Touché! Godwit Swordfight
I mentioned in an earlier post that Godwits spend a lot of time fighting and somebody commented "Sword-fighting presumably?" Well this shot really shows them sword-fighting with the right bird making a hit, hence the title "Touché!". Touché is also used euphemistically during a discussion when a clever point has been made at the other's expense.
Birds usually only fight when there is something worth fighting for, like a mate, a territory, or scarce food. So it seems odd that a gregarious species like Black-tailed Godwit would spend so much time fighting when it isn't the breeding season and food is around if they searched for it. This was taken at Martin Mere where large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits spend the winter.
One final thing; the last time anyone said "Touché!" to me was after he had complimented me on my photography then asked me what camera I used. Instead on answering I told him about the discussion between Ernest Hemingway and Ansell Adams, the great landscape photographer at the launch of an exhibition of his work. Hemingway said "You take some Goddamn fine pictures Ansell, what kind of camera do you use?" Ansell replied "You write goddamn fine stories Ernest, what sort of typewriter do you use?"
Touché! Godwit Swordfight
I mentioned in an earlier post that Godwits spend a lot of time fighting and somebody commented "Sword-fighting presumably?" Well this shot really shows them sword-fighting with the right bird making a hit, hence the title "Touché!". Touché is also used euphemistically during a discussion when a clever point has been made at the other's expense.
Birds usually only fight when there is something worth fighting for, like a mate, a territory, or scarce food. So it seems odd that a gregarious species like Black-tailed Godwit would spend so much time fighting when it isn't the breeding season and food is around if they searched for it. This was taken at Martin Mere where large numbers of Black-tailed Godwits spend the winter.
One final thing; the last time anyone said "Touché!" to me was after he had complimented me on my photography then asked me what camera I used. Instead on answering I told him about the discussion between Ernest Hemingway and Ansell Adams, the great landscape photographer at the launch of an exhibition of his work. Hemingway said "You take some Goddamn fine pictures Ansell, what kind of camera do you use?" Ansell replied "You write goddamn fine stories Ernest, what sort of typewriter do you use?"