BEAVERS on the river Tay - May 2023

Around ten years ago an unlikely creature turned up on the river Tay in Scotland. No one knew where they came from, whether they were released or escapees, it remains a mystery. Of course the creature we're talking about is the beaver. Extinct in this country for four hundred years, these animals have made a welcome come back. Easily dove tailing into a landscape that desperately needed them, they are now thankfully classed as fully wild and protected.

In mid May 2023 I took a week long holiday at Aberfeldy in Perthshire, Scotland. Walking the local area, the beavers were much in evidence. They had taken up residence in a deserted golf course across the river from Aberfeldy. This was pretty much a public park, used by joggers and dog walkers, yet the beavers were fine with it. They had taken to living in a ditch that branched off from the main river. Little dams had been constructed holding the water back, creating little reservoirs, and the local trees had been gnawed by their legendary teeth.

On the first night I got a good view of a beaver as it came up from the main river onto a dam, and then dived into the ditch where I lost it in the stagnant water. For the next couple of days I would again catch brief views, usually ended by a big splash as the animals escaped from me. It was becoming one of those ones where I came so close, yet unable to get a decent photo...

And so it came to the last night and it was a case of getting photo or going back home with nothing. It was 19:00 hours when I wandered down to the deserted golf course to look for the beavers. Creeping round their homely ditch, I took steps with great care trying not to disturb any beavers in the area. Finally I caught sight of one in the water, top part exposed. It swam down the ditch, and I cautiously followed. Tree branches got in the way of the camera and I couldn't get a decent shot. The beaver swam on, occasionally diving, so often I had to guess its position underwater by the trail of bubbles. 

I think the beaver got used to my presence as eventually it got out of the water, and started gnawing on some tree. Again I didn't get good enough views as the area was fairly overgrown. The beaver would carry on like this, going in and out of the water, plodding along. And I followed, desperate for a photo but not wanting to scare the animal. Time wore on and I was wondering if it just wasn't my day, when suddenly the beaver climbed up the bank, across the ditch from me, and I had a clear shot! For several minutes the beaver posed, completely aware of my presence, yet deciding I was safe. I got some good photos, and actual proof I had seen a beaver, which is all I wanted.

In a world as naturally sterile as the UK, we may think that there isn't the space for animals like beavers. Yet the repopulation of our rivers by them proves there is a lot of room for these larger animals in our countryside. They are such popular animals, an animal that is known by most people, and may inspire people to take a greater interest in nature. And for me it was a memorable way to spend the evenings of my holiday in Scotland.

And So It Goes: The End of Suffolk Birdwatcher

After more than six years its now time to end my birdwatching blog. For some time the number of people reading my blog has declined until a week before I decided to finish I had two views, less than a view every two days. If out of the billions of people on the internet, only two people are reading my blog in a week, its a sure sign no one's interested. This lack of interest was a sign to stop writing and end my blog, and so I arrived at the decision to finish suffolkbirdwatcher.

I have always enjoyed writing my blog, and at times it felt almost like someone was accompanying me out in the field birdwatching. The photos I took were all taken in mind with what I would put up on my blog, and I often went round those nature reserves composing what to write in my head. A great deal of thought went into the blogs, but not any longer.

And so after 433 posts and so far nearly 15,000 reads, it all comes to an end, as everything does. A lot of me has gone into these pages, a lot of effort and creativity, I have all put up there for everyone to see. And no one's particularly interested, which is fine, the blog was always a bit niche, a bit too esoteric so I wasn't expecting much popularity in the first place. But I was sure that at least someone in the entire world might be interested...but I was wrong.

Although this blog is coming to an end, I will still go out birding, I mean nothing is going to stop me doing that, but my sightings will remain private, written up in some journal, for only myself to read. And I will still be birdwatching in the glorious county of Suffolk, I mean I do still live here, and I still think its still the best county for birds, no argument.

These will be the last words ever written by me on this blog, and if you've been following me then thank you very much, and if you are a casual reader welcome to the end of my blog. All things come to an end, and, as ever, good luck, and good birding!