🧙♂️ IN PARIS, I LIKE TO SAY I HAVE MANY FRIENDS… and most of them are feathered.
For the Lake District, it would be: “I have many friends in the Lakes, and most of them are… woolly!”, although that might sound a bit weird, because if they were really ‘in the lakes’, presumably they’d be scaly.
However, there’s something special about birds, and they feature constantly in my photos, be that on the north or the south side of the English Channel.
I don’t think the Channel’s any more English than it is French, and the latter call it simply ‘la Manche’ and not la Manche française. ‘Manche’ means sleeve, and you could imagine it looks a bit like one, but I digress.
I may have developed a sixth sense attuned to the presence of avian amigos, for whenever I’m out and about, I seem to spot them and they often lift my photos from frumpy to the finely feathered kind.
Today’s friend arrived on top of an information panel by the Keswick bus stop at the same time as I did. A smart black crow with seemingly nowhere better to go and that suited me fine. He stayed just long enough to feature here and thanks to the internet, even folks on the other side of the planet can admire his plumage; lovely plumage!
I really must move on from crows, though. This is the second Chronicle in a row I’m writing about this topic and despite there even being a green area here in Keswick called Crow Park, there’s more to write about than just random birds, however much they impress me.
Wildlife is essential, though, to bring photos to life, and sheep shall continue to feature heavily in my work here, which, as they say, will never be done.
Talking of feral fauna, I’ve been hearing reports of (potentially) killer cows going on the rampage and munching menacingly towards gentle walkers innocently making their way up that grassy hummock they call Latrigg.
Despite their usual passive demeanour, cows can become aggressive and trample you down, particularly if they feel threatened by dogs and have calves to protect. Well, wouldn’t you?!
I won’t ruin my future article on this but suffice it to say that I’m planning a ramble up there later and I’ll report when I get back, if I do make it back…
Happy munching!
The Laggard of Lakeland 🌄
🧭 (Lakeland Chronicles No.40)
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