Out Birding

I was putting on my Haglöfs GRYM at 7.30 AM a Saturday in February. Not since October had I worn my favourite trekking boots. But today was special.

In 2 degrees below 0 we were 15 bird enthusiasts defying the cold windy climate to circumwalk the little peninsula Bognæs deep within the Roskilde Fiord, some 50 odd km from Copenhagen. We were gathered to go “hunting” for Northern Europe’s largest bird of prey; White-tailed Eagle aka “Sea Eagle” (Haliaeetus albicilla). A couple is known to nest on this small Peninsula habited only by few humans and a lot of deer. All of us equipped with a personal binocular dangling from around our neck, 4 ornithologists had furthermore brought their scope on tripods to be able to focus in on our “prey”. FYI a personal binocular enlarges about 8-10 times while the grand tripod monsters enlarge approx 60 times or even beyond. If we are so lucky as to find an Eagle resting these come into play.

I am a recent member of the Danish Ornithologist Society and this was my first outing bird watching in the company of fellow enthusiasts. My knowledge of Scandinavian Birds is short in comparison with my Patagonian and that is something I am set to change. And I was in for a real treat as these guys are extremely capable, inspiring and walking encyclopaedias in birds. We saw several birds and birds of prey (3 species of Buzzards (Buteo)), even a couple of rare ones – in my terminology, but the pair of Sea Eagles proved to be missing in action. You see the fiord surrounding the peninsula was frozen and thus still not apt for the prey of the Sea Eagle.

The day was very grey and moist, even snowy at some point, not favouring for great photos. But none the less we walked for 4 hours through the naked winter forest of pine, beech and lark on trails just as frozen and slippery as the fiord itself. To my delight we also passed an ancient Oak of approx. 600 years. Now unfortunately dead but that didn’t prevent me from playing a short film inside my head of what this giant must have witnessed during his many cycles. I was more happy than a dog with 2 tails, completely ignoring the pain I had felt in my leg since we sat out. It didn’t matter. For a short while I was back in my territory, out and around. Just a little lost in the Danish “wilderness”.

This week I received news from the hospital that confirmed my suspicion: Soon I will be called in to be prepared for yet another knee operation. This will be my fourth in 12 years. Having spent the last 6 months with discomfort, pain and a lot of uncertainty this news was actually quit a relief and the spark of a new light of hope. Mentally I can hope and prepare for recovery which has ignited a newfound awareness of my body. The body I have rejected since that fatal day in October last year when something went completely wrong inside my recovering knee. Since that day I have –yet again - been a prisoner inside my own body not accepting the realities nor taking the responsibility. Proof of that are the 5 very earthly kilos I have gained during these months. Meniscus transplants of both my meniscus has been mentioned which implies a non weight bearing period of 4 weeks and a very slow and long recovery process. It is a complete dejavu situation but still I prefer it over loss of capacity any time. We will just have to wait and see. I am treated by the very best doctors into sports injury and science in Denmark and I would trust them to mend my knee and to support me in my recovery.