So that was two things that had never happened before: to wake up this morning to find the nation was in lockdown and then to see a red-legged partridge atop the garden shed. Well I ask you: a partridge on the old privy roof. How odd is that. Given the choice, partridge are usually ground-hugging birds, more inclined to run than fly whenever threatened. They even make their nest on the ground. In any event, I have never seen either the birds or their nests in our vicinity before.
So it struck me as an irony that just as we humans were being ordered to isolate and stay indoors, here was this bird breaking bounds, and elevating itself in order to advertise readiness for a spot of socializing. Much scanning of the field and earnest calling then ensued. It anyway gave me plenty of opportunity to take these photos. I do hope it finds a willing mate to make a nest with.
Brilliant! And what smashing pics. Well done Miss T.
I knew you’d like these pics, Ark. Taken through the double-glazed windows too.
with parks closed, I bet the wild animals must be having a time of their lives. Peace without being disturbed by noisy humans
There always has to be an up-side 🙂
I saw in some places animals are venturing into empty streets
Ah, now that might be a bit inconvenient. I seem to remember lions wandering round Nairobi – in the news not so long ago. And the odd hippo.
Could be that the animal kingdom is taking advantage of our seclusion: “At last, humans are all indoors, lets party!!!!” 😉 Brilliant shots, my dear Tish of your beautiful visitor! 🙂 Stay safe!
That is a very heartening thought, Marina. A spot of re-wilding, and so quickly after the human retreat! But then nature is never slow at reasserting itself.
It isn’t, you’re right! 😉
Tish, I would like to associate myself with this comment. as the politicians say……..
The birds and animals have to know that there has been a significant change to their environment and this partridge, perhaps a native risk-lover, knows that nobody is out there to take a pot shot at him and he is ‘scouting’ from a better position than he has had all his born days up to now?!
Sarah
I love your appraisal, Sarah.
She is quite a lovely young bird girl. I’m sure she will find the mate of her dreams and many eggs will hatch 🙂
That’s a thought to hang on to – a nice clutch of ivory coloured eggs hatching into lots of very pretty chicks.
What an absolute treat and what.a beauty.
Hope you are holding up well..and enjoying this glorious weather. Janet 🙂
The weather is definitely a treat. Helps deal with all the imposed fraughtness. Hope you are well too, Janet.
All’s well here. Stocked up with food and paints….:)
Wise woman on both fronts 🙂
Oh what marvelous photos you have of this beauty 😀
Stay safe, healthy and happy 😀
Thank you, Cee. You and Chris keep safe too.
What a pretty bird and she, or he, looks to be looking for sure..
What a beauty! I’m so glad the bird treated you with song and stayed long enough for you to get these great shots! Stay well, Tish.
Cheers, Hannah. All the best to you too.
Beautiful images, Tish!
Thanks, Sue. Hope you are OK.
What a beauty – and up close! A real treat. Great shots, Tish. I do believe most animals love our retreat to indoors. Roaming free – what joy!
Reclaiming their space. It’s a lovely thought.
💚
How wonderful. And your photos are perfect for my challenge this week – textures with colours and patterns! I don’t think I have ever seen this bird.
Well that’s just it. They’re usually pretty elusive. It looked so hyper-real in the early morning sun.
I bet!
That is so odd a thing, Tish! Lovely photos! What a thing to see 🙂
Thanks, Pete. Am enjoying your moths.
You are welcome, Tish, and thank you 🙂
She looks so eager to please! 🙂 🙂 If only it were funny, Tish.
Beautiful.
Gorgeous photos, Tish!!
Good luck with your lockdown. We haven’t quite reached that stage yet, but our PM is getting frustrated with people disrespecting the concepts of social distancing and self-isolating. I think lockdown here isn’t far behind.
Thanks for those good wishes, Joanne. I’m thinking it’s altogether easier for us who live in rural areas. I do feel for those in chock-a-block city high-rises.
That’s exactly what we were talking about yesterday. I can’t imagine! We have a backyard to poke around in and get fresh air. Even with our cool, wet weather right now, I’m popping outdoors several times a day.
As the weather gets warmer, the challenges to stay indoors are going to become greater.
With any luck the warmer days will help reduce infection rates. Virus appears to thrive on cold.
Sadly, I fear the opposite is going to happen. As the weather gets warmer, it’s going to be harder to keep people isolated 😕
That is truly amazing and your photos are stunning Tish. I think more wild life may venture out when they realise you are all shut away. Stay safe and can you still go to your allotment? I would class that as essential business….🌻🌺🌷
Essential business at the allotment, absolutely, Pauline. Fortunately we are allowed to keep going there. Businesses in the town – the butchers, and our local hotel that also has a market shop are doing deliveries to those who can’t go out at all.
And practicing “social distancing” while doing the weeding…
Ha!
What a wonderful sight, and terrific photos Tish. I hope the lock-down has the desired effect (here and there).
I’m sure it will have a good effect, Su. Hard for you though.
In many ways not so different for T and I, but will miss seeing my boy for a few weeks.
I’m sure you will. But so long as you know he’s safe…
Yes; and he’s with friends and his partner. 😀
Keeping spirits up is the main thing. Not always easy.
Fantastic photos, Tish. I’m glad you had your camera with you. Who knows what you might see over the next month?
Thanks, Tracy. I shall be on the look-out.
How fabulous . . . . and what a treat. Maybe it knew you were stuck inside and popped across to brighten up your day by doing something unusual 😀
Intriguing thought, Becky. In traditional tales birds are often important messengers.
We’ve had bullfinches in the garden, first time for at least two years. Maybe we should be revisiting all the folktales to discover what messages they are sharing!
I love bullfinches. Not seen one round us ever!
Your fruit trees are probably very grateful!
That’s a good point.
Splendid photos, Tish – and a blue sky as well. I notice the ‘our’ sheep are not social distancing – they need to be told 🙂
Cheers, Robin. Hope all is well with you up in Northumbria.
Une très jolie perdrix… Asante sana Memsahib.
Living in the countryside probably is an asset in those lockdown days…
How’s the country holding up? Any chance Johnson will fired any time soon?
Stay safe.
Kwaheri sassa.
Une tres jolie perdrix – mais oui. As you suggest, lockdown in the countryside is much easier and more pleasant than I guess it will be in cities. Also the weather is being hugely kind to us just now so it feels like a holiday ‘almost’. At the moment Boris is bumbling along as usual, but when we’re through this, I think there will be a big accounting. On the other hand headline today, some 500,000 people have responded to his call to volunteer to help the NHS in its crisis. Our medic staff have been under huge strain (and at risk) due to the lack of recommended safety gear and the fact the system was struggling even before Covid-19
Keep safe too.
Half a million volunteers? wow. That’s England for you. (And Scotland and Wales, etc.) Commendable.
I do like your phrase very much. Or word: “accounting”. I have been thinking the same thing for a while now. There has to be some very thorough worldwide accounting for all the mishandling…
take care.
Does the lockdown mean you can’t even go outside?
We must be careful – with all us humans staying indoors nature is taking over!!!
How lovely to see the partridge. All this emergent nature warms my heart.
Alison
What completely beautiful photos. There’s something of-another-time about them. I’ve been looking at painting by artists in early colonial Australia, and that last photo has the same feel as they do. Maybe because you and they were both looking at, in some sense, an alien bird.
Hello Meg. That’s a v. interesting observation. I think the quality of our light just now has something to with it. We haven’t had prolonged sunshine for so long, but suddenly it’s wall to wall, but sharply chilly too and things seem hyper-real. The photos were taken from inside the house, looking up and on high zoom so it’s surprising that they emerged so well.
I do wonder at our cat, moving in and out at will, living her usual life – apart from the humans cluttering up her space 25/7 now.
Cats do live in their own reality, don’t they. They only intersect with us when it suits.
Serendipity in action, Tish. Fabulous photos. I found them quite poignant and touching.
Thanks, Lizzie. It was a strange but lovely sighting.
He looked so lost, poor soul.
I’ve never seen a reg-legged partridge. Handsome fellow. May we all be strutting our stuff again soon.
Absolutely – strutting our stuff at the earliest opportunity.