Birds

BIRDS Pick a favourite

Words and Pictures by William Bowell

Whenever I meet someone new, if the subject of my hobbies and interest pops up, then there is one question that I can guarantee they will ask. And before you say it, no it isn’t ‘You like birds, eh? The feathered sort?’.Thankfully, that sort of questioning doesn’t crop up so much these days. I have to confess, dear reader, I have been known to raise a smile when this has been followed up with them adding (and more than once would you believe), ‘I like birds too. The sort with two legs….’

Anyway, I digress. The question I get asked most about my interest in wildlife is, ‘Oh, what it your favourite [insert bird, animal, insect]?’ And the truth is I never know how to answer this seemingly simple line of questioning. I could go for a generic like Waders or Warblers but this could lead to, ‘Oh which one in particular?’ and my answer would fall apart like a cheap suit.

Or perhaps I could reply with something well known such as a Kingfisher. I love a Kingfisher me, everyone loves Kingfishers. In fact, it is a pretty solid answer – the person asking me the question will know what I am talking about and will probably agree, Kingfishers are pretty funky. But all that glitters isn’t gold and as much as I love a Kingfisher, are they really my favourite?

My favourite bird is the Snowy Owl. I had longed for an encounter with a wild Snowy Owl for as long as I could remember and in February 2014 I was fortunate enough to visit Ontario in Canada. This trip was specially for the Snowy Owls. An incredible influx which had seen these Arctic dwelling Owls as far south as New York was a big enough draw for us to head Stateside and for a dream to be realised.

Some days we saw ten of these magnificent Owls and they were exactly where they belonged, in the snow. When you properly focus on one subject for photography for two weeks, you get to learn about individuals and different behaviours. One bird, Clementine (as she was named by the locals), was very happy in the company of humanoids and when not hunting for rodents would often sit in fields playing with dead sweetcorn heads. Another younger female nearby would hunt by speed and was less trusting, whilst a pure white male was the shyest and most elusive of them all. They really are my favourite bird and I had a tremendous two weeks photographing and enjoying them with a couple of pals. Since Canada, I have seen one in Britain and although not in a snowscape, it was still just as special. That bird was in Shetland, famously my favourite place in the world. So where better to see my favourite bird? Or indeed my favourite animal…

As a child I remember seeing documentaries of Orcas hunting seals in far off oceans and never could I imagine that I would witness such events. In the past ten years or so though, Orcas have become regular off Shetland and although the magical isles always seemed like an absolute horror to get to, a trip in autumn 2017 proved this isn’t the case.

The following year I travelled up to Shetland with my father to see Orcas. For context, dear reader, they are not seen every week. Before our visit in early June, they hadn’t been seen for three weeks so our chances seemed slim. Or it could be that with no sightings for three weeks, they were due a visit?

Snowy Owl

Thankfully they were due a visit and we were incredibly privileged to spend six hours with Busta, the male of matriarch 64’s pod. I had seen so many photos of Busta prior this trip, so I recognised his massive dorsal fin straight away. We watched this group go back and forth Yell Sound, we even caught the ferry a couple of times to try and head them off, which was very successful and got us some wonderful close views. We watched them hunt seals, leap out the water, sky hop (where they somehow raise their heads above the water vertically). It exceeded all expectations. We were immensely honoured. My Dad always describes that special six hours as being almost emotional and I tend to agree. There is something very special about sharing space with giant oceanic mammals. Just mind blowing.

So I guess it turn’s out I can answer the question! But since I appear to be unable to talk about them without going into song and verse, I think I should probably stick to answering with Kingfisher!

Will works at Grasmere Farm in Deeping St James (with a butcher’s and deli in Market Gate, Market Deeping) but in his spare time enjoys wildlife watching locally and across the country. He is also a keen photographer. Many of his images can be found at http://justwildimages. blogspot.co.uk/ and photo cards can be found for sale at Market Gate Deli in Market Deeping.