Dawn chorus 5am

Posted on March 3, 2023 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged 5am, Bird, Blackbird, Dawn chorus, Feet, gout, Insomnia, lilting, Pain, Robin, Singing, Sleepless, song, Toes4 Comments

Imagined view of our garden with bird singing. Too dark to really see.

It’s just after 5am now. I got up because my toes hurt (gout?) on the other foot to the one I had broken my toenail on. Long boring story…

Anyway it’d still dark so I’m sitting here by the light of a standard lamp and trying to sleep with my foot uncovered so there’s no pressure on it.

But through the window I can hear the lilting song of what I think is either a Robin or a Blackbird. I haven’t heard them in the morning during the winter, so I guess spring might just be on the way. It’s lovely to hear them, possibly marking out their territory in the tangled trees and bushes we call our garden. Mind you they have to be aware of the local cats. Mine are all inside snuggled up, but I hope they are singing high up in the branches. X

Window

Posted on July 1, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Blackbird, Garden, Heart, Life, Photo, Poem, Poetry, Summer, Symmetry, WindowLeave a comment

I see all ways

Up, down, side to side

A window on the world

No where to hide.

Flying through space

Into the distance

Blackbird swoops

Sings and spirals

In joy and love.

Like my heart

In the summer

Like a butterfly

Fluttering.

Too hot

Posted on June 22, 2022June 22, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Bird, Blackbird, Cherries, Cream, Food, high tea, Hot, Humid, Poem, Poetry, Tea, TiredLeave a comment

Hot and humid

I have to sit in the shade

UV’s too high

Pollen count too

Had cherries and cream

For high tea today

Now I need a cuppa tea

To make me feel cool.

Blackbird is singing

In the garden today

Water to drink

In an old shallow tray.

Bird in snow..

Posted on February 6, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Bird, Blackbird, Blue tits, Feeding, nesting boxes, Robin, Seeds, sunflower hearts, wild bird seed, Wild birdsLeave a comment

No, it’s not snowing here, but it’s chilly and windy enough to send a shiver through any birds body. We are feeding them sunflower hearts, mixed wild bird food and mealy worms (which the Robin seems to love). I know the weather won’t improve for a few weeks, but I hope when the spring arrives we get Blue Tits nesting again. I might buy a new nest box for them as the old ones look a bit worn out. The hole they get in through was worn away by their claws as they fly in and hop out. Looking after our local wild bird population is a responsibility.

Dawn Chorus

Posted on January 5, 2022 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Beautiful, Birds, Birdsong, Blackbird, Insomnia, Listening, Music, peaceful, Quiet, Robin, WildlifeLeave a comment

Despite it being the start of January I am listening to a beautiful dawn chorus. It is either a Robin or a Blackbird. That’s because I’m struggling to sleep again. But hearing the liquid notes and swirling tunes is fascinating and lovely. I’m just sitting quietly and I can hear strong birdsong despite having double glazing. Each tune or snippet of song only lasts for a little while, then there is a short gap and the music starts again. There is no other sound out there. It’s too early for traffic or footsteps. Just a high series of tweets and whistles cascading from a small bird.

The weather forecast is for lower temperatures and snow rain and ice to return over the next few days. I shall make sure the birds in our garden have food and water. They deserve it for creating such beautiful song. I could not get a photo so excuse my drawing of the garden. Its full of trees and bushes. Now other birds are joining in. Excuse me while I listen… X

We have a hedgehog

Posted on June 9, 2020June 9, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Animal, Baby robin, Blackbird, Drawing, Frog, Fun, Garden, Hedgehog, Nature, Pond4 Comments

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My hubby has just been out in the garden and discovered a large hedgehog eating the mealworms we put out for the blackbirds and Robins.

His nightly parambulation also resulted in him seeing a frog by the pond.

This afternoon we saw a baby robin perched by the pond. I think we really do have a natural garden.

The drawing is an attempt to draw a hedgehog. Bit bald in parts!

Thunder and lightening

Posted on May 9, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Birdsong, Blackbird, Cloud, Lightening, Music, Poem, Poetry, Rain, Thunder, WeatherLeave a comment

This was the cloud

that rattled the windows,

drowned out birdsong

made my hubby swear in surprise.

This is the cloud

I tried to film

Flashes and rumbles

Forked lightening

Heavy rain it brings.

This was the cloud

That the blackbird sang to,

dueting the flashes

overwhelmed by thunder

liquid notes flying up to heaven,

rain falling in response.

Today’s challenge was ‘busy’

Posted on May 9, 2020 Posted in Sketching, UncategorizedTagged #uskstoke, Art, Bird, Blackbird, Drawing, Gardening, Life, Sketch, Sketching, Tidying, Usk Stoke-on-Trent, Working4 Comments

Today’s drawing session, these are for my Urban Sketchers Stoke-on-Trent daily challenge. I thought I would share them, I was planting up pots and trying to tidy up, plus attacking the ivy that’s taken over the garden. Finally had a beer with my hubby and then came round onto the back yard to listen to the blackbird singing on the chimney tops. That was wonderful. So melodious

Robin

Posted on March 26, 2020 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Bird, Birds, Blackbird, Blue tits, Garden, Happy, Meaning, Painting, Robin, Spring, Time8 Comments

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Robin painting from November.

I was reading about Robins on Facebook today where I read this that a friend had posted:

She I looked up ‘what does it mean if a Robin visits?’

Meaning found: If a robin keeps visiting you in indicates good luck. According to myths and legends, Robins appear once a loved one has died, Allegedly, it’s a simple message from heaven; that this loved one is watching over you. Robins also appear spiritually, to remind you to uncover the happiness.
Robins are also associated with the end of an old phase and the entering of a new one. To see Robin means you need to let go of what no longer serves you and find something else to bring you joy and happiness. The Robin bird is encouraging you to be brave again.

I don’t set much store in old wives tales, but this is sweet. In such a difficult world its good to remember the nice things. We have at least one Robin in the garden, bustling around, finding food. He’s very welcome along with blackbirds and blue tits. I must make an effort and try and get some photos….

5am

Posted on April 15, 2019 Posted in Cat, UncategorizedTagged Blackbird, Cats, Cold, Dawn, Life, Melody, Windy2 Comments

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The dawn chorus has started. There is a blackbird singing outside. It’s melody riding and falling. The wind is moaning through gaps in the window. But I don’t mind it, at least I don’t live in a totally sealed box.

I’ve been up for an hour. Stomach pains, nothing serious, just annoying and I couldn’t sleep. The cat rubbed round my ankles then decided to go and sleep on the back of the sofa. She must be a mind reader, she just came back to see me! Little purring cat always cheers me. Oh now the other one is awake. Now we will have catch chase. Like children playing they run up and down. Pouncing on each other, play fighting. Must be to do with terratorial issues. Sometimes I have to tell them off when they get too boisterous.

Well I’d better try and get some sleep. It’s cold in here and I want to snuggle under the duvet. It’s been a cold dry spring so far.

See ya!

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Blackbird