The Dangers of Discarded Fishing-line…….The Ness of Brodgar Book of Rhymes - Part Two…. Swartigill…..
by Bernie Bell - 08:43 on 30 August 2023
The Dangers of Discarded Fishing-line…
Monday, the 28th of August - we’d been for a walk round the Loch of Ayre, Holm and were coming back along the side of the Loch nearest to the road when we saw a Cormorant, struggling. It was between the edge of the water and a big patch of Flag-irises.
We could see a length of fishing-line between the bird and the irises. Mike approached very carefully and could then see that the line was attached to the bird. He stood back, away from the bird, and called to me to go to the car and fetch the spare waterproof jacket we keep in the boot - which I did. Mike then carefully placed the jacket over the bird’s head, and it became completely still so he could have a better look at what the problem was.
The fishing-line was wrapped round its body, twice, and once round one of its wings. The problem was – how to cut it? Mike had a brain-wave. I threw the keys to him, and he used the edge of a key to cut the line and succeeded in removing all of it and winding in the excess from among the irises – the bird stayed absolutely still throughout the procedure....
He carefully lifted the jacket from the bird, which flapped off across the Loch to join its mate. We watched them for a while and both were swimming about, heads up - looked fine.
We then walked down through St. Mary’s village to the public toilets by the pier to thoroughly wash our hands - Bird Flu is still with us.
It was a strong, healthy bird - but a thorough wash-up was a good idea.
In a way it was a good thing that the line had tethered the bird as if it had attempted to fly away with the line around its body and wing, it probably wouldn’t have lasted long.
It’s also a good thing that Mike’s time working at the Wildfowl & Wetland’s Trust, Slimbridge meant that he knew what to do – how to quiten a distressed bird.
This incident made me angry - very angry. An angler’s carelessness with their line had caused distress and could have caused suffering, injury and possibly death.
Fortunately, Mike rescued the Cormorant who returned to its mate and they’ll probably go on to produce more Cormorants!
I’m not making light of this – it’s a serious issue.
Loss of line can often be unintentional. In this case, the entanglement of the line in accessible bankside vegetation, high and dry from the water, suggests that the line could have been retrieved.
Most anglers behave responsibly – I’m afraid some don’t.
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The Ness of Brodgar Book of Rhymes - Part Two......
The Digger’s Weather Forecast
Overcast, but with good light,
Not so bright that it will dazzle.
Blue skies, hot sun can give a tan,
But can also frazzle.
A gentle breeze, to foil the midges
And cool us as we work.
No howling gales and thrashing rain
To turn the site to mire,
That’s all we ask, us Orkney diggers,
That’s all that we desire.
Oh – and to find things!
BB
Finds from Trench J included a bi-facially flaked flint – also known as a fabricator. That got me singing, based on ‘The Hot Stepper’ by Ini Kamoze ….
Here come the sharp cutter
Dig it up
It’s the flint fabricator
Dig it up
Excuse me mista’ digger
Dig it up
What ya’ think about that?
Kind-of by BB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15UffN8eilI
And then……
I made up a song, based on ‘Norwegian Wood ‘ by The Beatles…….
There once was a dig,
Or should I say,
It was this year.
It turned up some wood,
Isn’t it good,
Neolithic Wood?
Found by ’The Two J’s’,
Then carefully eased out by Jo.
When it gets analyzed,
There’ll be so much to know.
It might be from posts,
And if that’s so,
Then what were they for?
To support
Something?
Or raise something off of the floor?
And, given more time,
What might they find,
About that wood?
Isn’t it good,
Neolithic Wood!
BB
Structure 12 again….it’s not wood…but – look at that picture of the hammerstone…just….look at it!....
https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/another-hammerstone-and-a-site-awash-with-planning-frames/
It’s small
And it’s round
You don’t get many
To the pound
Hammerstone
Hammerstone………
BB
AND………
https://www.nessofbrodgar.co.uk/dates-2024/
My Lord!!!!! It’s there…..in writing……last dig at the Ness…..until ??????…..
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Swartigill…..
….resumes…..
https://archaeologyorkney.com/2023/08/29/swartigill-2023-2/
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Here’s one I made earlier…. https://theorkneynews.scot/2021/12/03/our-last-visit-to-woodwick-house/
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