Today's pic comes with a story attached - one of high octane derring-do!
Well, maybe not!
I was homeward bound after the morning stroll along the bay at Sandymount when I noticed a murder of hooded crows making an almighty fuss on the wet sands about fifty metres ahead of me. I hastened to the scene and arrived to see them going hammer and tongs for the chap you see below, clawing and pecking him to within an inch of his life.
Naturally the poor chap was terrified.
All I could do was try and frighten them off by cursing like a sailor and waving the camera at them, but, thank the Lord, it was enough and they squawked off within seconds, cursing me as they went - and leaving little Redser here alone, forsaken, in shock - but alive!
Thankfully he didn't look too bad either, no cuts or breaks that I could see, though I do have a suspicion that it was a bad leg that got him into the situation in the first place. So I thought that, just in case, I should really hang around a bit to see if he'd be okay - he may not be out of the woods yet, he could need a vet, or worse - the crows might even come back for him!
So, for the first time in my life, I then spent a good half hour talking to a Redshank! And as I did I could see him (or her, not sure which!) relaxing a little more as the fear inside it began to lessen - or maybe as it started to get a couple of my better gags!
Either way, I have to say as a bird photographer, I was never happier to see this wee bird up and fly off on me - even if I was only half way through the one about the bear and the rabbit!
But I reckon the darn crows have my cards marked now!
More soon ...
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| Stone the crows, I say! |
