Post by rowanberry on Feb 9, 2016 9:16:16 GMT
Saw a funny scene this morning... I keep a feeding tray on the garden table right outside the back kitchen door for the female blackbird, and it has all of her favourites in it- mealworms, red grapes, and suet pellets.
I usually keep it covered with a plastic plantpot saucer, else the starlings take everything...I uncover it whenever she comes and sits on a branch outside the window to let me know she's hungry, (did I mention she's just tame enough to be very spoiled? She is.)
This morning I was rushing about, and neglected to put the saucer back after she'd gone- when I looked out, the male blackbird was perched near the table on a garden crook, eyeing up the dish. He is much more timid and it's rare to see him up near the house, so I stood still and watched, hoping he would come and eat. He sat there for ages, turning too and fro and anxiously checking that the coast was clear before he got up his nerve to come and hop onto the table.
He'd not had more than about two bites before the female blackbird arrived with a great swoop to land on the crook. She stretched up to her full height and then just stood there... if she'd had arms, her hands would have been planted on her hips. She didn't do anything, just stood there bolt upright while STARING at poor Mr. B.
He sort of shuffled away from the dish with his legs bent and crouched down in the most woebegone posture, she continued to glare until he flew away.
Then she looked over her shoulder at me with a 'hmmph!' gesture and left...she didn't even eat anything herself, just came to see him off!
She's a bit of a tartar, that bird.
It occurred to me later...he wasn't sitting there checking that the coast was clear of sparrowhawks- he was trying to make sure Mrs. Bea wasn't about!
I usually keep it covered with a plastic plantpot saucer, else the starlings take everything...I uncover it whenever she comes and sits on a branch outside the window to let me know she's hungry, (did I mention she's just tame enough to be very spoiled? She is.)
This morning I was rushing about, and neglected to put the saucer back after she'd gone- when I looked out, the male blackbird was perched near the table on a garden crook, eyeing up the dish. He is much more timid and it's rare to see him up near the house, so I stood still and watched, hoping he would come and eat. He sat there for ages, turning too and fro and anxiously checking that the coast was clear before he got up his nerve to come and hop onto the table.
He'd not had more than about two bites before the female blackbird arrived with a great swoop to land on the crook. She stretched up to her full height and then just stood there... if she'd had arms, her hands would have been planted on her hips. She didn't do anything, just stood there bolt upright while STARING at poor Mr. B.
He sort of shuffled away from the dish with his legs bent and crouched down in the most woebegone posture, she continued to glare until he flew away.
Then she looked over her shoulder at me with a 'hmmph!' gesture and left...she didn't even eat anything herself, just came to see him off!
She's a bit of a tartar, that bird.
It occurred to me later...he wasn't sitting there checking that the coast was clear of sparrowhawks- he was trying to make sure Mrs. Bea wasn't about!