Funny old day down at the Devon Barn.
My owners have been wittering on about a broody Pheasant that's been getting a little too familiar lately and showed a distinct dislike for Michael Jackson. Every time he heard Michael's music on the radio he'd stand at the back door and squawk frantically. When the music stopped he'd strut off again.
As if that wasn't enough he'd taken up residence under the bird table waiting for seeds to be dropped by other birds, then he'd squawk at them every so often to show who was boss. All this was quite quaint for a while but last week he started at around 6am claiming his territory!
Meanwhile a couple of loved up pigeons have been flapping about in the conifer, it went on for days until finally Mrs P settled down on her nest - precariously positioned just 4 foot from the ground.
This morning there was a huge commotion at around 8am, manic flapping of wings and squawking of crows, pheasant and pigeon. Then sudden and eerie silence. My owners rushed outside and found the pigeon's nest empty, feathers strewn through the branches below and one broken egg shell.
The culprit was nowhere to be seen - was it the crows or a sparrow hawk?
Later this afternoon my owners found the pheasant lying dead under the hedge with no marks or damage visible. Could the shock of it all have given him a heart attack?!
Whatever it was that went on at Lush Devon Barn this morning there's a blessing in disguise - it's very quiet here again - except for the Swallows who have just arrived with their infectious chattering - lovely birds though and summer here in rural Devon wouldn't be the same without them.
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