Wrynecks are a very special bird to me. My first was on 1st October 2000, when I was on a walk around Bourne with my late Grandfather. As we walked on the edge of town — now firmly in the middle of the Elsea housing estate! — a bird flew up off the path onto the fence beside it. I knew what it was but couldn't remember the name, though I knew I had seen it in the bird books. We walked back to the house, looked it up and there it was — Wryneck!
We went back and the bird was still there, hopping about on the short grass and showing down to just a few metres. I did a few sketches and went home to report it on Birdline. One of the last ones I saw before this was at Ferry Meadows, found by my friend Mike Weedon — whilst I was round at my grandparents' celebrating my Grandfather's birthday! We talked fondly of the time we had found one together some 22 years prior.
Sadly, my Grandfather is no longer with us, but he was very much in my thoughts when I went to see the recent Freiston bird last week. After a short wait it eventually showed well, and at times the crowd was just two of us — which made the encounter all the better. It fed and slept just metres away, completely fearless. A fantastic bird, just like my first all those years ago.
More to follow!
(lots more!)
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