Saturday 9 June 2018

A Bit of a To Do!


I took this photo on the 20th May of a swan family on one of the dykes. Eight cygnets! What a handful – or wingful - those parents have. I can’t zoom my phone camera in any more for some reason.



I got this one today. Very happy to see all eight cygnets, but not happy not being able to zoom in.



There was a bit of a to do in the garden this morning. Shrieking magpies, other birds joining in. Noticed Tinks on the fence by the oak tree being mobbed.

Dusty shot out and immediately spotted something bouncing about in the bushes – young magpie!

I raced across the garden and grabbed him, meanwhile the young magpie fluttered behind the tree and Tinks jumped down to pursue. I grabbed Dusty and got him in just as Harley shot out. The young magpie ended up right outside the patio door with Tinks almost on it, but Hubby managed to catch Tinks just in time and as he put her inside, Harley shot across the garden. He caught Harley just as the young magpie disappeared under the gate.

The whole thing only lasted a few seconds, but wow, it was intense! How anyone gets pleasure from having one animal hunt another is beyond me! I felt sick afterwards thinking what could have happened.

I went out the front and checked under the cars, but there was no sign of the youngster, so I assume it managed to fly off and rejoin its parents.

But there was an even bigger to do on Monday.

I found the remains of a baby bird in our downstairs loo/utility room. Cleared it up feeling sad and muttering about murdering cats. Then a bit later we heard a bird tweeting in there. It was coming from inside where all the pipes are boarded in.

Hubby wrestled the bottom panel off and there was just one baby bird in there with very few feathers. I was in tears thinking there was no hope for the poor little thing which must have fallen about 20 feet down the shaft, but we lined a box with kitchen paper and loo paper and some clean hay and popped her in.

I reckoned we had an 8-10 day old-ish female house sparrow. I didn’t hold out any hope at all, but I started feeding her.

I took this photo on Wednesday.



We saw Tinks later with her arm right in the gap beside the loo waste pipe fishing about behind the panel which is presumably how she got the other poor little thing. They must have fallen about 20 feet down the shaft.

Yesterday I transferred the sparrow from the box to a cage (cheap one I picked up) so she had more space to test her wings (and would be safer), but she hopped up on the side of the box and fluttered across the bed and onto the floor. A good sign I thought!

I took this photo today and just look at those feathers! If you can see them that is. It isn't a great photo.  Amazing how much she’s developed since Monday.



She’d just had a meal and was settling down to sleep. I am trying very hard not to imprint on her as I want her to be wary of humans and I never let her see the dogs or cats for obvious reasons.

Letting her go when the time comes (and I hope it does) is going to be hard! But there are a lot of sparrows out there for her to join up with.

Talking of things growing rapidly, Scout is now way taller than Poppy and Dusty. This was her at the beginning of May.



Two weeks later!



And this was last week when she was playing in the sea with Poppy while Dusty stands patiently waiting for someone to throw a ball for him!



When they’re at home, it’s Dusty and Scout that play together – constantly! The only time they stop is if we separate them and once they're apart, they both flake out - as do I!



18 comments:

  1. Golly, what heart-in-the-mouth moments you have had! Brilliant job with the little Sparrow. I hardly ever manage to save the poor little feathered things though have tried over the years with a few successes, none so little as your little protégée though. Hope he/she flies away safe and well, soon. Great photos and love how big Scout has grown. :-) Debbie XX

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    1. She hopped up onto the perch this morning! I was ridiculously delighted about it :-) xx

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  2. Ah, 'she' is a female I see you said. :-)

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    1. I think she's a she, but I'm not 100% sure yet!

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  3. My goodness intense indeed. And yes, I don't know how people take pleasure in such things either Teresa. I always absolutely hated it when our cats used to bring 'presents' in. They were not well received I can tell you, especially if the poor little things were alive and so frightened. How wonderful what you are doing for the little sparrow. Good health and long life to her eventually with her fellow sparrows :-) xx

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    1. It's horrible when they bring presents home isn't it. Tinks is a very good hunter unfortunately. I used to have a cat who brought home live mice for me and he used to get very miffed when I let them go! :-) xx

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  4. The 'experts' all say we should be so grateful because it's their way of showing their love. Mmmm. Take it OUT, take it OUT I used to yell. It's blooming nature, sadly, isn't it. If we love our cats we have to accept it's part of them I'm afraid. I always found it so hard to accept this loving, purring creature on my knee could turn into this ruthless, torturing killer. They did both grow out of in the end though. I think it's a young cats thing. Meant to say how gorgeous Scout is. What a magnificent dog she is growing into :-) xx

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    1. I had forgotten that often as they get older they stop doing it. I hope it's the case with Miss Tinks! Scout is a lovely dog - Dusty adores her :-) xx

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  5. Well done you for keeping that sparrow alive! What do you feed her on?

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    1. Mainly dried mealworms (high in protein) - but I soak them first. I've also given a little dog food (dry but mushed up with boiled water). And I'm going to try a bit of boiled egg yolk. I'm starting to wonder if she is actually a he as there appear to be some darker feathers growing on the chest!

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  6. So glad you were able to rescue the little one Teresa. It must be very scary even without the cat trying to get them.x

    We once had a Blackbird get caught behind the boarded up fireplace and had to rescue it.

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    1. I can remember my mum having birds come down the chimney - soot everywhere! Glad you got the blackbird out!

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  7. Well done, Teresa. Happy ending.

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    1. Thanks, Keith. I will be happy once she can feed herself and flies off to join the little flock!

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  8. Hoping the little bird is making good progress Teresa?
    What a life you have with all your lovely animals.

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    1. She's doing really well, Maria, but still not able to feed herself. At least I'm not having to feed her every 30 minutes now! So much for trying not to bond with her (for her sake mainly) - there will be tears when she goes!

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  9. My goodness - what a time you've had! Think you're giving Dr Doolittle a run for his money.

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    1. Oh, Wendy, what I wouldn't give to be able to talk to them!!

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