I spent yesterday sorting out insurances, finances and all the other stuff which those of my generation still refer to as paperwork but which involves relatively little paperwork these days. This day and age it means spending the day on the computer setting up, altering, and generally juggling with websites and then ringing help lines to confirm things (usually your identity). I've also discovered that having set up various accounts for various things one then has to print off forms, complete them and then post them off "so that we have a real signature". Eh? I thought the purpose of having to do it all on line was.....oh, never mind. So I have a little pile of letters for the post this morning to show for a whole days spent on the computer and phone. C'est la vie. Ce qui est, je crois, meilleure que l'alternative.
However there was a real highlight to the day.
Earlier in the month I had a young male Sparrowhawk in the garden - The Hunter Hunted. So when I looked up from making a cup of coffee yesterday afternoon I was delighted to see a pair of raptors flying across the crofts between me and the sea. The camera was two feet from my hand and within seconds was switched on and pointed through the kitchen window. I managed three shots before they had flown out of range. One of them was usable for identification:
I was puzzled, however, because my initial reaction was they were Kestrels but I couldn't recall seeing a Kestrel here before. So I consulted an expert, Steve Duffield of Western Isles Wildlife whom I'd previously in touch with about.........WHAT!! (exclamation marks not ?s on purpose). I'd been in touch with him about a Kestrel which I'd positively identified and blogged about in July in a post pithily entitled Kestrel on Lewis.
I definitely need a rest. Either that or.....no, I don't want to think about it.
