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28 July 2014

Babes in the Garden



The other day I came to within five inches of having a baby robin on my hand. There were two babies but this one was friendlier and stuck around while I sorted out the bits of suet from the seed. The babies were first on the scene when I appeared but only the lively one came closer. He didn't mind me taking his picture but he wouldn't oblige me by sitting in a suitable place. 

I feed the birds in an area under the apple trees so there are plenty of branches they can sit on. Braver than his brother (I have to call them something so I might as well use the masculine gender) he hopped from branch to branch until he was right in front of me. I offered a piece of suet, which he looked at but didn’t move. I put the suet in the palm of my hand and tried gain and he looked more closely, but didn’t move. So he did a bit of taunting, hopping to different branches and coming back, each time a little closer. That’s when I reckoned he was about five inches away. The performance was repeated for a couple of days but now they've gone. Sob! The same thing happened last year, they were there one minute and gone the next. Still I guess they have to find new pastures. Perhaps next year …

Now it's the turn of the mice… yes, two field mouse babies come for seed. They are so tiny I could easily have missed them. I tried to get them on the phone camera but they were too small.They didn't move while I tried to focus, just carried on bravely eating. Pretty soon, like the birds, they will disappear to pastures new because that’s what creatures do. 

19 comments:

  1. Sometimes with birds you just got to get lucky. You see a good shot but by the time you get the camera ready for the shot they fly away. Great shot of the robin on the bench.

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  2. The birds in the backyard never
    hang around for me to get close.. that is why I have to shoot thru the window.

    Blogger is being a pain again...
    nothing showing up in my reading list.

    Have a great Monday !

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  3. I do think that birds are cute :)
    Some of them just make me realize how great nature can be :)
    It is nice to get so close to take a nice shot!

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  4. Glad you're still enjoying life in spite of setbacks!

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  5. yes they do...but what a blessing to have them there for the time...smiles...its cool to see the new life so close to us....cute on the mice...would love to see them....

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  6. Hey Brian, you're back. Hope you had a GREAT holiday. I think I will try and lure the mice out of their usual eating spot, somewhere where it's light and I can get a few pics. Fingers crossed.

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  7. Hello sunshinegirl, nice to meet you. You're right, nature is pretty wonderful... if only the world wouldn't keep trying to destroy it!

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  8. Good to see you, Ken. Setbacks have been plenty lately, but we will survive them.... eventually. Hope all is well with you and your family.

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  9. Faye, is Blogger ever thus? I didn't know you took pics through the window... they're amazingly clear.

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  10. Dan, I persevere ... maybe one day I'll get some brilliant bird pictures.

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  11. "The other day I came to within five inches of having a baby robin on my hand."

    That's amazing!

    Valerie, you have such a close and magical connection with birds and I think it's so beautiful!

    And mice. I love those little things. I know they freak a lot of people out but to me, they are so cute!

    Happy Monday, dear lady!

    X to you and Joe!

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  12. Ron, I shall persevere and try to get pics of the baby mice. They are so tiny and their markings are not at all like adult mice.

    Heehee the woodpigeon don't think I'm magical - I'm forever shooing them off. They're a pain!

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  13. I think it is wonderful to try to coax any babies to interact. With the dogs it is impossible. At least the birds will still come to the feeder with the dogs in the yard or in the window.

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  14. I love the way robins will come so close - obviously they get the babies started at being sociable at a very early age ! :)

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  15. A cute picture of the robin Valerie, must have been very enjoyable while they were around. I think I saw a baby woodpecker yesterday, it was a lot smaller than the others I have seen and looked like a male Downy but I'm still not sure. No pictures though :( Maybe you'll get a picture of your mice next time.

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  16. That is so good that the babies want to get to know you. Fun stories.

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  17. Aw how sweet, I love robins, shame they wouldn't sit on your hand. As you say maybe next year. x

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  18. It's so much fun to be part of nature. There's a peacefulness watching the birds and woodland creatures moving about. Your pictures are wonderful, Val. Pax.

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  19. Catching up after a vacation trip to North Dakota. I love the special moments with the birds and animals of the wild world. You certainly had one....:)

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