3 June 2009
TIME ON MY SIDE
Owls don’t understand what urges drag a lark at dawn from bed. Thus, Mrs Nails turns over as I throw back the cover. Left leg over the edge, then right, and roll to a seated posture. In my thirties it was easy, even with a long day of gardening, grass cutting, caretaking, more gardening ahead. Not quite so recently, but in five minutes I’m dressed and nursing a cuppa in the garden, feeling better, clearer in my head.
When the clocks strike top of the hour up in town then minutes after from the church below, I can relax. It’s still early. Time, at 5am in early June, is on my side.
PUTTING UP A HOUSE MARTIN NEST
My mate Jon and I put up a double house martin nest box for Pat opposite. She already has one we fixed up years ago and it’s in use now. But on the other side of her upstairs window, on the brick wall under her eaves, more of these delightful birds have started to build. Sadly, not much progress has been made so we decided to lend a helping hand.
Jon climbed the ladder we borrowed from Peter and did the awkward jobs of drilling holes and inserting rawl plugs. The artificial nest was to go right next to where they were trying to stick pellets of mud together as they have evolved to do. Jon brushed against it and it crumbled down. Proof, if proof was needed, that not only is mud crucial but it must be of the correct consistency to cement together and cradle a growing brood of boisterous chicks plus constant parental comings and goings without collapsing.
Amazingly, as Jon was working house martins flew around the vicinity. One even clung on to the wall right next to his head. Half an hour later it was job done. Pat promiced to keep me informed with developments.
NOTES
- Poppies flowering abundantly and hectic with bumble bees in the early morn.
- Bald headed fledgling jackdaw among a party of several birds in Bramley apple tree next door.
Copyright, Joe Hashman
Tags: bramley apple, bumblebee, dawn, house martin, jackdaw, mrs nails, poppy