Six Weeks

Six weeks. Twenty posts. That's the size of it, that's the minimum requirement. I was on a bit of a roll, it seemed easily achievable. And then I went away, a birding trip to Ecuador, and all thought of writing ebbed away. Vanished in a maelstom of Tanagers and Antpittas. This is no bad thing of course, and in itself I expect the trip to provide around eight posts. This therefore leaves 12, of which these inane ramblings are one.

I actually have a handful of short weekends to cover before I get to Ecuador; I am undecided if I will bother. There was a weekend on the west coast of Ireland with Mick, a weekend on Gibraltar with Rob, and also a trip to Santorini with Mrs L. I kind of feel I ought to. Especially now I have mentioned it. Ireland also has some highway robbery that I would like to shine a light on, when the Avis office in Shannon fraudulently deprived me of £150 or so. Scumbags. I have it all documented, and I felt sufficiently pissed off to write to the head of Avis in Europe detailing the crime. He of course ignored me, bastard, and I am really struggling with motivation to pursue it further. And I thought Ryanair were the thieves.... The money is irrelevant, the principle is everything, but I am busy and tired, and the initial incensed fire has died. Maybe typing it out here will rekindle the flame?

When in Rome

Gibraltar was fun. Initially billed as a vismig extravaganza it turned out to be far from that. Instead Rob and I walked miles and miles in search of birds - any birds - which were in short supply. Lots of steep climbs, hurty knees and ankles. Somewhat of a bucket list destination. Very few birds but strangely satisfying. I am sure it is worth a few paragraphs. 

Where could it be?

Santorini was excellent. I tend not to document short trips a deux with Mrs L, they are often fairly extravagent and may not sit that well. But this was oh so photogenic. We are not of the Instagram generation, but we had a lot of fun watching young people for whom this is clearly very important. Indeed their entire raison d'être, it must be exhausting. We were content to spend many hours gazing out at the caldera, eating seafood and drinking Assyrtiko until it came out of our ears. Somehow I eked out 27 birds along the way, including a migrating Wheatear on Thirasia on our way back from Mikra Thira. Oh go on then....

And now that I think about it there was a weekend in Barcelona and a weekend in Lyon as well. But this is a blog about birding in Wanstead and I wouldn't want people to get confused.....