Any email or letter
that Marcia receives containing words such as, “I have never
written to an author before but . . .” is, of course, a huge
compliment. It is while she is writing that they are most important.
I suspect that all novelists fall into one of two extremes: pretty
unconfident or manically overconfident. I have yet to meet one who
fits nicely in the middle – unlike us hacks who are only too happy
to graze there (which is why we write such rubbishy novels when we
are silly enough to try). All of which is a rather long-winded way of
saying thank you to all of you who, without even knowing you are
doing it, are – by keeping Marcia's confidence up there somewhere –
making a very important contribution to “the next book”.
Those who were
following my blogs before we moved will know that we used to get huge
numbers birds in the “kitchen garden”. Here things are different.
At any one time there are probably no more than four birds to be seen
but we have a surprisingly large number of species dropping in and
out.
We think the reason
is this: over there we were the only “feeding station” for quite
a distance and so brought in all the birds in the locality. Here we
are one among many for most of our neighbours also put out feed. The
result is that we have become just one of the stopping points on what
we think is a regular patrol that the birds make around the
neighbourhood. Because our kitchen and sitting room are on the first
floor, we are level with the trees and so see species on a daily
basis that we rarely saw before.
One such is a pair
of blackcaps. Only the male has a black head, the mate's is rusty
red. Nevertheless she is a charming bird, as you can see. I have yet
to take a decent portrait of the male but will share it when that
happens.
Then, and this was
a great surprise, we discovered that we are on the feeding trail of
two small flocks: goldfinches (above) and our old friends the long-tailed
tits. Another daily visitor (or possibly visitors – we have only
seen one at a time) is a goldcrest. These are even smaller than the
wrens (also regular visitors) but a different shape being far less
chubby.
The big problem is
that these are so often either perching in the foliage or on some
point where they are silhouetted against the sky – in both cases
taking their portraits is not that easy. What I really want are birds like this collar dove who are willing to sit for a moment on the balcony handrail while I fumble around, find a camera and take a few photographs.
The birds that are really
driving me insane are the jackdaws. They get up to the most fantastic
(and funny) pranks but usually when I am without a camera as I am
walking back from the shops. Then, as soon as I am ready for them,
they fly away into the blue yonder and leave me getting bored and
very cold.
I rather liked these two flying to their roost as the sun was setting. Still, they will have to start building their nests soon
and then I might have a better chance – or not, of course. We shall
have to wait and see.
