Gunfire

Brief...
My brief today was simple... Wander into the countryside, bring home some media.
Maybe just some photos...
Quality dependent on how long I've got left in my rechargeable batteries, not till they need recharging... till they need replacing!
They are not charging up as well as they use to a year ago, when purchased. 2500 x 4 and 2700 x 4... the 7's have gone, can't use them any more. 5's going the same way!


Gunfire...
But, the day didn't bring anything I expected.
As we get closer to Halloween... maybe the odd phenomena will occur from time to time... even though all experiences today can be explained, there was a strange air.
I'm usually out there on my own, cept for the odd dog walker, who's curiosity may have furthered his journey, and onto the trail I use, and up to the farm.
For a start a large flock of what I thought were lost geese from a distance (they were in a recently harvested wheat field, and very little movement from them) turned out to be nothing more than artificial decoys for a chap gunning for pigeons. Whom I mistook for a birder, he was awaiting his prey, behind the camouflage of a hide.
And then I saw his shotgun, as I got closer to talk to him.
He was a little disappointed at the lack of pigeons in the area...
it's usually thick with pigeon, from my experiences.
I think maybe I can explain that one...
A Bird of prey, couldn't make out What, possibly a Kestrel. The Picture above may give you a clue. Managed to quickly turn and get this 1 snap as it flew away.
I spotted the BOP in an adjacent wheat field, it had seemingly spooked all the pigeons and evidence of a mini pigeon massacre littered the trail. As did horse shoe prints, which had been present from beginning to the end of my journey today, even through the narrow tree-lined grassy passageways. And from what I could make out, maybe a Horse and a cart, judging from the markings in the mud and upturned turf. I've never seen these markings in the 2 years I've been walking this trail, innocently explained.
Nor have I seen anyone shooting pigeons on this trail.
Or such pigeon bloodshed, all innocently explained.
There was a stray sheep too, wandering the wheat field, I believe the BOP was stalking it, till I came along and scared it away... and the Sheep, whom wandered back to the pasture from whence it came.
All Innocently explained... But in one visit?! The sun had gone in and dark clouds had emerged over proceedings, the farm seemed eerily silent.
my initial conversation with the pigeon guy was ended when he spotted a Pigeon, and proceeded to reel off a couple of rounds...
Gunfire, very loud, and only a few yards away!
Asked him on my return... He shot it.

Bird Sightings
Nuthatch...
Managed to spot for a very brief moment a Nuthatch, sitting on a mound of straw. First one I've seen, but unfortunately it was too quick for my lens as it flew from the straw to the hedgerow.
I had no luck in locating it, maybe next time, now I know where it is.

Butterflies
Red Admiral...
Suburbia restricted the opportunity to photograph it!
First Red Admiral I've seen in 2 years.

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