Some thoughts on covid 19 restrictions

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.

  • Thanks, Clare, agreed, fingers crossed, that all of our UK holidays later in the year will actually be possible. I also hope that there will be a booster for all of us for one or more variants of the virus by the autumn, and that wealthy governments across the world will finance vaccines for the rest of the world asap. That may be the only way to get back to normal for everyone. Just imagine--people might even be able to travel abroad again!
  • How lovely for you both, fingers crossed that all goes well and that we have no more restrictions laid down or lockdowns again and that you will be able to have your trip to Mull. It will give Limpy something to look forward to and I am sure he will take plenty photos with that huge lens of his!
  • I know Mull is popular with many of my amateur wildlife photographer contemporaries so it should be a treat. They often recommend a trip out on the boats to get the WT Eagles fishing.
  • We'll certainly be looking to book a boat trip - I want to make the most of our time there. Funnily enough I'm excited at the prospect of seeing hooded crows - I haven't seen one for a long time and I'm looking forward to getting some photos (OK, a lot of photos) of them while I'm in their part of the world!
  • On your bucket list for Mull should be raptors, last time we were thre about 5 years ago we had great fun looking for White Tailed and Golden Eagles plus Hen Harriers as well as sea birds. Plenty of local guides if you want help. Also trips to Isle Staffa and Iona are worth while.
  • It is sounding good, Clare--do you have room for 2 more--lol! (Just joking--way too far for us, sadly, at least this year!)
  • Wendy S said:
    On your bucket list for Mull should be raptors

    Eagles and hen harriers certainly are, but anything I don't see in my part of the world will be viewed with excitement.  Hence the hoodies.

  • Unknown said:
    It is sounding good, Clare--do you have room for 2 more--lol! (Just joking--way too far for us, sadly, at least this year!)

    You should consider going.  It's not such a hike if you break the journey, and it's worth it to see such stunning scenery and fantastic wildlife. 

    God only knows when it'll next be a good idea to go abroad.

  • So my odds of seeing them at the end of September are a bit long. Thanks for mentioning them, though, you never know.
  • I am over the moon to report that our daughter has had her first Covid jab. Yay! She is 21 with a minor heart issue.