Life .....

 Don't ever take it for granted ....!


 I was standing around, chatting to Noel, today. In his open barn. I'd caught up with him whilst I was out searching for birds nests, to Record. Had my binoculars with me, obviously.

 So, as we're chatting, I'm watching for any bird movement. I saw a flash of 'something' into a nearby tree, on the roadside. 

  Threw the bin's up. Got the 'Look', and was able to tell Noel it was a pair of Goldfinches. Just before they flashed off, back to our right. I wondered about their nest.

 Carried on chatting for, maybe ten minutes? Then I went off to check another of his buildings, for nests.  Ten minutes of that and out I came. Found Noel had gone on about his work. And I walked onto the road. Turning right.

 Black, red and yellow. A tiny, bright patch on the road. I picked this scrap up and was examining it, trying to make out the second leg, in case of a ring, when Noel's wife and son pulled up, simultaneously, in different vehicles. On different errands.

  I showed them the little scrap of feathered skin. Spread the tiny, black wings, displaying the yellow bars. Pointed out the lack of head. Explained how it would have looked, on a Goldfinch.

 I simply said that it looked as if a Sparrowhawk had got this one. (No need to belabour the lack of head or any body. Even to born to it beef cattle farming folk). A passing motor had possibly flushed the hawk. Obviously flattened the bloody shred I held.

 Goldfinches aren't exactly rare, around here. Can't say Sparrowhawks are either. Never yet found either's nest though. Be damn hard pressed to choose between which I'd sooner, to be honest!

 Dunno. Just goes to show though. Even as I was absently pondering looking for their nest; So they'd both flown ten yards to the right. And one of them had been hit by a Spar'.

 One less Goldie's nest for me to worry about. But, where are those Spar's ....?

 Life .....