Monday 22 September 2008

A Commotion

I was in the garden just now when I heard a mighty commotion overhead. Thinking it was the usual herring gull melee, I looked up with little interest - and it turned out to be a pack of a dozen ring-necked parakeets harrying a sparrowhawk, chasing it clamorously and mith menaces out of the neighbourhood. It must be a pretty alarming experience for an English raptor, quietly going about its business, to be suddenly attacked by a gang of squawking, garish, big-beaked exotica - and those parakeets have an impressive turn of speed. The gang, still harrying vigorously, had disappeared from view in no time. It was something I'd never seen before, but I suspect I shall again...

16 comments:

  1. Technically it sounds like this was a hate crime. I'd report it immediately.

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  2. You're right of course Dick - but you know what these parakeets are like in court...

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  3. I was attacked by a seagull last week. Apparently, they're very territorial but often build their nests in the middle of cities. Anyway, I reported the crime but the police did nothing about it. In fact, they looked at me as though I were crazy.

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  4. bloody immigrants

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  5. Talking of birds, as opposed to burdz, in Waterstones today, horror of horrors, catastrophe, Oddies twitterography, overpriced as usual.
    Come to think of it, free would still be overpriced.

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  6. Talking of Oddie, some interesting news from one of his customers
    45 million wow! that's an awfull lot of apertures.

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  7. elberry, your solemn vow of blogging chastity doesn't stretch to commenting then.

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  8. It's worse Malty - there's a book at large called Bearded Tit by Rory McGrath (best watch what you say about Oddie with Dick around)....

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  9. I hope this blog isn't going to become one of the many anti-Oddie blogs out there. I would have to reconsider my membership to Club Nige if that happened.

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  10. Auntie Oddie indeed, back to C4 with you.

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  11. I might be new around here but I would have to side with Dick on this one. Links from my Recommended Reads at the bottom of my front page are highly prized but they do come with an pro-Oddie clause. Don’t join the dark side, Nige. You are a beacon of hope to twitchers everywhere.

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  12. Our garden abounds with long tailed tits, a large gang of them. Oddie is a tit excelling in long tales.

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  13. This is all most disturbing. I'm leaving and I might not return.

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  14. Nige, I've been spending hours reading and sketching on the beach and by the infinity pool here in the Caribbean. When I look up, I see a variety of sea birds plying the sky -- pelicans, cormorants, and one very striking species of red-billed frigatebirds. These last are the most noble looking creatures, but I hear they often dine by stealing the food of other birds. Looks, apparently, are no guarantee of morality (see Sarah Palin for the human example).

    Today we'll rent a catamaran and ply the coves hereabouts. There are approximately 120 species of birds, all kinds of terns and spoonbills and so forth. This is a birders' paradise and I only wish I had my guidebook with me.

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  15. Ah Susan that sounds very fine. I've often wondered what I'd do if I found myself holidaying in the Caribbean (unlikely) - now I know.

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  16. Do you mind Susan, we're green with envy.
    Ain't seen Dr No by any chance?

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