Both regular visitors. Sitting in direct line of sight from my office desk, and making boring admin and book work much more enjoyable, is the cottage “plunge pool for birds”. Movement in my peripheral vision is cause for me to stop working, look, study and escape even for a few minutes. I am sitting in a animal hide, binoculars and bird book in hand, sipping on a cold savana in the Kruger Park …. OK back to my computer and debits and credits …..
The Fork-tail Drongo takes a break from snacking on my bee hive and comes in for a quick drink ….The entrance to my bee hive is the perfect place to grab a quick and easy take away meal. A drive through.
Seeming to be wearing a set of blue tooth head phones, the Wagtail takes a break from bobbing and weaving around the garden to have a quick splash, shake, rattle and roll…. before the starlings (red wing and glossy) come and take over. The bullies of the bird bath I call them!
The Olive Thrush patrols the garden in the early mornings venturing down to the sheep camp and the seep of ground water. Strutting around with purpose nibbling on insects as it goes.
The Cape White-eyes are coming back to the trees in the garden. As the leaves start to re-appear after a long winter, the white eyes are happier to perch and sing in the liquid amber near my office door. They do not feel to exposed and are back to flitting between the trees with their w shape flying pattern.
A Hoopoe is our gate keeper. Always found along our drive way keep a watch on the comings and goings. The landscape fills the basic requirements for a Hoopeo’s habitat, they need a lightly vegetated area to forage and trees or haystacks to nest. The Hoopoe’s temperament suits that of a gate keeper as fights between rival males (and sometimes females) are common and can be brutal, trying to stab each other with their beaks. Quite gory for a lovely looking bird ….
To counter this we have the Bulbuls. I have always found the Bulbul to be a very regal bird. With its slightly crested head and flash of lemon yellow under its tail and its restless drinking at the bird bath. Always on the look out, and the “town crier” of the garden letting all know the presence of a threat.
With all these distractions no wonder I take a little longer than normal to do my office work ….
Pink Farm Chick 