Shakespeare, Macbeth:
MACDUFF, on hearing that his
family has been murdered:
“All my pretty ones?
Did you say all? O hell-kite!
All?
What, all my pretty chickens and
their dam
At one fell swoop?”
SERVANT:
“Yes, milord. Vrooom!!”
From: John Layton
[
Sent: Sunday, 8 November 2009 1:23 PM
To: Canberra Birds
Subject: [canberrabirds] Hello! New computer. Vroom!!
Thirteen years ago I bought a computer. Last week it gave up
the ghost, must have been a lemon. So today I have my new machine
up, running and loaded for bear with spanky new Windows 7. Vrooom!!!
This is my first email, so bear with boy with new toy. Late
yesterday afternoon went for a drive along Parkwood Road, Holt, which may
appear a nondescript semi-rural thoroughfare but has revealed some
interesting birds lately, eg Brown Songlark & Horsfield’s Bushlark
last week. Yesterday was surprised to see five Wood Ducks huddled around
a few remaining rainwater puddles right at the edge of the bitumen. Couple of
Masked Lapwings nearby and a number of Australasian Pipits here and there along
the roadside fence. Saw a Nankeen Kestrel hovering, suddenly it descended
in one fell stoop (is “fell stoop” correct and, in this instance,
appropriate? It’s an _expression_ I’m never sure about.)The kestrel
was only down for a few seconds in long grass before flying off rapidly
as if heading to a favoured feeding perch but couldn’t see if it carried
anything.
John Layton.
