An interesting few days. Firstly I got a call from Auntie Allison at Rainham telling me Sam had found a White Tailed Plover. There were two things wrong with this. One I was waiting for my mother to arrive from London for her first visit here and two hubby had just driven down there to get her, spending tons of dosh on fuel to do it. This meaning that if I jumped into my car and hot footed it down there I would have two very annoyed relatives to deal with. Oh the frustration! White Tailed Plover is one of those birds you look at in The Collins Guide and dream that you may see one day. I love waders and this one is so striking. I crossed everything that maybe it would hang around a few days so I could see it when I took her home. Thus avoiding an international incident indoors.
Sadly it was not to be, the dratted bird flew overnight. That I could deal with but the rotten thing flew west not east and ended up at Slimbridge. How damn inconsiderate of it not to come to Norfolk. The cheek of the bird! However I am so happy for Sam that he found the bird, and also thrilled for Howard and Rainham. Rainham will always be home to me, nothing will or could ever replace it for me.
The second event was an encounter with The Gamekeeper while I was walking Action Dog out at the lake. She told me she would be getting some new birds soon and that I would have to stay out of the wood for a while whilst they settle in. Oh drat! What a sinking feeling that caused. There I was saying 'oh yes of course, yes I understand' while thinking 'shit shit shit'. I am going to miss it soooo much. Still it IS private land and I know I am really fortunate that I am allowed to walk there. But ohhhh I don't want to stay away.
This morning I noticed that something has taken up residence in my pretty nestbox which my friend Gill gave me. I had hung it in a tree temporarily until I could get Hairy Hubby to put it up properly. I think they are wasps. I hope they are bees. I used to think I knew a wasp from a bee until I started hanging around with people who know all sorts of stuff about insects. Then I found out I actually knew nothing. Unless its a fat bee that is, I can do fat bees.
They are clearly building a nest in there, you can see it blocking part of the entrance. It's quite exciting really, knowing something is setting up home in your garden. I would like to watch the comings and goings. Sadly Hairy Hubby (who is usually right about these things) has ideas about a couple of cans of fly spray and a bit of mass murder. I suppose he is right because if one of the Grandkids gets stung I will feel terrible but I really would like to keep it there. I am hoping they are bees so I can gain moral high ground and hope for the best. I am going to email a friend and get confirmation later.
It's a wasp isn't it?
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