ASs some regulars may know I sometimes have a few health problems that at times restricts my access to the countryside so many of the restrictions that we have endured, and are still enduring, do not feel strange to Chris and myself. My immune system is pretty shot up at times so I'm quite good at avoiding numbers of people, I'm maybe not as anti social as it seems, and I've never been a lover of shopping unless its books. When we were recommended to shield in our own homes we actually realised we could walk the riverside fields with permission from the owners and had little chance of meeting anyone so we felt quite happy there. When restrictions eased we have four small nature reserves within a couple of miles of home with plenty of space to avoid close contact but still both watch birds and talk about birds with others doing the same, quite a little anti social bird club we are. There has been good birds aplenty and as winter has drawn closer the wintering Thrushes arrived we have been doing counts on them. One of our local reserves has got a wonderful Starling murmuration,60,000 birds at least, which we managed to social distance the grandsons to. We have found by visiting the busiest of the reserves late afternoon most birders have gone home and we enjoy the spectacle of birds going to roost. We do miss visiting our local moorland but they are outside the 3 mile radius we put on ourselves, they will still be there when all this is over and we settle down to our new normal. Because I am in that at risk category we seem to be swimming in hand sanitiser but Chris keeps an eye on what I get up to. I just hope other folk are coping as well as us and getting the support we have been getting, take care out there we will beat this lot somehow.
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can
Unknown said:There's still too many people who are not taking this seriously enough
I agree Tony, it really beggars belief how after so much effort has been put in to emphasising the dangers of not adhering to the safety rules; pleading to people not to put additional stress on the NHS and other covid workers. I see it where I am living in our communal block where non bubbles/non residents are constantly visiting (one younger couple in particular who frankly don't give a fig) and although we always wear our face coverings and disposable gloves when using the communal areas to access our daily walk, I was half way down the staircase when 3 people were coming up with one of the residents who were visiting together when they are well aware they are breaking the law. This has happened so many times (particularly with this one couple) that I had the management company send a general circular to all residents (I gave no names) to remind folk that there are vulnerable people in the block and that they should obey the rules. One poor resident lady is now living with her son as it is not safe for her to be here; it's time people took a look in the mirror at themselves and remember that their actions could result in not just one but multiple deaths. They are totally selfish when the majority of people are continuing to do the right thing having not seen friends/family members for months and months. What is it going to take for those who think they are unaffected by this virus and the more dangerous new strains.
Yes, the scientists have been excellent in conveying the latest figures, news and advice, we just need everyone to listen and take heed or we'll never get out of this mess.
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Regards, Hazel
Best wishes
Hazel in Southwest France
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Kind regards, Ann
Unknown said:Crikey, just been watching the briefing. We've still got a long haul in front of us. There's still too many people who are not taking this seriously enough.
TJ, I fear you're nearer the truth than you realise!
A very long haul, esp if the govt pursues only a single dose rather than the prescribed two doses. There are areas where many vulnerable people are overdue their first dose, so the program isn't going to plan.
As for folk not taking it seriously enough, with the adverts for international holidays, I fear among the positivity, things are not going to be as rosie as hoped. There are a lot of folk talking about booking holidays abroad in hope and out of frustration of the lockdowns we've endured, but unless internationally all countries complete to the same time scale, we've still a long way to go.
I still feel it'll be 2022 before we really see some final progress.
I'd like to be wrong, I want to be wrong, and I'd welcome folk telling me I'm wrong.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
I think you are right, Mike. Clare is still living in hope that a break in Mull will be possible in autumn but nothing has been booked.
"Birds are, quite simply, little miracles - and as such they require care and consideration."
Magnus Ullman
My Flickr account is here
Limpy said:I think you are right, Mike. Clare is still living in hope that a break in Mull will be possible in autumn but nothing has been booked.
I'm living in hope that I'm wrong, but I'm too much of a realist.
Both Mrs PR and myself are unanimous no hols this year.
After I read your post, Robbo, I checked out the AirBnB website to enquire about a theoretical stay in Inverness next month. It had a link to their Covid policy at the top of the page, but it also showed me a whole host of places I could book. Just unbelievable - isn't anyone tracking how many bookings are still being made through sites like this? I wholeheartedly agree about demanding contributions from the profiteers and they should start with bloody Amazon.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.