Oh, what a magical, beautiful poem. Now I don't need to remonstrate with myself because I have spent ages this morning reliving an experience I had with birds in the Columbian Amazon in 2017. I think I will write about this on my page and if I do I will send you a link. Other than that, you have reminded me of my bird feeder, in the shape of a little house hanging from a nail on the verandah, where I have never put birdseed, but many generations of spiders have grown up in that feeder and now and then I clean off the cobwebs. I also have a bird bath, which I can see from my kitchen window when I am at the sink. Various birds visit a tree and other plants that are there, but I have never seen even one use that birdbath. But all is not lost - Richie - he who steals the wooden spoons - regularly drinks from that bird feeder. I love your writing. There is a whole philosophy of life in that poem. Is it okay if I copy it and pass I on to some friends who I know would also love it, especially two of them who are such keen birders?
Oh Glenys, please do pass the poem on if you feel someone would like it, what a lovely thought. My dog drinks out of the bird bath too, he seems to prefer that to his indoor bowl that he never touches! I had to smash the ice on it this morning as it had frozen over. It’s so nice to hear from someone who enjoys spiders - I love to see spiders and go out of my way not to harm them if I come across one either inside the house or in the garden. Please do write about your Amazon adventure, what an incredible experience that must have been, Glenys, definitely worth sharing and I look forward to reading all about it. Thank you so much for your lovely comment. x
I read this this morning but couldn’t comment, and then i had a brain bubble and could no longer find it. I feed our Swiss garden birds too, and I love watching them. In Spain, for some reason, the birds don’t like coconut hangers, but there are so many different ones to watch! And at night I listen to Hoopoe birds talking to each other. And Spanish blackbirds are the best singers! I’m all excited now, Lindsay!! Just thinking about birds 😂 I loved your poetry poem today, too.
Thank you! The birds play a big part in my morning routine and I would miss them terribly if I didn’t have a garden. It’s a lovely thought that they bring so much joy to people all over the world. We’ve had a light dusting of snow here this morning so they are all very hungry! Have a wonderful day, Cesca, hope you find some inspiration in the birds today. x
There was lots of bird activity this morning, mostly sparrows which I always find endearing. A blackbird, too. And a crow on patrol for important matters! I wrote a haiku about a poor green parrot I always see in a super cute bar in the little village near our house in Spain. His cage is so small! The lady who owns clearly loves him and brings him outside for fresh air every day. But I always feel sorry for him.
Oh I hate to see birds in cages, Cesca, I find it quite upsetting. I am not sure how anyone can square away keeping a creature who is supposed to fly in a small cage all day, every day, unable to spread their wings. When I pop into town there is large dense shrub I pass and it’s always full of sparrows, the noise they make is tremendous and it always makes me smile. We used to have a flock visit the garden but they have been missing for the past couple of years, now I am wondering what happened to them. Hopefully they are chattering away in someone else's garden. x❤️
I love hearing them chattering away. Here in Switzerland we have a huge plane tree where they all come to sleep in spring and summer, and there is always a big gathering before bedtime when they squabble over who is going to sleep in which branch, and I just adore watching and listening! I wrote a poem about them doing this during the summer. How strange that your sparrows switched shrub. I even love watching pigeons, especially the ones that live outside of cities, that are all clean and pretty and proud of themselves. We have a couple in Spain who come to get washed every morning and every evening in our swimming pool, they are very methodical about it. So lovely!
We have a pair of very plump wood pigeons who waddle up and down the path every day. I call them Mr and Mrs and I get quite worried if I can only see one of them as they mate for life and both look after the eggs and the young hatchlings. I know it cannot be the same pair since I’ve lived here but I like to pretend they are, I am such a hopeless wuss. 🤣
I didn’t know they mated for life! Like swans. But you’re right, they are usually in pairs. I’m a wuss too. And my husband always says he’s not that fussed about animals, but he was so worried about those kittens the mother abandoned in Spain that he brought them inside and kept them warm and made a hundred phone calls trying to sort something out before one of the gardeners came and adopted them. Apparently they’re all doing well! I’m going back on December 6 so I’ll have to go and find him to ask about them.
Thank you Gina, it’s such a lovely word isn't it. We’ve got a dusting of snow here this morning so everything is looking very pretty although I have a stinking cold so don’t feel like going out to enjoy it, I hope you have a lovely day. x
Thank you Pamela. When I read about birds in other countries they always seem much more exotic than ours but we should be very grateful, even the little brown jobs bring me a lot of pleasure. x
Lovely Lindsey. We had about 4 inches of snow overnight and this morning I’ve seen more birds on my patio, mostly sparrows, robins, tits, wagtails; starlings, blackbirds and crows. We also have a pair of collared doves but when I stand at the kitchen window they are so nervous I have to hold my breath and stay so still when they land so they don’t get a fright.
I have a bit of a battle with the crows as they gobble everything I put out in record time so I have to police it a bit so the small birds get their share.
Love the poem I can think of a lot of things that waste time but not watching the birds especially in the snow, how do their little feet manage in the cold, thanks for the feet explanation. The robins are all puffed up and don’t seem to mind the cold. Watching the birds is a beautiful thing.
Good morning Liz! We have had a dusting of snow this morning but nothing like yours, it was gone as soon as the sun appeared. There are lots of birds about though looking for food. My problem is the pigeons who come in a flock and eat the lot, there are one or two who have worked out how to perch on the bird feeder and they scoff the lot if I don’t shoo them away. They are costing an arm and a leg to feed, I seem to be filling the feeders up a few times a day at the moment! It does baffle me how they survive the winter, their little legs are so tiny I wonder I how they don’t get chilblains like we do. I am sure they don’t worry about life as much as we do Liz! 🤣 Have a lovely weekend, whatever the weather and thank you as always for your thoughtful comment. x ❤️
That’s very kind of you, Lynn, thank you. The birds bring so much pleasure to so many people it’s incredible when you think about it. I know the busiest stall in my local market is the bird feed man and if he’s not there the locals get really upset!
Thank you very much AnnMarie. Watching the birds is a great way to switch off for a minute and just be in the moment. I often find I have been standing at the kitchen sink for far too long! Have a lovely weekend. x
Lindsey, I love the photo and your poem. Thank you for introducing me to passerines. What a great word, along with the description of their feet. Also, reading your newsletter was a pleasure. It’s the first time I’ve seen it. I‘ll be looking for your next one.
Thank you Margaret, I'm pleased you've found me! I am quite new to poetry but it has become something of an obsession, I absolutely love it. My newsletters are published every Monday and Thursday, they are rather eclectic but I hope you enjoy them. Thank you again, Lindsey.x
Your poem is lovely, I like the shape you've given it as much as the words you used.
It's really important to enjoy the common birds we see all around us. I'd love to see a Scarlet Tanager in real life and I've loved the times when I've seen rare birds, but I love watching the common birds too.
Thank you Juliet, I had to fiddle with the shape as it didn’t read how I wanted it to. I honestly can’t say how much pleasure I get from watching the birds on the feeder, it’s like a few minutes of therapy! x
‘Passerine’ is definitely new word for me. We have LBJs aplenty Lindsey but also a family of 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker whom I adore feasting by stable door! 💚
Aren’t they beautiful, Meryl, I am assuming the one I have seen is looking for a mate, hopefully he’s living in the nearby oak tree and will have a family. I need to dig out a pair of binoculars, there’s a pair here somewhere amongst all the other stuff! Have a lovely day, it’s very frosty here this morning but no snow yet, it does make me laugh when everything shuts down for an inch of snow, I remember walking to school in thick snow, we thought it was great fun! Lots of love x
It’s a twitcher week for me so loved your post. I can see the fascination in seeing a very rare bird but not with 100s of other people. I get as much of a thrill seeing the first redwing in the yew tree each year 😘😘
Ooh, I have never seen a redwing, Jo. The only trouble with feeding the birds is they seem to eat more and more, I think I need to start buying it in bulk. Have a good day, Jo, I’ve woken up with a raging sore throat and cold so it’s a gentle day for me, I might put a girly film on and fall asleep on the sofa!
Oh, what a magical, beautiful poem. Now I don't need to remonstrate with myself because I have spent ages this morning reliving an experience I had with birds in the Columbian Amazon in 2017. I think I will write about this on my page and if I do I will send you a link. Other than that, you have reminded me of my bird feeder, in the shape of a little house hanging from a nail on the verandah, where I have never put birdseed, but many generations of spiders have grown up in that feeder and now and then I clean off the cobwebs. I also have a bird bath, which I can see from my kitchen window when I am at the sink. Various birds visit a tree and other plants that are there, but I have never seen even one use that birdbath. But all is not lost - Richie - he who steals the wooden spoons - regularly drinks from that bird feeder. I love your writing. There is a whole philosophy of life in that poem. Is it okay if I copy it and pass I on to some friends who I know would also love it, especially two of them who are such keen birders?
Oh Glenys, please do pass the poem on if you feel someone would like it, what a lovely thought. My dog drinks out of the bird bath too, he seems to prefer that to his indoor bowl that he never touches! I had to smash the ice on it this morning as it had frozen over. It’s so nice to hear from someone who enjoys spiders - I love to see spiders and go out of my way not to harm them if I come across one either inside the house or in the garden. Please do write about your Amazon adventure, what an incredible experience that must have been, Glenys, definitely worth sharing and I look forward to reading all about it. Thank you so much for your lovely comment. x
What a lovely poem Lindsey. I loved it! Keep on writing !
Thank you very much, Annie. Your encouragement is very much appreciated, bless you. Have a lovely weekend. x
I read this this morning but couldn’t comment, and then i had a brain bubble and could no longer find it. I feed our Swiss garden birds too, and I love watching them. In Spain, for some reason, the birds don’t like coconut hangers, but there are so many different ones to watch! And at night I listen to Hoopoe birds talking to each other. And Spanish blackbirds are the best singers! I’m all excited now, Lindsay!! Just thinking about birds 😂 I loved your poetry poem today, too.
Thank you! The birds play a big part in my morning routine and I would miss them terribly if I didn’t have a garden. It’s a lovely thought that they bring so much joy to people all over the world. We’ve had a light dusting of snow here this morning so they are all very hungry! Have a wonderful day, Cesca, hope you find some inspiration in the birds today. x
There was lots of bird activity this morning, mostly sparrows which I always find endearing. A blackbird, too. And a crow on patrol for important matters! I wrote a haiku about a poor green parrot I always see in a super cute bar in the little village near our house in Spain. His cage is so small! The lady who owns clearly loves him and brings him outside for fresh air every day. But I always feel sorry for him.
Oh I hate to see birds in cages, Cesca, I find it quite upsetting. I am not sure how anyone can square away keeping a creature who is supposed to fly in a small cage all day, every day, unable to spread their wings. When I pop into town there is large dense shrub I pass and it’s always full of sparrows, the noise they make is tremendous and it always makes me smile. We used to have a flock visit the garden but they have been missing for the past couple of years, now I am wondering what happened to them. Hopefully they are chattering away in someone else's garden. x❤️
I love hearing them chattering away. Here in Switzerland we have a huge plane tree where they all come to sleep in spring and summer, and there is always a big gathering before bedtime when they squabble over who is going to sleep in which branch, and I just adore watching and listening! I wrote a poem about them doing this during the summer. How strange that your sparrows switched shrub. I even love watching pigeons, especially the ones that live outside of cities, that are all clean and pretty and proud of themselves. We have a couple in Spain who come to get washed every morning and every evening in our swimming pool, they are very methodical about it. So lovely!
We have a pair of very plump wood pigeons who waddle up and down the path every day. I call them Mr and Mrs and I get quite worried if I can only see one of them as they mate for life and both look after the eggs and the young hatchlings. I know it cannot be the same pair since I’ve lived here but I like to pretend they are, I am such a hopeless wuss. 🤣
I didn’t know they mated for life! Like swans. But you’re right, they are usually in pairs. I’m a wuss too. And my husband always says he’s not that fussed about animals, but he was so worried about those kittens the mother abandoned in Spain that he brought them inside and kept them warm and made a hundred phone calls trying to sort something out before one of the gardeners came and adopted them. Apparently they’re all doing well! I’m going back on December 6 so I’ll have to go and find him to ask about them.
Lovely post and poem again Lindsey… and I new word for me!
Thank you Gina, it’s such a lovely word isn't it. We’ve got a dusting of snow here this morning so everything is looking very pretty although I have a stinking cold so don’t feel like going out to enjoy it, I hope you have a lovely day. x
Lovely
Thank you, Trish. x
Love the poem,sums up time passing beautifully.
Thank you very much, Sandra.
Lovely poem and photos. I always enjoy reading about birds across the pond!
Thank you Pamela. When I read about birds in other countries they always seem much more exotic than ours but we should be very grateful, even the little brown jobs bring me a lot of pleasure. x
Lindsey, I am a big fan of the little brown jobs! They are my dearest companions at times!
Lovely Lindsey. We had about 4 inches of snow overnight and this morning I’ve seen more birds on my patio, mostly sparrows, robins, tits, wagtails; starlings, blackbirds and crows. We also have a pair of collared doves but when I stand at the kitchen window they are so nervous I have to hold my breath and stay so still when they land so they don’t get a fright.
I have a bit of a battle with the crows as they gobble everything I put out in record time so I have to police it a bit so the small birds get their share.
Love the poem I can think of a lot of things that waste time but not watching the birds especially in the snow, how do their little feet manage in the cold, thanks for the feet explanation. The robins are all puffed up and don’t seem to mind the cold. Watching the birds is a beautiful thing.
Love Liz xx
Good morning Liz! We have had a dusting of snow this morning but nothing like yours, it was gone as soon as the sun appeared. There are lots of birds about though looking for food. My problem is the pigeons who come in a flock and eat the lot, there are one or two who have worked out how to perch on the bird feeder and they scoff the lot if I don’t shoo them away. They are costing an arm and a leg to feed, I seem to be filling the feeders up a few times a day at the moment! It does baffle me how they survive the winter, their little legs are so tiny I wonder I how they don’t get chilblains like we do. I am sure they don’t worry about life as much as we do Liz! 🤣 Have a lovely weekend, whatever the weather and thank you as always for your thoughtful comment. x ❤️
This may be one of my fave posts of yours. I love garden birds, and could listen to a dawn chorus for the rest of time. Beautiful poem. ❤️
That’s very kind of you, Lynn, thank you. The birds bring so much pleasure to so many people it’s incredible when you think about it. I know the busiest stall in my local market is the bird feed man and if he’s not there the locals get really upset!
beautiful work, Lindsey! 🐦
That's very kind, Rose. Thank you.x
Loved your post. Simply watching birds can be so relaxing, can’t it?
Thank you very much AnnMarie. Watching the birds is a great way to switch off for a minute and just be in the moment. I often find I have been standing at the kitchen sink for far too long! Have a lovely weekend. x
Lindsey, I love the photo and your poem. Thank you for introducing me to passerines. What a great word, along with the description of their feet. Also, reading your newsletter was a pleasure. It’s the first time I’ve seen it. I‘ll be looking for your next one.
Thank you Margaret, I'm pleased you've found me! I am quite new to poetry but it has become something of an obsession, I absolutely love it. My newsletters are published every Monday and Thursday, they are rather eclectic but I hope you enjoy them. Thank you again, Lindsey.x
I loved this poem, Lindsey, probably my favourite so far! Thank you for sharing.
Oh thank you so much Janet, it’s nice to know I’m getting somewhere! Honestly, thank you, it means a lot. x
Your poem is lovely, I like the shape you've given it as much as the words you used.
It's really important to enjoy the common birds we see all around us. I'd love to see a Scarlet Tanager in real life and I've loved the times when I've seen rare birds, but I love watching the common birds too.
Thank you Juliet, I had to fiddle with the shape as it didn’t read how I wanted it to. I honestly can’t say how much pleasure I get from watching the birds on the feeder, it’s like a few minutes of therapy! x
‘Passerine’ is definitely new word for me. We have LBJs aplenty Lindsey but also a family of 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker whom I adore feasting by stable door! 💚
Aren’t they beautiful, Meryl, I am assuming the one I have seen is looking for a mate, hopefully he’s living in the nearby oak tree and will have a family. I need to dig out a pair of binoculars, there’s a pair here somewhere amongst all the other stuff! Have a lovely day, it’s very frosty here this morning but no snow yet, it does make me laugh when everything shuts down for an inch of snow, I remember walking to school in thick snow, we thought it was great fun! Lots of love x
It’s a twitcher week for me so loved your post. I can see the fascination in seeing a very rare bird but not with 100s of other people. I get as much of a thrill seeing the first redwing in the yew tree each year 😘😘
Ooh, I have never seen a redwing, Jo. The only trouble with feeding the birds is they seem to eat more and more, I think I need to start buying it in bulk. Have a good day, Jo, I’ve woken up with a raging sore throat and cold so it’s a gentle day for me, I might put a girly film on and fall asleep on the sofa!