Article for 2010 Apr 05
Part of the “Easter 2010” series.
2010
2010 Apr
Apr 05 Easter Mon “Golden-eye I spy” 
I saw two pair of golden-eye on Loch Alvie whist I was in a car. A bird-book says that golden-eye are spreading across Speyside (i.e. this area of the Highlands).
And then we went to the Highland Wildlife Park
to see the animals within that Ark.
We saw a few Przewalski’s,1
The only herd in Scottish valleys.
Mum saw a pheasant in the wood.
I didn’t/couldn’t see the bird.
We also saw the mishmi takin
which exited the woods, then went back in.
Mercedes the bear was chilling out,
happy and care-free and without a pout.
Stop the press! What is that bird?
It’s a lapwing! It’s a herd!
Their bellies are white; their wings, dark green.
Good gracious, have you ever seen
so many wild birds so close to cars
and excited boys with cameras?
My camera said “click click click” chur-
ning out picture after photo after picture.
As well as lapwings in their dozens.
we espied their tricolour cousins.
The oystercatchers were rather great;
One pair even tried to mate!
The H.W.P. is like a bee-hive
with lots of plants and animals alive.
The sights were seen, the descriptions are scribed!
Footnote
1 Przewalski’s horses. Pronounced “prez-WOLL-skeez” by my Mum, “purr-zeh-WAL-skeez” by me, and “shih-WOLL-skeez” or “zih-WOLL-skeez” by Wikipedia. Take your pick.