A sunny day up here on the rock, but with a fair wind humming a contralto line around the highest eaves.
Suddenly, Carmine and the surrounding woodlands are full of birds. Our friends the wrens, the robins and the blackbirds are still scooting around the gardens, and the crows are, as often, making the woods ring. Now the swifts have returned, arcing gracefully and silently around the church tower, settling in a flock from time to time on the sunny roofs to soak up the warmth of the sun on the stone.
In the woods, the creaking of the trees is overlaid by the determined knocking of the woodpecker, and today I see him, flashing his red stripes from tree to tree, tapping experimentally in likely spots like an action hero looking for a secret door in the panelling. I always look forward to watching the woodpeckers choosing a nest-site and rearing their young.
Even the chickens have visitors. A pair of brightly-coloured jays swoop heftily away as I round the corner of our baita. I hope to tempt them back with a little pile of red lentils. Less welcome - the chicken-mangling buzzard. I can see a pair swirling over the baita now, watching and waiting.
Watching and waiting.
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Friday 18 February 2011
Carmine spring watch 2011: February birdlife
A sunny day up here on the rock, but with a fair wind humming a contralto line around the highest eaves.
Suddenly, Carmine and the surrounding woodlands are full of birds. Our friends the wrens, the robins and the blackbirds are still scooting around the gardens, and the crows are, as often, making the woods ring. Now the swifts have returned, arcing gracefully and silently around the church tower, settling in a flock from time to time on the sunny roofs to soak up the warmth of the sun on the stone.
In the woods, the creaking of the trees is overlaid by the determined knocking of the woodpecker, and today I see him, flashing his red stripes from tree to tree, tapping experimentally in likely spots like an action hero looking for a secret door in the panelling. I always look forward to watching the woodpeckers choosing a nest-site and rearing their young.
Even the chickens have visitors. A pair of brightly-coloured jays swoop heftily away as I round the corner of our baita. I hope to tempt them back with a little pile of red lentils. Less welcome - the chicken-mangling buzzard. I can see a pair swirling over the baita now, watching and waiting.
Watching and waiting.
Suddenly, Carmine and the surrounding woodlands are full of birds. Our friends the wrens, the robins and the blackbirds are still scooting around the gardens, and the crows are, as often, making the woods ring. Now the swifts have returned, arcing gracefully and silently around the church tower, settling in a flock from time to time on the sunny roofs to soak up the warmth of the sun on the stone.
In the woods, the creaking of the trees is overlaid by the determined knocking of the woodpecker, and today I see him, flashing his red stripes from tree to tree, tapping experimentally in likely spots like an action hero looking for a secret door in the panelling. I always look forward to watching the woodpeckers choosing a nest-site and rearing their young.
Even the chickens have visitors. A pair of brightly-coloured jays swoop heftily away as I round the corner of our baita. I hope to tempt them back with a little pile of red lentils. Less welcome - the chicken-mangling buzzard. I can see a pair swirling over the baita now, watching and waiting.
Watching and waiting.
3 comments:
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V. said...
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I can see a sparrow...
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Friday, 18 February, 2011
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LindyLouMac said...
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Yes the birds are a welcome return, but I noticed feathers in our garden this afternoon, indicating some are not so welcome having taken a neighbours chicken!
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Friday, 18 February, 2011
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Woodman said...
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Spring is about two weeks behind this year. Its a grey day again with lots of rain forecast. Started to get wet rot.
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Saturday, 19 February, 2011
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3 comments:
I can see a sparrow...
Yes the birds are a welcome return, but I noticed feathers in our garden this afternoon, indicating some are not so welcome having taken a neighbours chicken!
Spring is about two weeks behind this year. Its a grey day again with lots of rain forecast. Started to get wet rot.
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