a proper ray of sunshine

 

I used to think that when I wrote my autobiography there would be a chapter called the wilderness years covering the time before I found the success and direction I had lacked up until that point. Now it seems more likely the whole book might be called that. Anyway, sometime early on in the wilderness years I shared a flat in Grange Loan with 2 girls I hadn't known before moving in. For a few years we all overlapped with loads of wine, music and laughter before going on different paths into our lives. One of them got in touch recently to let me know the other, Wendy, had left us to move upstairs. Stolen away by pancreatic cancer. 

I didn't make it to Wendy's funeral. I did though spend some of the afternoon among gravestones locally, at my favourite haunt. The sun came out and I got a great welcome from the secret garden robin who saw me first and flew directly across my path landing next to me like an old pal. I turned the corner into the secret garden and got out some bread and he hopped onto my hand. Then sat in the tree close by and chatted away, between chasing the coal tits and dunnock. 

secret garden

coal tit, blue tit

The robin seemed even more friendly than usual. He stood on the further away feeding table as I was putting out seeds. Nothing else had appeared so I lined up a photo of him in the sunshine and he jumped forward to the nearest table to oblige further. I had to pull the zoom right in and took the shot with the lens hood just inches from him. He is pretty much fearless and seems to enjoy the attention. Can't be easy being a tyrant!

'this is my impression of a power drill'

'ooh I feel dizzy now'

The woodpigeons hang about on the fringes waiting for me to leave so they can land on the bricks and sweep the food onto the ground. And scoff any left. I usually put some out a little way from the bricks to keep them off the tables. Which the coal tits will share if the robin is being too bossy.

'I'm not being bossy, just they need
to get their own bricks like I've got mine here'

The frying pan birdbath was well filled up with rainwater. One of the coal tits couldn't resist getting in and having a bit of a splash about. I was close by filming it (video on facebook) and it was unperturbed by my proximity. I think they have now associated me with the food I put out and not as a predator. It ended up looking very drowned-rat like.

droochit!

When the coal tits (and other similar small birds) get a sunflower seed or piece of bread they will fly up into the nearest tree and hold it between their claws to peck away at it. 

great tit chooses best bit

then holds it with foot while eating it

This great tit found a hibernating bee in the ivy clad trunk of this tree. I imagine they have a honey flavour but have never been tempted myself.

Reluctantly I went for a wander round the rest of the place. Great to see snowdrops everywhere and patches of crocus coming up too. Council workers were sawing up and removing the huge branches blown down in the O Section recently. The ladybirds hadn't been moving much, and somehow hadn't been blown from their chosen headstones. They must grip on tightly. I couldn't see any other birds (apart from crows and magpies) so made my way back to the secret garden. I was just going to pass through but a few of the residents began to cheep and clap their wings when I showed up so I couldn't not put down some more seeds and bread. Almost immediately a male blackbird popped out the ivy which was a rare treat and within a short while the place was jumping with squirrels and small birds.

ladybird fringe

When the blackbird appeared the robin flew over to chase it off. The blackbird stood its ground and the robin had to sheepishly leave and sit in a nearby tree. 

I love the bullfinches for their magic plumage. And they have a lovely, nearly melancholy call of a high note sliding down a tone. Which they use to call to each other in social groups. I can do a not bad impersonation of it and if I hear it will whistle out similar to try and encourage them over. They will sit and watch an area (such as the feeding tables) for a while before deciding to join in or not. When they do arrive at the tables they stand and eat rather than grab-and-go. Until the robin flies at them. Sometimes the male bullfinches stand their ground, and either the robin retreats or, like today, a battle ensues. The bullfinch and mr robin flew at each other and hovered midair, claws and beaks jabbing. It all kicked off so quickly I didn't get any proper photos. I fired the camera off in the general direction but the birds weren't in focus. No damage seemed to be done despite the cheeping and peeping and threats and flapping. The female bullfinch returned to the tables; the males were reluctant although stayed for a bit in the area. 

dunnock

I was pleased to get a half decent photo of the dunnock which deserves an award for bravery. It was sat in the ivy watching all the birds feeding on the tables. But if the robin sees it he goes ballistic and not only chases the dunnock but tails it round and round until it is off the property. His property. The robin's most hated enemies are 1/ other robins and 2/ dunnocks. Poor Charlie Dunnock must wonder what the hell he has done to deserve such opprobrium. He doesn't often come through the area and keeps a low profile when he does. 

blue tit 

'and this is my impression of a power drill,
...don't tell me you've heard that one already'

'was it the robin?
I'll send my Berty round to sort him out.'

'that robin says he could take you'

'he says what?'

fiiiiiight!

'ooh that was exciting!'

a stand off

LTT

Twice today a gang of long tails flew through. They are extremely annoying - just as you get them in focus they shift onto the next perch; always putting a few branches between you and them. So I have to take a glove off to use the fold out touch screen to touch that while looking through the evf and hitting the shutter release when the crosshair is over the bird. But by that time it has moved again. Very low hit rate, very high bad language rate. Sometimes a gloved finger works on the touch screen, sometimes not!

redwing

Then the clouds swamped the sun and it was time to go home. I kept the camera out just in case, which proved interesting. In St Marks park there was a lone redwing although I had to creep along below a row of trees after it, long beyond the point I was asking is this worth it? 

And then I heard a really odd song and felt I better investigate. I think it was a song thrush but could have been a mistle thrush - I can't tell from only the front on view. Weird noises though - like it had indigestion. There were green finches and gold finches in the trees beside the path to MacDonald Road but rain was threatening and the light had long gone. Time to get indoors.

link to not very apt poem but nevertheless
just occasionally I like a snatch of Betjeman.