I have to say I am no expert on individual feathers, but I was pretty sure that this was certainly not from something I'd expect to see down the lane. I had an idea, but obviously with just a feather no way to prove one way or another. Then I found another, and then a load .....
Seemed lke the erstwhile owner of these feathers had either been eaten or, at best, had a scrape with a car. Whilst I was pondering these feathers, I picked up a distant odd call coming from the field behind. A quick look with my bins, and feather ID confirmed in an instant ....
Can I tick it?
Bizarrely, not the first time I've bumped into Helmeted Guineafowl in the general area. These have most likely jumped the fence from the nearest farm though. Otherwise, not much hit the camera sensor, though I did get crappy shots of three small common white-flowered weeds which I have finally identified: Shepherd's Purse, Hairy Bitter-cress and ....
Common Whitlowgrass
I also took a shot of a random stick dangling down from a tree - looked very arty-farty against the sky behind.
I call this one "Stick - Why?" Prints available for £50.00 each plus postage.
Click for a very big panorama view from Whetstone Gorse Lane.
