One for the Ornithologists

From the start, the feathered friends need to look at the extra photo.

Need the help from the likes of Nogbad and Velofor. Buzzard or Kite?

Please tell me it's a Kite! I got it all wrong this time last year but am sure this time it is a Kite. Would be great news as the buzzards have been plaguing us with their daily lunchtime watch over our property. Even fear for our young kitten.

The bird was a very long way off when I got the camera in to action, probably the best part of 500m or more. It had been circling directly over our property as I drove in after the morning walk with Flash. Angie pointed it out as I got out of the car and I just saw it close by as it took off to explore further. I hope it and mate settle down close by, we have a lovely pile of large twigs on the fields for them to PYO for the nest.

Four or five years ago we had their nest at bedroom window level but with he help partly of storms but mainly the forestry commission, the large spruces nearest to the house have been cut back year for year. Lat year was even worse. The Kites had started on a nest near the house when the Forestry people turned up to clear away the fallen trees close to the house (and even across the fence in to our property) and while doing so took the opportunity of having the harvester to take down some of the standing spruces on the edge, including exactly the one the Kites were using. Needless to say they moved several hundred meters away and while they were around all summer, not as often and as near as we like.

So I hope the forestry lads start to think about global warming not just in relation to what they plant but also when they harvest. If spring is coming earlier, then they need to get out earlier and let the birds start on their annual business in peace.

I don't think I have seen the make of skidder shown in the Blip spotted on  the morning walk in Ottobeuren's Bannwald, just above the Basilica
A lovely sunny but cold morning with a dusting of snow overnight.

It's from a company that means nothing to me although the manufacturing is done about 50km away. Seems HSM is a specialist forestry machine manufacturer and build around 120 units a year. I know nothing about the business so can't judge but suspect they have great products, more or less tailor.made but at a price. I did search it for a plate to get info on year etc but nowhere to be found. I suspect a few years old a model 208F and I think maybe with a 14 to. load capacity on it's rather shortened trailer. Info gleamed from the HSM website

I followed the link to the UK agents, a business in Kendal in the Lake District with the wonderful title of "Exc@v8 - Total Plant Solutions Ltd", clearly very big in the specialised excavator/plant business. In general terms, companies with this seem to me to be the future for so much of us in the "developed" world, regardless of the product or service involved. Multinationals being all things to all men, not interested in their product other than what it does for shareholder value (read management bonus) and thus mediocre and distanced from their customers is I am sure part of what is to blame for some of the geopolitical problems we are experiencing.

While HSM barely features on their pages, I would love to know their views on Brexit but I fear the next year or two could be bumpy given they source many of their products from abroad, particularly European but not just EU countries, the Swiss being very big. I seriously wish them well and hope they can prove that quality of product, advice and service is not sacrificed by unnecessary borders and hindrances.