). I only heard one bird last night (giving the “Woo-woooo” reply).
Drove down to Greenock around 5pm today. Harvesting of the second sea-level hay field at Bishopton now underway. Various gulls and crows hanging about, looking for free pickings, but also two Rabbits out in the open on the already-cut margin. They weren’t there when I drove back an hour later, but there were three Buzzards soaring together over the site (the most I’ve seen hereabouts).
Rosebay Willow Herb now well into flower. Odd Poppies on the roadsides.
Checked the Cairn Gorm and RSPB web cams at lunchtime. Surprised to see fresh snow lying in front of the Ptarmigan restaurant (on the day before midsummer!). Loch Garten Ospreys look OK, but a bit wet. Red Kites at Rockingham have lost one of their chicks out of the nest (a pity, but I’m not surprised. The nest had been impossibly crowded for days). Sea Eagle nest from Mull now on stream. Looking forward to watching events unfold there.