I live in a bird-watchers paradise . Everyday some new species of bird is spotted on the window rails, on the porch pecking last nights insects, hopping around in the car park . One day it is Eurasian pied starling , another day it is the white wagtail . The kids are quite used to my “look, look” , as I stare out of the balcony , at my usual lookout place for the school bus. The kids’ are in a hurried frenzy , combing hair , tightening shoe-laces , and I force them to look at a sunbird in the pomegranate bush , or a Montague’s Harrier circling overhead . They are unimpressed . I may have been gifted a Salim Ali book by an indulgent spouse , but they have more pressing things to do , like rubbing a white stain of still warm milk down a white shirt front , while cribbing about being force fed. Or last minute cramming the details of The Boston Tea Party and its effect on American Politics. They have no time to stare up a silver oak and marvel at the weavers birds’ nest full of gaping holes and wonder how the eggs remain secure ? It is more remarkable given the tiny size of the bird that weaves these marvels. By the way , there is a water hen quietly making its way away from the lantana bush . Did you see ? “Look, look, right there.”
Everyday some new species of bird is spotted on the window rails, on the porch pecking last nights insects, hopping around in the car park .
One day it is Eurasian pied starling , another day it is the white wagtail . The kids are quite used to my “look, look” , as I stare out of the balcony , at my usual lookout place for the school bus. The kids’ are in a hurried frenzy , combing hair , tightening shoe-laces , and I force them to look at a sunbird in the pomegranate bush , or a Montague’s Harrier circling overhead .
They are unimpressed . I may have been gifted a Salim Ali book by an indulgent spouse , but they have more pressing things to do , like rubbing a white stain of still warm milk down a white shirt front , while cribbing about being force fed.
Or last minute cramming the details of The Boston Tea Party and its effect on American Politics.
They have no time to stare up a silver oak and marvel at the weavers birds’ nest full of gaping holes and wonder how the eggs remain secure ? It is more remarkable given the tiny size of the bird that weaves these marvels.
By the way , there is a water hen quietly making its way away from the lantana bush . Did you see ? “Look, look, right there.”