This is more rather than less than I posted on BirdForum earlier. The snowy scribbler raised the flag for another stupid o’clock BF meet at Bolton Abbey. Since I joined BF this has been a much anticipated annual event.
The trip is a rare opportunity to enjoy this avian extravaganza that is rightly called a dawn chorus. Not to say that it is better to the usual urban fare (but it is). No two visits are the same. One year it was a couple of Woodcock disputing territory. Another, I found a patch of Toothwort (more would follow). And this is probably a good time to gloss over Mandarin Duck.
Going back to the non-avian highlight – I wasn’t convinced about the naming of a female Otter so did a bit of rummaging. Queen and sow were touted on less reputable websites. The fact is she’s a bitch.
What I wasn’t expecting to find is that it was used as a verb for a form of poaching; to otter. My favourite (obsolete) definition is “An American breed of sheep having short crooked legs and long bodies”. I can’t see that doing well in the Strid.
And further, the word derives from the same Indo-European base as water, variously; otr, otor et. seq. It may also be one of those Middle English words that have lost the ‘n’, as in nadder; notyre.
That’s quite enough rummaging in the OED online (free access with a UK library card btw).
Well, maybe not quite finished. Five consecutive nights of cricket from NZ… bloody brilliant finale. Gripping.
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April 15, 2013 at 14:56
Andy K
When I realised what time I would have to depart I did question whether it was worth the trip and in truth I still am (in a very small part of the back of my mind). But Im fighting against myself, can I really turn down pied & spotted flycatchers, wood warbler & redstart? And lets not forget the joy of ‘wild’ Mandarin wandering around your feet!