Get out of my garden!

Posted on 16 Jan, 2009 21 comments

Unlike BB’s garden where Cyril & Twiggy are living in harmony, my garden visitors seem to hate each other! Yesterday I spent a good hour watching and taking photographs. During that time Freaky blackbird chased away robin, Mrs Blackbird chased away Freaky, and two trotty wagtails chased each other all over the place until they were both eventually chased away by a gang of starlings.

And as for Tufty and his ‘friend’. Well, I hadn’t seen them together since my last ‘Tufty’ blog. It started calmly enough

Tufty was on the bird feeder as usual…..

...and the one I called Ann Other was on the arched seat the other end of the garden.

Then she moved up the garden, fairly carefully, until she was eating the bird food on the ground, very near the bush holding Tufty and his food supply.

He suddenly spotted her…..

... and the chase was on!

They dashed across the garden, over the arch and disappeared over the fence.

After about 3-4 minutes Tufty returned and began feeding again. (He never seems to get enough!!)

A few minutes later Ann Other arrived; she took the longer route through next doors garden and over the fence, the opposite side to Tufty and sat on the rose arch.

Of course Tufty spied her (she wasn’t exactly discreet, was she?) and there was another chase but far too quick for me to catch on camera. This happened again and again until there was a sort of ‘stand off’’ along the back fence.

Tufty is on the left of the picture and you can just see Ann’s tail on the far side! Inevitably it seemed there was yet another chase and both disappeared in the direction of the duck pond. I waited patiently and then Tufty appeared over next door’s shed roof and started along the fence towards the bird feeder (of course!), oblivious to what was happening.

Oh Tufty – SHE’S BEHIND YOU.

I’m sorry I can’t tell you the end of this tail…..

or this one…..

....because my phone rang and when I had finished the call everyone had gone!

Comments

Dawnsaunt

He's probably playing hard to get, lol

16 Jan, 2009

Dottydaisy2

Great fun, lovely TAIL.....sorry couldnt resist that Gee 19.

16 Jan, 2009

Irish

awww brilliant blog Gee and photos are excellent

16 Jan, 2009

Bonkersbon

Fantastic blog asusual Gee.Love the photo of Ann Other sneaking up behind a completely oblivious Tufty lol.Have to say though,did you know that "chasing" is part of the mating ritual !!!! ?

16 Jan, 2009

Amy

I think they are courting Gee , we had a couple on the top of an old stable block across the field in front of us , I had never seen anything like it , it was almost like two kangaroos boxing and sparing running backwards and forwards across the top of the stable it went on for ages and the noise they made was really loud .
I loved the blog by the way :o)

16 Jan, 2009

Lincslass

Gee, you do have some fun in your garden,love the blog and pics are great.........

16 Jan, 2009

Gee19

Courting eh? Well I'm glad I'm not a squirrel - I'd be no good balancing along the top of a fence in the name of love!! I'd decided Ann Other was a male rival so I am glad to hear this behaviour is normal and Tufty has a mate.
Thanks everyone.

16 Jan, 2009

Bonkersbon

Gee thats how Cyril and twiggy first met...chasing each other up and down trees..then suddenly they accepted each other Congratulations.!!

16 Jan, 2009

Gilli

Great blog Gee. Won't it be great if they end up together.

17 Jan, 2009

Clarice

Brill blog Gee really enjoyed it & the photo's.

17 Jan, 2009

Spritzhenry

TWO squirrel 'weddings' on the cards? Can we all come and throw confetti please? LOL.

Great fun - I enjoyed reading it and looking at the photos, Gee. Thanks.

17 Jan, 2009

Irish

do you think we will need to buy new hats for the occasion? lol

17 Jan, 2009

Gilli

Maybe the OhOh noise was Tufty and his girlfriend.??

17 Jan, 2009

Gee19

The area around the village pond is often used for wedding photography so everyone is welcome to come if Tufty and Ann Other do decide to tie the knot. Oh Oh, Gilli, you could be right - I shall wear earplugs now so I don't eavesdrop anymore.

17 Jan, 2009

Lincslass

You cannot do that Gee,think of all the entertainment we would all miss out on..lol

17 Jan, 2009

Bonkersbon

LOL...Eileen...with all this overhead activity ANY form of head gear is recommended LOL

17 Jan, 2009