Eyes of a Fox
There is nothing more enjoyable after a long hard work week than to have a late lie in under the duvet on a Saturday morning. Now, I do not make €200 an hour like Brendan Drumm or €6,000 a week like Bertie Ahern; but, what I do earn I work hard for, and I look forward to not hearing that dreadful buzzing so early in the morning.
So it was with great dismay that I had to hear the thumping and banging going on outside my bedroom window too early on a grey misty morning this weekend. When I parted the curtains and rubbed my eyes a bit I could see a row ensuing among three jackdaws. These are black scavenger birds a lot like crows and rooks yet smaller. Two of them were beating the beans out of the third and it was causing an almighty uproar. It wasn’t the first time I have seen such fights in the last few weeks, the politicians and press might tell us that it is gang or drug related; but, there is really no telling what fowl crime this lad had committed.
Because they are smaller than crows and rooks these jackdaws, like us, will often fight amongst themselves as they have a fair chance of winning. And, like us they will cease and desist in the presence of a common and more dangerous enemy, which is exactly what happened when a fox walked into the picture.
The birds flew onto the flat roofed extension and were still within view as the fox nosed around and tried to act casual in the hopes that the loser would fall off the roof and she could claim her prize. It wasn’t to be.
The vixen was magnificient, a classic example of a wild Red Fox with rusty red fur, a few black and white markings, a big fat tail and tiny feet. She loped around outside the window for nearly five minutes as the birds were continuing the punishment beating above her, she was as light on her feet as a cat. But the most remarkable thing about this animal was her eyes. They were a sparkling bright golden amber colour and almost hyptnotic in their flourescence. I would imagine that any wild rabbit or field mouse who meets the stare of this creature would have a bowel releasing experience on the spot.
The birds flew off with no casualties and the fox drifted away with no breakfast and I was glad the racket caused by the jackdaws got me out of the leaba in time to see such a great creature within a few feet, close enough to see her eyes and live to tell about it.
- Politics, Environment, Culture, Caoimhin, Irish Politics, misc, All posts, Nature | Time: 11:55 am (UTC+8)
Good one! Caoimhin
What I’d like to know is…
“what exactly were the jackdaws quarrelling about?”
and
“did the stare of the fox cause you an on-the spot experience too?” A ‘fowl’ joke… I know!
Comment by steph — November 20, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
I’ve no idea Steph what the fight was about but they seem to becoming more frequent. The on the spot “experience” I had was the inspiration to blog about something other than our pitiful government, infrastructure, and health care system.
Comment by Administrator — November 21, 2007 @ 6:33 am
Hi there, thanks for making me smile…
Comment by Claire — November 22, 2007 @ 8:16 pm
Love the blog! Ever thought about joining Technorati to help with making your site a favorite for your readers?
Comment by Texas_JAM — November 23, 2007 @ 4:51 am
Thanks Claire, causing a smile brings as much joy as discovering a new star in the heavens
Thanks very much Texas_Jam! I’ve tried a few things to boost readership including Technorati…it is a slow process
Comment by Administrator — November 23, 2007 @ 6:41 am
LOL @ “that it is gang or drug related;”…
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Comment by Simple Mindz — November 24, 2007 @ 10:29 pm