It was one of those encounters that bring a little unexpected joy to the day. Nothing much… just a shared smile… something I’m missing at the moment. Seeking relief from the heat, I had wandered into the shade of my son’s back garden while I waited for him to finish in the bathroom. Plonking myself in the chair, I realised I was being watched… from about the requisite two metres, of course. Which may seem like a lot when you greet someone, but is not very far when it is all that separates you from a wild bird.
The blackbird showed no inclination to depart. I wondered, from his stillness, if he might be injured… the local cats like to sunbathe in this spot. He seemed bright enough, though, preening and fluffing his feathers, before hopping down from his perch onto a wider stage. He certainly didn’t mind my presence, not even when I was obliged to shout through in answer to my son’s call.
I think he was hot too, as he paraded up and down behind the woodwork, bill open. But he looked rather comical, and, with the constant eye contact, seemed almost as if he was hamming it up for his audience.
It wasn’t much… just a few minutes complicity with a common garden bird… but those moments of shared and willing contact with another species changed the mood of my day from grey to sunshine.
Beautifully portrayed..😊
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Thank you 🙂
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A lovely moment of joy.
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It was 🙂
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👍
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You are so right Sue it’s the little things that matter 💜
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They can completely lift a mood 🙂
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Yes very true 💜
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Something similar happened once to me: “a small gift” describes it perfectly. 🙂
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That’s what it always feels like 🙂
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What a lovely treat to brighten your day.
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It was indeed 🙂
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My bonsai trees are just a few feet away from me as I work, and if I’m lucky enough to spot them, they get visits from a pair of sparrows every morning. These are precious moments indeed, Sue…
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They always leave me smiling 🙂
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Same here!
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These are indeed the great moments in life. My husband had a similar one with a woodpigeon yesterday. It came and walked within a metre of him, then had a drink from some water lodged in a leaf before wandering away to go to sleep under the apple tree, still only about 3 metres away. He came in and said, ‘I’ve got a new friend.’
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That’s lovely, Viv. Such moments seem small when recounting, but are very special when lived.
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such a nice encounter and glad you two could share it and enjoy the moment, both you and the bird were lucky for that
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It was lovely 🙂
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I love those moments
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me too, Beth 🙂
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I feel you! Moments like this are so special! There was a blackbird which visited us on our roof terrace on a regualer basis to look for food. Sometimes he would sit on the handrail, pondering whether I would be a threat to him as I sat on the chair next to him. So he sat there a few seconds, very close to me und we looked into each others eyes. This is magic.
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How lovely! Yes, these moments are truly magical, Tempest. 🙂
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💖
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This is a great post. A cheeky bird, to be sure.
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He was delightful… and seemed a real clown.
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I love the idea of the bird showing off. A wonderful little communion on a hot day. 🙂
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It was a real comedian, Diana 🙂
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a nice moment of unexpected pleasure!
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It was, Jim 🙂
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I love to watch the birds. They are an education and can be so amusing. Blackbirds make me chuckle as they encourage their young to dig for worms, and I love the way they cock their heads to ‘listen’ before they pounce! Great photos.
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So do I… their behaviour is always a joy to see up close.
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A precious moment. (K)
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Indeed it was 🙂
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We have a Mrs Blackbird who loves to sunbathe on the lawn. She sometimes sits there with her wings outstretched and the first time I saw this, I thought she was injured, but no, she was fine, just soaking up the rays. xxx
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I have some wonderful pictures of a robin doing that to cool off 🙂
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Bird picked up his clipboard and, after sharpening the tip of his pencil with a swipe of his beak, crossed ‘Sue’ off his list. 🙂
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He can revisit any time 🙂
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🙂
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Some of the critters I take pictures of are not afraid of me. The chipping sparrows are friendly. The squirrels already know I’m not going to hurt them and they sleep on the railing. We’ve surprised one another more than once. And that tiny chipmunk looks right at me — all 2 ounces of her — and says “Oh yeah?” It really makes my day. I’m glad I can offer them food and a bit of shelter. And they let me take their pictures. Great deal 🙂
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That chipmunk looks full of character 🙂 The “bald-tailed squirrel” that occasionally visits the feeders at Nick’s is getting a little braver too.
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Those are some of the best moments!
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They are… I had a few of those today too 🙂
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😀
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A gift for sure!
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