So many birds…
Birds to the right and birds to the left; birds behind and birds at the front.
Birds in the attic–our hawks are back, preparing the nest for youngsters.
So many birds–hurrying, hurrying, this way and that, mostly in search of food.
Meredith keeps the bird table full and the window sills stocked with sunflower seeds and crushed madeleines.
When a cat starts paying attention at the back of the house, the flock of finches, tits, robins, wagtails, nuthatches and sparrows switch to the front and continue teasing our well-fed four-leggers.
I spied a cheeky red squirrel who’d got wind there were “pickin’s for all”, braving the courtyard and rummaging under window in the growing pile of sunflower seed husks.
There are occasional casualties. Not surprisingly–we have five cats.
“Gifts” are left in a regular spot in the courtyard.
This morning’s offering–a pitch black mole.
We have never seen so many finches–all sorts.
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A charm of goldfinches
A new variety this year–the HAWFINCH–is not so charming.
A large beaked bruiser twice the size of the goldfinch and three times the delicate little green finch–my favorite.
These giants of the finch family see off smaller cousins and fight among themselves, creating a flutter of finches just above the table or windowsill as approaching birds are forced to hover and engage before finding space to land.
It has been a difficult winter for birds–for us too.
Dank, damp and cold.
“We haven’t eaten outside as much this winter,” Meredith said yesterday, as the guests arrived for Easter lunch.
The first of April and too cold even to have a drink in the courtyard; but the leafing out is happening and there’s a buzzing of bees in the box elder…
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There’s always one! Box elder’s fine but who could resist a freshly opened Tulip.
Spring never fails to bring a thrill of anticipation–the metaphor begins.
First of all, renewal…
