Saturday, 4 January 2014

A gaggle or a Skein?

Was just about capable of taking Dylan for a walk down to the village green today (walking slowly).
I had noticed that a dead tree besides the stream had been earmarked (a red cross spray painted) for removal. Whilst I can understand the health and safety concerns of the local authorities, this tree provided a nesting hole for a pair of greater spotted woodpeckers last summer. Although many people use the green, I doubt that many were aware of the birds' presence. Anyway, the recent storms have brought down the tree and it has been washed partly downstream, so the chain saw will not be necessary.
Whilst throwing sticks for the dog a large (fifty) flock of greylag geese flew over, calling loudly. I made the mistake of muttering something about a 'gaggle' when I was quickly and forthrightly corrected by Daphne who informed me that it was a 'skein' and not a 'gaggle'.
Technically of course, she was correct, as the birds were in the air, however, this was no well-formed 'v' shaped squadron of geese, but a real mass of birds with no distinct pattern. They certainly appeared to be more of a 'gaggle' than anything else.

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