Thank you. The curlew call is one of my all time spine-shivering favourites. But perhaps you are too quick to denigrate the oystercatcher, one of those birds (like the avocet) clearly designed by a graphic designer or printmaker, but which also obligingly announces its presence by peeping its theme tune as it flies. Lovely
You write so beautifully and wittily — your letters are such a joy to read, and always so interesting. I’m in North Finchley and have cuckoos, owls, woodpeckers… and a very loyal robin who waits for me to get up and feed it each morning and comes to find me in the evening.
Sadly, I have to whisk the food away when I’m not fully alert, thanks to a gang of pigeons. It started with one, now it’s three, waddling around my tiny garden like they’ve moved in. Someone nearby is feeding them — I’m doing my best not to encourage them.
My dog, of course, has no interest in pigeons. He’s fixated on the fox that appears at 2am, despite my repeated instructions that the pigeons (and now a crow and a magpie) are his actual brief. The robin’s feast is not for sharing.
I think it had been nesting in the ivy, but I’ve not seen it dart in for a while — not since the fox loitered in the garden for three hours one night. I’m desperate to peek in and check, but I’m resisting the urge.
Anyway — enough of my ramblings. You’ve truly opened up the world of birds for me, and it’s become such a joy to look forward to. Thank you!
That’s a beautiful curlew clip 🥰 my favourite bird call, so evocative of my past moorland home. Thanks.
Swallows are a fave too. I once stayed in a house in France, with a tiny terrace outside my bedroom. I lay there and felt I could have touched them as they flew into nests above the window.
I really, really like swallows. They nested every year in our wash-house when I was a child. I drew them and filled an exercise book with observations about them as a project for junior school. My love for nature and nature journalling began with swallows.
I saw a whimbrel on Lindisfarne (Holy Island) last week and the sound of willow warblers accompanied my walk over Hutton Roof and Farlton Knott at the weekend. Lovely read. Thank you.
Walking around the National Trust's house, Ightham Mote in Kent, we came across an internal courtyard measuring only 12ft x 12ft with high walls around the edges. There was a swallows nest with adults feeding their young. How many decades had their predecessors found this almost enclosed space to make their temporary home? A memory burned into my brain.
I don't know whether you've ever used this in print, but I still think the winner will be what you said to me as we walked on stage at The Old Fire Station stage in Oxford in the 90s... "She asked me if I wanted a cigarette before the Dante Rossetti auction... I said no, I wasn't keen on a pre-raffle light".
Mic drop. The rest of your life just an attempt to live up to that moment.
The swifts have arrived in my part of Perthshire. Just heard them screeching! 🩶🩶🩶
Thank you. The curlew call is one of my all time spine-shivering favourites. But perhaps you are too quick to denigrate the oystercatcher, one of those birds (like the avocet) clearly designed by a graphic designer or printmaker, but which also obligingly announces its presence by peeping its theme tune as it flies. Lovely
How did I denigrate the oystercatcher?
Maybe I misinterpreted “pied dumplings” …
Ah, perhaps! It was meant as a term of endearment.
You write so beautifully and wittily — your letters are such a joy to read, and always so interesting. I’m in North Finchley and have cuckoos, owls, woodpeckers… and a very loyal robin who waits for me to get up and feed it each morning and comes to find me in the evening.
Sadly, I have to whisk the food away when I’m not fully alert, thanks to a gang of pigeons. It started with one, now it’s three, waddling around my tiny garden like they’ve moved in. Someone nearby is feeding them — I’m doing my best not to encourage them.
My dog, of course, has no interest in pigeons. He’s fixated on the fox that appears at 2am, despite my repeated instructions that the pigeons (and now a crow and a magpie) are his actual brief. The robin’s feast is not for sharing.
I think it had been nesting in the ivy, but I’ve not seen it dart in for a while — not since the fox loitered in the garden for three hours one night. I’m desperate to peek in and check, but I’m resisting the urge.
Anyway — enough of my ramblings. You’ve truly opened up the world of birds for me, and it’s become such a joy to look forward to. Thank you!
Thank you so much! It’s lovely to know that these are going out to appreciative readers.
That’s a beautiful curlew clip 🥰 my favourite bird call, so evocative of my past moorland home. Thanks.
Swallows are a fave too. I once stayed in a house in France, with a tiny terrace outside my bedroom. I lay there and felt I could have touched them as they flew into nests above the window.
I really, really like swallows. They nested every year in our wash-house when I was a child. I drew them and filled an exercise book with observations about them as a project for junior school. My love for nature and nature journalling began with swallows.
I saw a whimbrel on Lindisfarne (Holy Island) last week and the sound of willow warblers accompanied my walk over Hutton Roof and Farlton Knott at the weekend. Lovely read. Thank you.
Walking around the National Trust's house, Ightham Mote in Kent, we came across an internal courtyard measuring only 12ft x 12ft with high walls around the edges. There was a swallows nest with adults feeding their young. How many decades had their predecessors found this almost enclosed space to make their temporary home? A memory burned into my brain.
Wonderful.
I've yet to see (as far as I know....) a whimbrel, though occasionally I wonder whether a curlew is too small....
I saw a swallow today just flying above a friend's garden, totally unexpectedly, which was wonderful
I love the Willow Warbler's song
I feel that 'A whimbrel way' might be up there in the pantheon of the punniest of Parikian puns.
Maybe that's a World Cup for next year: which of Lev's puns was the most tortuous in the last year. So many choices...
Well, the lion may sleep tonight, but you’re clearly wide awake!
I don't know whether you've ever used this in print, but I still think the winner will be what you said to me as we walked on stage at The Old Fire Station stage in Oxford in the 90s... "She asked me if I wanted a cigarette before the Dante Rossetti auction... I said no, I wasn't keen on a pre-raffle light".
Mic drop. The rest of your life just an attempt to live up to that moment.
PS I might not have remembered the exact words...
😆😆😆