Doesn't take much to make me happy...
We've got buzzards here - at least three. I see them often - flying, perching, or getting mobbed by jackdaws. I hear them even more frequently. I know where they nest in the high-up trees, and one even landed on my windowsill once and had a look in - astonishingly golden eyes. Yes, it did scare the wits outta me. It's always been a bit exciting - watching actual birds of prey (in addition to the kestrels). I've noticed, offhandedly, that one of these buzzards seems to have a bit of tail missing. I've found feathers here and there, so didn't pay much attention.
I discovered from my parish magazine that this one, and another, are actually a pair of RED KITES. I'm almost giddy about this, especially considering they were almost hunted to extinction. I had a proper look at them yesterday when I was in the garden - one was circling low, and the other was around a mile higher - just a bird-shaped speck. Clearly bigger than buzzards, just wafting around on the air currents. Magnificent.
I should pay more attention. I might be mistaking pterodactyls for planes or something.
I discovered from my parish magazine that this one, and another, are actually a pair of RED KITES. I'm almost giddy about this, especially considering they were almost hunted to extinction. I had a proper look at them yesterday when I was in the garden - one was circling low, and the other was around a mile higher - just a bird-shaped speck. Clearly bigger than buzzards, just wafting around on the air currents. Magnificent.
I should pay more attention. I might be mistaking pterodactyls for planes or something.