Frenzy.
Drooped in summer a pink-flowered
hawthorn drowsily straddles noon's scorching hour.
Soon blackbird appears battling through
grass for live lunch, beak sharp as blade he stoops,
gulps yet again and though drunk on
worm flavour flaps wildly in heat-haze while pluming
upward over-heavy with extras.
Then heading high to spiked bush enters gloom
and shelter where still tied to feed, two
baby beaks raise screeching gapes as greed consumes
before weary parent wings off again.
Feeding means frenzy as feathered
pairs fetch needed nutrition for well-reared nestlings.
-
Author:
Fay Slimm. (
Offline) - Published: June 5th, 2020 03:03
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 54
Offline)
Comments7
A fine write Fay. Cheers - here's to some more of them noon's scorching hours!
Many thanks Orchi.
I read these words earlier but had to answer a wee call of nature....
this is lovely... did you know that once all the fledglings have flown the nest.. you won't see a cock blackbird for ages....
Oh' I just love them screeching gapes .. I can picture them now …
Neville
Ah - I did not know that fact so the blackbirds I am seeing are babies who dont want to leave the feed on my garden table. - - -they are so tame Nev....... they dont fly away when I replenish their stores............. great to see them and feel them so close....................x
my guess is that if there is going to be another clutch.. the cock bird will hang around.. but once the frenzy is done and dusted.. them cocks aint nowhere to be found for maybe up to a month or more...
Love it. I watch all the starling fledglings every morning out and about with mum and dadand mr and mrs crow with junior. Its such a treat to watch. I love youve put this into poetry.
Yes this time of year is so busy for feathered breeders of every kind. Thanks for your visit and comment dear friend.
It's been a hard year for my neighbourly blackbird. In the evenings i notice how knackered she is as she makes her low and ragged flight to her song perch where she throws herself down. It's unusual to hear her panting for breath before she starts her beautiful song.
Now, being the oft early riser that i am, regularly i would hear her yawning before starting into the dawn chorus but lately all i get are her gentle snores until the chicks pestering forces her out to hunt juicey worms and crusty flies.
The old bird still loves to nibble at the seeds I put though the prowling crafty cat is a worry.
Yes birds work themselves ragged at this time of year and are glad to get seeds to keep up their energy - -- so pleased my few words brought this welcome comment - - thank you D.A. ..........
Great write - we've got pigeons nesting in a conifer so the songbirds and others are giving the garden a miss. And we miss them.
Great observation piece Fay We have a gobby little blackbird she fiercely defends our hedge in the front garden now she's got us fending off cats for her
Great piece BRAVO
The feeding frenzy is happening as I write these words, the starlings, sparrows, blackbirds and goldfinches have just been fed.
It is wonderful to see the young being fed.
Andy
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