Clot de Galvany
An earlyish walk down the Clot this morning. All the usual suspects were present and correct, much the same as my previous blog, with one rather significant exception.
As I approached the popular hide, I sat down, took my camera bag off and, completely out of the blue, a White Stork dropped out of the sky!
Well, talk about getting the morning off to a good start!
I immediately started unzipping my camera bag, and I mean immediately. There was no time for messing about. I was practically fighting the zip in a state of controlled panic, when suddenly I heard it...
A VERY LOUD MAN
And, of course, he wasn't just talking quietly. No, he was clearly having a conversation with someone on the other side of the world.
He continued his phone call as he approached the hide. I even put my finger to my lips in a desperate attempt to encourage a little peace and quiet.
But no, subtlety was clearly lost on him.
And, as you might have guessed, the White Stork took one look at the situation and decided it had better things to do.
Off it went!
I watched it disappear, thinking to myself, "Bloody hell, that's a cracking bird for the Clot, and I've got absolutely NOTHING to show for it!"
I was giving the man a look that could have melted his mobile phone, but he was completely oblivious to what had just happened. Probably still chatting away about what he'd had for breakfast, or his ingrowing toe nail.
Not one to give up easily, I jumped on my bike and set off in the direction the Stork had flown, hoping to catch up with it. No such luck. The Stork had clearly got the better transport arrangements.
Eventually, I admitted defeat and headed home.
On arriving, I went straight through to the kitchen and opened the back door. Fortunately, my house overlooks virtually the whole of the Clot de Galvany, so I thought I'd have a little look around from the comfort of home.
Nothing!
Not a feather in sight.
Then my attention was drawn to a Yellow-legged Gull making an absolute racket. It was kicking up such a fuss that I thought something must be going on.
And you honestly couldn't make this up...
There, perched right on the very top of a builder's crane, was the White Stork!
You've got to be kidding me!
I grabbed the camera quicker than a twitcher hearing the words "rarity alert" and managed to fire off a few shots.
I quickly texted Jeanette with the news, then returned to the kitchen for a few more photos. Much more comfortable than chasing it around on a bicycle, I have to say!
I watched as the Stork eventually took off, heading north in the direction of the airport.
So, after being robbed of my photo opportunity by a man and his mobile phone, the White Stork had kindly decided to turn up again for a private photo session.
Perhaps next time I'll take my camera out BEFORE sitting down... and invest in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for everyone else!
You just never know what the Clot is going to throw at you!
Have fun
Make some news go birding
Photos to follow
Cheers Bryan
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