All About Birds.

After a cold, wet night the day didn't look too promising either. Yesterday when I'd heard that there was a possibility of frost I'd brought all the succulents and trailing geraniums back into the kitchen. Now they're saying things are going to warm up so out the plants have gone again.

With the rain beginning to clear up and the forecast for tomorrow looking quite dire I went to the zoo this morning (with a jacket in case of rain). 

There I weeded over the small play area, the paths in the grass maze and most of the gravel by the ferrets. Mr Pea, the peacock has been allowed to roam free again. As I weeded the gravel on my knees up he came, as close as he could and spread out his tail feathers in a beautiful display. The shine on the feathers and the bright blue of his neck and body were just amazing. Then, as I had no grapes to give him (his favourite treat) he closed his tail and wandered off again.

It was quite busy at the zoo today. One family came in with a toddler who made a bee line for a large puddle where she jumped happily up and down until her leggings were completely soaked. Her mother wanted to get her into dry clothes immediately but the granny sensibly suggested waiting until the end of their visit.

 

Earlier at home I'd been amusing myself watching the garden birds. While the female blackbird gathered nesting material the male blackbird guarded the small handful of seeds I'd put out. A pair of sparrows had to wait until he'd had his fill before they could come down for their share. When a second pair of sparrows attempted to join in there was much angry chirping and a squabble in the hedge which resulted in the second pair having to wait their turn. No sharing in the bird world.

The lone cormorant in the bay only had to share his fishing spot with a chap fishing from the rocks. I suspect the cormorant had more success than the human.

The latest flowers to join the spring display are the snow-in-summer tumbling over the edge of one of the raised beds. It won't be long before they are joined by the many self-seeded aquilegias.

We had a good Pilates session. We were doing bridge with one foot on an exercise ball (about the size of a football) when the suggestion was made that if we wanted to increase the difficulty we could raise the other foot off the floor. I don't think many tried that though I managed about a micro second before losing my balance and having to plonk my foot quickly back on the floor. I'll try anything once.