Who killed Cock Robin??
- Who killed Cock Robin?
- I, said the Sparrow,
- with my bow and arrow,
- I killed Cock Robin.
- (link)
One of my latest blog projects is to photograph all the birds that come into my garden. There are many varieties of birds so will take some time to complete. Not because of the numbers so much as it can prove tricky plus I have to be so inventive to photograph them the way I want or the way I feel they look best. This one above I like because the sweet peas make for a perfect setting for the photo. It is taken on the fence bordering the garden next to my neighbours bird feeder. I thought it made for a nice photo - particularly with the early morning sun to back light the petals of the sweetpeas. To get it meant using the clothesline as a form of camouflage and then poke the lens through the hanging, wet clothes and to wait - very impatiently - patience is not my strength. The camera gets heavy because I have to sit waiting camera ready as any movement scares the birds away. In this way the bonus is that photography teaches me how to be patient. I have lots of little stories on the things I have had to do to get the photos I want, but will save them for future blogs once I have collected the photos I want. I am pretty sure all of you who read this also have sparrows visiting their gardens or streets - perhaps one of the very few things we all have in common.
Birds you say I would dare to say that you have a wider variety than I do at this time of the year. Yet the angle and capture of this pictures is that of one which I can relate with Kieth but more so within other seasons. Yet still birds they are and I must see this link of which you have place. I never knew of this Nursery Rhyme yet as so often the picture here is enriching Kieth.
ReplyDeleteA grand day to you and yours.
Pretty little bird, we all do what we can to capture their beauty. I hadn't read the poem before, but had heard of Cock Robin. Looking forward to your other bird friends.
ReplyDeleteWhow Keith this is a whole new change in creative direction! I am so looking forward to further chapters in it.
ReplyDeleteThe page backround is quite stunning as a start. Then comes the delight of the photograph with familair accompanying childhood verse.
I always think that sparrows are one of our most overlooked birds and yet they are such characters.
Despite the perfume being too strong to bring inside I could not resist bringing a sweet pea flower inside.
They have always been my most favourite flower.
Nice photo Keith. Since getting my Olympus Ultra-zoom, I've been doing a lot of bird photography, although not in my garden as next-door's cat is an almost permanent resident and scares them away. I know of plenty of good places to get good shots though.
ReplyDeleteI've heard the old rhyme before, My theory was that the Sparrow had to use a bow and arrow, coz Robins are notoriously aggressive and probably couldn't get close enough to get in a peck with his beak. Good theory, huh?
I got some new photos posted today, too:
http://mitchylr.multiply.com/photos/album/277/St_Davids_Cathedral_2011
lol I had a great image of you behind the clothesline...it was worth it you got a fantastic shot and the sweatpeas do add a special something
ReplyDeleteI have always loved sparrows - the world over!! I agree, very much overlooked and they do have a special character only sparrows possess - handsome little devils they are too,. Sweetpeas are everyones favourite - all of the pea varieties have beautiful and delicate flowers. Thanks too for your nice comments in your opening sentences. Will think about which photo to post next - stay tuned! As I made this post I did actually wonder if you had ever writen about Sparrows as a poem or in one - seems to me you have!!
ReplyDeletehiya Lyn - hope you have had a nice relaxing time of late. Thanks for your comment - I think the poem is definately an English Nursery rhyme so may not have really been part of the American culture for children.
ReplyDeleteyes definately a seasonal change such as you experience as seen in your last blog would scare all the birds away! Here they are about pretty much all year round with only a few that arrive here from even your parts as they escape the northern hemisphrere winters.
ReplyDeleteHi Mitch - I am sitting enjoying a huge bowl of freshly chopped summer fruits (mango, watermelon, cherries, banana,) topped with boysenberry yoghurt to escape the summer sun!! I think the bird feeder of my neighbour brings the birds in - they come in their little groups and settle in the trees waiting for their turn and in their sense of pecking order they swoop down when ready for the seeds and grains.Could be as you state the Sparrow had to resort to a bow and arrow - I guess we will never really know!! They are fun and a challenge capturing the birds with the camera. It is funny how we learn more on the art of the camera by what subjects are about and how we devise methods of capturing the best shots. Will go look at your latest album and thanks for you comments
ReplyDeleteThanks Dannette. I am sure the neighbours found it a bit strange me doing as I did and other weird ways I captured other birds. As you say - it was worth it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful idea Keith, and a beautiful picture.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shayna - happy you came by and happy you like the photo - but who could not like a sparrow - except a worm of course!!!
ReplyDeleteYou need one of these for the lazy mans way of wildlife photography !
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bushnell.com/products/trail-cameras/trophy-cam/
you and me both.............photographing the birds in the garden, it is amazing the variety I get here, though some are so elusive and so fast, I cannot get them, not even on bird table, eg. Rameron Pigeon ( not interested in anything I put out), Burchell's Coucal , Olive pigeon and the Piet m'vrou..............I can hear them, I can see them in glimpses, but capture , forget it.
ReplyDeleteAre you going to do an album???? Would be cool, I am collecting to eventually count and do an album, worked on it for a year.
it's a lovely capture of the humble little sparrow, they are adorable , I have a pair nesting in a box my uncle made for the kids, had those box's for years and one day this couple moved in. 3 days ago I found a baby on the ground, and at first thought "another mouth to feed" sigh..............they are so difficult to feed, so took a chance, got out the big ladder and plopped it back in the box. Saw it peeking out today and told it to stay put, not finished baking yet. *smile*
ReplyDeletesteals the link, thank you .........wooooooooops
ReplyDeletehad a look , that is cheating...................lol
ReplyDeleteBirds visiting our gardens is among those thing that brings beauty and fun into life. I like your image very much, such a lovely shot!
ReplyDeleteI knicked that link too. Thanking you. LOL
ReplyDeleteYes I have noticed the Birds in your blogs and albums - so different from here but then you are oceans away from us! There are birds like that here too that are impossible to glimpse let alone capture but have got one so far but also want to catch the male because they do not look at all alike and would never pick them as the same species.Could be a long wait - hahaha. you are like me - I have album and blog projects that are a year or even more old.
ReplyDeleteNice little story - yes they are adorable and I like too that Jesus used them in his teaching in Matthew and Luke. He used the small things more often for the greatest of teachings
ReplyDeleteThat for sure could have it's uses!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Amalie - there is no need when you think about it to keep birds in a cage when they are freely popping in and out of the garden
ReplyDeleteJust because it kept bugging me trying to remember if there were more verses to that nursery rhyme, and I had thought it was also an early symbolic poem about a death of a king/lord - which it isn't. Here is the link to Cock Robin via wikapedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cock_Robin
ReplyDeleteyeah isn't it so clever the whole poem - I just Love it!!
ReplyDelete