As the weather is still so good, we decided to visit our friends Mo & Ian up in Gela village, So an early start for us, as its about an hour and a half drive across the mountains. I woke first as usual to the dawn chorus of both birds & cats. Made coffee for Ali, ( my wife's name is Alison) Yak pee for me, well it ain't bloody herbal! Fed the cats to shut them up, showered & dressed.
The idea was to combine a day with mates and also to check out the birding around their place, as I am always looking to take our guests to different venues. Just before leaving, we gave our two sons instructions if we had anyone wanting a room. That done I turned to see if Ali was ready, Wow she always looks so stunning, she has these amazing blue eyes, just like the blue on a Jays wing. See you just cant get away from birding!
Grabbed the bins and off we go. All the time we are driving Ali looks out the window, "You're not saying much" I comment," I am looking for birds so you dont have to, you just drive" What does she mean!!
Journey's end and we arrive at Gela. Ian & Mo are converting this old property into an activity location for holidays, I'll keep you posted, as work is STILL in progress.
Like me Ian is a chippy, so its nice to look round and see what he's been doing. Mo just talks! She is so full of things to say that its never quiet, which is good, as we always have a really good time in their company. The day progresses, Ian and I struggle with a bloody great Iron log burner, that we have to lugg from his van up to the house, Christ I came here for some birding, not working.
Seriously its nice when you can help, as I know from experience, there is never anyone around when you need them. Anyway Mo informs us that lunch, remember I said lunch, will be ready in 30mins, great! so Ian and I decide to go for a walk to see whats about. Ian is not a birder, YET, but loves wildlife, plus I also took along my beasty Chinese bins, one look through these and Ian wanted a pair, see I told you so! We took a track directly from the house that ran NE and leads to a chapel on the peak. We had a few nice birds, including a close soaring Buzzard, Raven, Coal Tit & Goldcrest to name a few. Then as we broke from the forest, I noticed a rocky out crop, so I had a quick scan around, and their on the rocks under a small tree where the three deer that Mo & Ian always look out for, this is Bulgaria and hunting is a big deal here! Which brings me to the crap part of my day, Sitting not 100mts away I noticed a man sitting on a low bank, he had in his hands a high powered rifle with a huge telescopic sight. As its not hunting season (Oct-Dec only) I thought that he was just plinking away at some random target, BUT NO, not 10 feet away was a bush and he was shooting small birds, WHAT!!!! my temper was bursting, as I watched he shot a Great tit male, did nothing with it, just shot it because he could, and it was there.
He didn't just kill the male but probably a whole nest of young to, as with no male the hen will abandon the nest. I wanted to go down there and wrap the f.....g rifle round his head. But this is not my village, its Ians and he has to live here, so its better to say nothing, but make it known by body language that you ain't happy, with this Mindless Bloody Idiot.
We got back, embittered and sad at what I saw, vented my anger to Ali then finally ate LUNCH at 4.30pm. Good o'l Mo, she was so busy chatting that she forgot the time, still we had a lovely luncnner, (that lunch- dinner) plus she made birds custard for dessert, well you cant say owt after that. Thanks Mo & Ian we had a great day, with great mates.
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