Birds, Leps, Observations & Generalities - the images and ramblings of Mark Skevington. Sometimes.

Saturday 26 September 2009

County Tick .......

Somehow, I full expected to be out this weekend watching a first for the county Glossy Ibis. Turns out my thoughts of a county first were right - just the wrong species .... This morning, Andy Smith over in Thornton was no doubt delighted to find a juvenile Common Rosefinch in his garden ringing nets. He promptly got the news out, and before long a steady procession of county birders were invited into his garden to scan over some really superb looking gardens, scrub and woodland with Thornton Reservoir in the background. When I got there, there was c12 birders enjoying the view. After a few came and went, when I left there was still c20 and more were heading that way. I got good scope and bin views within seconds of arriving - OMCL! Let's be fair - a juve Rosefinch may not be the most inspiring bird, but this was a county first and everyone needed it. There must be a load of midlands listers who would need it as well - can't be many inland records. It was actually quite a smart bird with its massive beady eye, and it was in open view for prolonged periods inbetween actively feeding on elderberries. Many thanks to Andy and his family for their excellent hosting and for opening up their garden view to all. It was good to see all the faces there - probably the biggest county twitch of a VC55 garden since the Medbourne Rose-coloured Starling and my Black Redstart many years ago.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent tick. Washed down with plenty of good beers with your mate Liam at the GCR Beer Festival.

Skev said...

Would have liked to join you but had family stuff to do this afternoon. Cracking county tick though.

Anonymous said...

OMCL.....?

Initially i thought those 'letters' stood for 'on my c***ing list'...then i thought...'Mark wouldn't put that would he'?!

Then i worked it out of course...
OMCL obviously means 'on me cock love'.....

ps....glossy ibis maybe next county tick?....we wait with 'baited breath'...wotever the fuck that means....

Beast......

Skev said...

I like your thinking beast - that sounds a lot better than what I actually meant (on my county list).

Shame I scarpered before you got there, rubbing shoulders with the UKwhateverthefuckwelike elite.

The Leicester Llama said...

Putting my 'language pedant' hat on, I can tell you that the phrase is 'bated breath', not 'baited' (which would mean sticking mealworms in your mouth or something).

The word 'bated' is an archaic one meaning lessened or diminished and only really survives in this phrase which is almost universally mis-spelt and misunderstood these days.

Yours sincerely,
Professor P Wit, University of Bollocks.

Anonymous said...

Thanx 'Prof'....most illuminating!

My dictionary agree with yours..tho i still like the idea of 'baited breath'...! I guess that folk who talk shit would attract a lot of flies in that case....baited breath indeed....

On the subject of abbreviations and the use thereof.....i have finally worked out what LOL stands for...and it seems to me that the world must be full of perverts...why would anyone want to 'lick old ladies'?! Dirty bastards....!

Mark....see you at the 'next' rare perhaps....!

Beast wishes....