The Cat That Gave Me The Cream ....!

 Un fucking believable bit of luck! As some of ye may have gathered by now; I'm a bit totally obsessed with birds nests, in just about any shape or form. 

  I also happen to despise cats with the sort of passion only a Dog loving, Pest Controlling, Birds Nest Recording border line pathological case could.

 Well, isn't it just funny how, once in a while, the whole fucking matrix farts, and everything comes together? It just did!

 I'd been out staring at a corner of ditch where a pair of Wheatear's have their nest. This is becoming an annual ritual. Bloody things! I spend hours doing this.

 Gave them best, as I inevitably do. Came 'home', meeting Noel on the way. Had a great chat with him and gained the go ahead to put House Sparrow boxes in His barn ~ which Has active sparrow nests right now. Sadly, inaccessible behind steel girders.

 I was just strolling back down the track, approaching The River, when the birds told me to get my shit together. 

  Fuck me! Friday week back, Steve was bringing me home and the headlights picked out eyes in Noels first field. I asked if Steve had caught the glimpse. He had.

  He reckoned fox. I disagreed. They lacked the opalescence of fox. That almost 'dull' yellow? These were like lime green little light bulbs. I called cat. Unfortunately, I'd been drinking that night so wouldn't take a gun out.

 This evening? I was sober as a beak! It was a fluffy, tabby and white. Frankly, I couldn't give a shit what it was. I hurried home. Fed the Dogs and horses in record time. Headed straight back out with the rifle.

 Sadly, the bastard was long gone and far away ~ for now ~ by the time I got back there. But, obviously, I staked the place out anyway. Just sat on the bank side and observed the wild life around me.

 And that's when two little birds caught my attention. They were messing in the hedge, across the field on the opposite side of the track. 

  I paid them some attention. Watched other things. Saw one of 'my' birds fuck off to a tree, evidently feeding ~ these were clearly Warblers. Couldn't tell what, at that distance with my eyes.

  But, the other one was staying around the hedge. In fact, now I paid attention? It was tending to return to a small area. Somewhere just out of sight, below the dip where grass met the level of the hedge sinking into the ditch.

  About four such return trips did it for me. I trained the rifle 'scope, off a fence post, and proceeded to stare.

 Bingo! Even though I honestly couldn't make out the species, or even the particular colours of this tiny bird, through my ~ made for a completely different purpose and range ~ rifle scope. There was no mistaking the big bunch at its beak! Nesting Material! 

 I'll get back there with my bin's. Get a make on what bird this is. Then, I'll probably be able to find out how long they build for, before laying. I'll study the information, so's not to risk a desert.

  Then, when I judge the time is right? I'll walk right actoss that small field and peer into that hedge. I'll be starting my first ever, self found Warbler Nest Record! 

 Absolutely pumped about this! I'm reading everything I can get my eyes on. I'm spending hours just sitting and watching, trying to catch up with more birds and so trace their nests.

 Now it's started to pay back! :D