With this blog title being what it is I kind of feel compelled to blog something, but it's probably not a good idea...
It's funny, but not entirely unexpected, that I've had many more blog views over the last couple of days than I would ever normally have had, even had I been posting.
With very peculiar timing, a 'third for Britain' turns up, within a few hundred yards of my front door, within 24 hours of my dad passing away (my wife swears it's a sign). To say my head wasn't entirely in the right place to be thinking about Mockingbirds is an understatement. In the event my family pretty much press-ganged me into seeing it - knowing that it would only bug me later down the line if I didn't. I'm glad they did, and thinking about it, the term 'press-ganged' is probably a little strong!
With very peculiar timing, a 'third for Britain' turns up, within a few hundred yards of my front door, within 24 hours of my dad passing away (my wife swears it's a sign). To say my head wasn't entirely in the right place to be thinking about Mockingbirds is an understatement. In the event my family pretty much press-ganged me into seeing it - knowing that it would only bug me later down the line if I didn't. I'm glad they did, and thinking about it, the term 'press-ganged' is probably a little strong!
I was there and back in a couple minutes, and in that short period (of viewing from a distance) I felt suitably uncomfortable, staring between two houses, into a stranger's back garden.
I'm not going to make any further comments about it (because I'm really not in the mood to be getting into a debate) other than to say that at 6pm last night the majority of Exmouth birders hadn't seen it (and most didn't even know where it was), but birders from as far afield as Yorkshire, Hampshire, Somerset and Dorset had been and gone.
I may well do a more considered blog post at a later date, because the bird definitely deserves it, but I may just leave it. Life's too short.
Sorry to hear your news Matt.
ReplyDeleteSarah.
Thank you Sarah. We knew it was coming and were by his side when it happened - peacefully in the end. All the best. Matt
DeleteSorry to hear about your dad, Matt. I'm glad you saw the bird, what an amazing creature. I always feel uncomfortable with twitching people's gardens, but the lockdown makes it a horrific idea. Not surprised you were there so briefly. It'll hang about, though... definitely!!!!!
ReplyDeleteTake care of yourself Dx
Thank you Debs - yep I share your discomfort with back garden twitches. They're awful! I'll never forget looking up at a Rosy Starling on a roof on Portland (with dad as it happens). The resident drew back her curtains to see a line of twitchers staring up - it was horrendous. Please say hi to Kev for me. All the best. Matt
ReplyDeleteVery sorry to hear about your dad Matt.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your brilliant blog it's a pleasure to read and a great help too
Thank you Bay - that means a lot to me. Take care and hope to see you out and about soon. Matt
DeleteWise words Matt, and sorry to hear your news. S
ReplyDeleteThank you Simon - very much appreciated. Take care. Matt
DeleteEcho others sentiments & sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteI suspected you may have seen the Mockingbird but other things more important at the moment. Glad you saw it anyway!
Thank you Neil - yep not at the forefront of my mind at the moment but a nice distraction. Not a big fan of back garden twitches though. Hope it's not too cold in London - guessing you've got it worse than us. All the best. matt
ReplyDeleteThink tonight will be the worst-down to -7 or -8C,though should be a sunny day though so hope to get out locally.
DeleteMatt, Very sorry to hear about your dad my condolences to you and the rest of the family. I know he always supported you and especially your birding and must have been proud of you and your your family. It's an awful time to lose anyone close to you.
ReplyDeleteGlad you popped out to see the bird, anyone living so close and didn't even need to get in a car shouldn't have any second thoughts about going to see it.
Hope all goes okay in the next few weeks
Mike
Thank you for your kind words Mike. Dad used to take me out to see birds but was never interested in birds. He just used to like seeing a smile on my face (and dreaded the mood I'd be in if I dipped). His interest, he always used to say, was in people and the sad irony of his last few months alive is that his friends and old parishioners couldn't come and spend time with him.
ReplyDeleteI popped back to see the Mockingbird again this morning - 3 other birders from outside Exmouth present - one on a mountain bike from Crewe! The lengths people will go to to avoid a fine, or perhaps more likely - to convince others that they haven't broken lockdown rules. I wonder how many of them were slagging off Dominic Cummings a few months ago. All the best. Matt
Sorry to read of your loss. My father passed away about 20 years ago and I know how hard it hits. It eventually turns into happy memories!
ReplyDelete(Andrew Cunningham)
Thank you Andrew - it's really nice to hear from you. I was trying to work out the last time I bumped into you and think it must have been nearly seven years ago - when you showed me the Red-cage fungi in Exmouth. It's scary how quickly time flies! I miss your blog. I removed the link to it a while after you stopped blogging. Please let me know if you ever get it back up and running. Take care. Matt
ReplyDelete