Hedge sparrows anonymous

A hedge sparrow and a robin were feeding side by side on crumbs on the lawn this morning. The hedge sparrow was also enjoying some sesame seeds I had thrown out. Later, it was joined by its mate and I think they may be nesting in some thick creeper that tangles its way up a tree. The hedgies have no distinguishing features apart from their pleasantly patterned plumage but the robin is distinguishable by a white spot beneath the red on its breast. Sadly, the cat caught and killed a wren the other day. I ignored him for the rest of the day and wouldn't give him lap-room but I fear he is too dim to know he had done wrong - wrong, that is, by human standards. By feline standards, he had brought home the bacon - or rather, the bird.

Orange Tip Butterfly

Saw an orange tip butterfly in the garden this afternoon, and a small pale blue one that I think was a holly blue. That makes four species so far this year, with the peacock and the cabbage white.

Butterflies!

Saw the first cabbage white in the garden at the weekend and the first peacock butterfly today. Perhaps Spring really is on the way at last. Yesterday we were also graced with the presence of a pair of green woodpeckers in the garden. I love them because they eat my unfavourite things, ants, which have already found a way into the kitchen and are milling around the cat's food area, carrying off scraps of Whiskas. Wish I could train HIM to eat ants!

Soaking up the Spring sun

After a cheeky peep at us through the slats of the bench, this young, fearless fox plonked himself (or herself?) down for a sunbathing session and stayed for two hours. Unbelievable! The patio door was open and the creature ignored the sounds of tea-making and clattering plates, and even human voices. The thing that spooked it in the end was a neighbour slamming his garage door. To the fox, it probably sounded like a gunshot! It darted off and shortly afterwards, the sky darkened and heavy rain and hail showers began. Perhaps the fox could sense the approaching weather and scarpered to its earth before it got wet.