While making a cup of coffee on Thursday morning, I absently gazed out of the kitchen window at the birds as they went about their business in the bijou garden of Château DeVice. Reminded of Mistress Maddie's Usual Suspects series of blog posts, I thought this was a good opportunity to do one of my own, and set about taking some photos of the garden visitors. While not quite as colourful as some of Maddie's visitors, the birds of Château DeVice are no less entertaining.
Until a certain arrival spoiled everything...
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| House sparrows enjoying a bath |
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| A beautiful collared dove |
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| A coal tit |
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| A female house sparrow |
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| A tiny blue tit |
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| "Get out of the way! I need somewhere to land!" |
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| A female house sparrow sharing the feeder with a coal tit |
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| A male house sparrow on the other bird feeder |
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| A blue tit with a beak full of sunflower seed |
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| The blue tit and coal tit again |
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| An inquisitive robin |
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| Mrs Beaky |
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| Beaky! Take note of the murderous look in his eye! |
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Don't look at me like that, you little bastard! I'm not chopping up any sultanas for you!
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Next time on Inexplicable DeVice: Exclusive photos of Beaky caught unawares!
Oooohhh - I love them ! I love those feather balls ! And the Rotkehlchen, ach ...
ReplyDeleteTwo feaders - you spoil them ...
Two feeders. Two bird-baths*. And two too many Beakys!
Delete* I'm in a bit of a "math mat" quandary about "bird-bath" - one word or two? Perhaps Ms Scarlet can assist?
My last comment about tits might or might not appear. I shall refrain from obvious comment calling you a feeder. Oh damn, there I go. I still maintain you have a soft spot for Beaky really!
ReplyDeleteYou're right. I can't conceal it any longer. I *do* have a soft spot for Beaky: There's a nice soft patch of earth next to the downpipe that won't take much digging for a little grave...
DeleteOh what lovely pictures!!!!!! I was just thinking I need to do another soon. I love the tits. Yours look much different than ours, who have just returned it seems, as I write this. Ours are white and grey and return as the cold sets in. Our robins are gone now. Once in a while a black bird may show, but the Blue Jays are the terror here.
ReplyDeleteYou best look under your bed tonight for Beaky....he doesn't look happy you took a picture......
Beaky was livid. LIVID, I tell you! I think it's because I got his bad side.
DeleteRather than his evil side! Little git...
I can't wait to see your tits, m'dear! (Oh, so that's where Hounds' tit comment went)
What a wonderful variety of tits! The birds look awesome! Today, a cold front has done swept over us and is too cold for tits to be hanging out, no matter how welcomed a sight they might be. Not a bird seen nor heard. Either they've flown south or have bunkered down somewhere safe and warm. All the birds in your garden look fantastic! Even the Beakys. Perhaps a few more and you'll have enough to make yourself a pie! That dove is stunning! I see Robin, and I guess Batman must be asleep.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your tits may be more than blue if they did brave the cold? Maybe they're sheltering in the Bat-Cave?
DeleteBeaky did father at least two broods of unspeakable evil this year, so the tally is going up. I'll have four and twenty in no time!
But,but,but...all those green leaves and JASMINE in bed in November???? Has your patch of Norfolk experienced accelerated climate change?
ReplyDeleteI'm in coastal tropics and wearing a polar fleece hoodie! WTF?
And by kind to that blackbird!
Well, North-Norfolk does quite often enjoy a climate completely different to the rest of mainland Britain, and it does tend to stay a bit warmer here (due to the sea, I expect) as we head towards the end of the year.
DeleteI'll send you my winter coat as I'm not using it yet.
Kind? KIND??!? If I give an inch to Beaky, he'll not only take a mile, but the rest of the country, too! I can't believe people (you and Jon) are taken in by that monstrous little upstart?! Just look at his gimlet eyes!
Jasmine in bud. What is in your bed is your affair. Stoopid spell check!
ReplyDeleteWinter jasmine is not uncommon in the UK - there are some round here that flower all over Xmas. We have a scrappy one potted up in the garden that has yet to show any sign of doing anything, mind you... Jx
DeletePS I love blackbirds - they feast on snails, slugs and other nasties (singing beautifully as they go) and are very welcome round my unruly bush(es).
Thank you, Jon. You're definitely earning your title of The Official Plant-Spotter of Castlette DeVice and its Extensive Witchdom - Even though your Blackbird sympathising is getting a little worrying. Beaky hasn't got to you, has he?
DeleteGreat photos! As I read, I was anxiously awaiting the arrival Beaky. Great payoff — not only Beaky but Mrs Beaky as well!
ReplyDeleteNice tits, btw.
It was inevitable, wasn't it? He'd buggered off for the last weeks of Summer (possibly visiting Dinahmow and Jon to twist their minds) and made an unwelcome return a couple of weeks ago when the weather turned.
DeleteThanks for the tits compliment - they're quite perky, aren't they?
I was be-splattered the other day..... I am going to make you a film of my murmerations for you.... no, this won't be a film of mr mumbling into my co-co pops.... but something far more spectacular.
ReplyDeleteSx
Oh, dear. I hope you weren't be-splattered by the whole murmuration? And how did Sidney fare? Was he too in need of a hose down, or did he escape the sh**-storm?
DeleteI am on the edge of my seat with anticipation as to your murmuring (either into your cocopops or by birds)!
* Me, not Mr!!! This portal is so tiny!!
ReplyDeleteSx
Oh, and I was rather hoping for Mr Mumbling from the village to swan dive into a giant bowl of coco-pops!
DeleteBeaky looks completely deranged!
ReplyDeleteYour robins look much different than ours.
Your "robin" isn't a robin - that's Beaky in a not-very-convincing disguise!!! Run away! Run away!
Delete