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Writer's pictureCrone

On cows, woodpeckers and unidentified calls

Updated: May 25, 2023

Picture me out on an Ancient Woodland Survey. OS map, the Trust's map on my phone with locations marked, snacks and drinks and sturdy shoes.


Now, you're expecting me to trespass, aren't you? On this occasion, this exact occasion, one of the seven woods, no, I did not. There was a public footpath sign and access over the electric fence. There was also a Private sign - but I thought, "Look, this actually IS a public right of way. You can bollocks with your sign."


Problem was, the footpath led right through a field of cows. I don't mind that. I like cows. But they did have young and they were very interested in me. I figured I would go round the area in which they were fenced off. They hurried over to me lowing. One cow had a ring in her nose. Yes, a cow: she had udders not testes. Even I can't misidentify that. But it made me wonder about her.


I spoke to the cows and told them I was not interesting and walked on. They stood there. This was a good thing. Until the young ones changed their minds and started running. That set them all off.


They ran to the next line of fence and I saw what was upsetting them. One cow on the fresh grass. The herd thought I was there to let the rest of them onto the lush pasture.


Now, those cows were large and the fence was small. And I was with the lucky cow where the grass was greener.

I saw the cow with the ring in her nose approaching.

Hmm. It would have been better if all had made it, but only half did. The cows on the old field were incredibly pissed off.


So, I gave up the plan to survey that wood and walked to the village where I tried to find a farmer. Astonishingly, some kind villagers told me the name of the farmer and then said, "That's him!" A tractor was approaching. I flagged down the farmer and explained about how I had upset the cows. He was good about it and said he'd get someone along to sort them out.


Onto another wood - where I did trespass. Here I pissed off a blackbird, whom you can hear shouting at me throughout this video. I would have left as it was a waste of her energy to scream at me - but I was engrossed in watching a great spotted woodpecker, who was not interested in me at all. Maybe you can see him. Shame you can't hear him - he was pecking out insects rather than drumming so the sound was quieter (than the blackbird).

Finally, more illicit wandering. And at the start of this video is a call I could not recognise. Anyone know what it is?


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maplekey4
May 24, 2023

A most exciting cow and farmer adventure and well described!! That electric wire wasn't up to the challenge. Looked like quite a big herd.

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