Two birds, no stone

I was out early again today and although the Wood Pigeon is not my favourite bird this one was sitting in very pleasing soft, warm morning light. Well it would be rude not to.

Bird number two was a Robin, possibly the one I photographed the other day doing a Caruso impression. I found Enrico, if it were indeed he, in a bit of a flap. I started digging the rose bed this morning and was in and out of the shed. Enrico must have snuck in whilst I was digging and when I went for lunch he found himself trapped inside. He did not seem to learn quickly as he kept hurling himself at the glass window only to find it solid. In contrast to the rest of the shed, which is held together by Ivy. Strong girl, Ivy. If Enrico had leaned on the door it may well have opened.

To cut a short story long I circled round the back of Enrico and guided him gently to the exit. He was very grateful. Indeed I think he gave me a little Donizetti as he flew out. Just to say thank you.

And there you have it. Two birds with very different days behind them. The Sun King and The Prince of Potting Sheds.

Orchid

Yesterday evening I was getting the trap ready and noticed a plant that appeared to have sprung up quite suddenly. After a little research I believe this is Dactylorhiza fuchsii, Common Spotted Orchid. The benefits of not mowing everything to a bowling green level.

A snake in the grass – reptile alert.

Almost.

I was tapping away on the keyboard, looked out of my study window and thought “gosh, thats an odd stick”. Then it moved. It lifted its head and stared up at me. I had the superzoom handy – the same one that got me my goshawk yesterday. So I hot-footed it downstairs and had time to take a few frames. I then thought I would get a “proper” lens out but the snake had had enough at that point and slithered under the hedge, never to be seen again.

If this looks big, it is. I think it is a Common Rat Snake. They grow to 2m long. That is over 6′ in real money. Look carefully and you will see that there is a rather suspicious bulge in the body. That I think is a recently swallowed bird. Well it was almost lunchtime. Either that or the snake is smuggling contraband.

The good news is that Mrs. Ha was out. She was spared the thought that we might have an unwelcome lodger. After all these chaps take rats too and I am afraid we do get rats from time to time. We don’t invite them. They just come in looking for refuge. The perils of living in rural HK. I wonder if they would take small children too? 😉