Birds on a wire, a bird on the pier

It’s not quite the right time of year for birds en masse to gather on a wire. That was last September, when birds of various kinds gathered on the telegraph wires near our house to plan their trip, perhaps to Africa, in complete defiance of current travel restrictions Here they are, in my featured photo.

And here are a few more. They’re not emigrating. I showed the stonechat quite recently, but I like him, so here he is again, looking splendid in his best spring-time feathers.

  • The blackbird turns his back …
  • … as does the wood pigeon
  • Here’s the stonechat
  • And finally, a cormorant on the pier in Whitby, North Yorkshire.

Click on any image to view it full size.

The cormorant reminds me of a poem I learnt as a child, and which I will still recite at the least provocation:

The Common Cormorant

The Common Cormorant or shag

Lays eggs inside a paper bag.

The reason you will see no doubt

It is to keep the lightning out.

But what these unobservant birds

Have never noticed is that herds

Of wandering bears may come with buns

And steal the bags to hold the crumbs.

Christopher Isherwood

Bird Weekly Photo Challenge

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and living in North Yorkshire, where I walk as often as I can, write, volunteer, and travel as often as I can.

62 thoughts on “Birds on a wire, a bird on the pier”

    1. I liked that shot when I took it. Obligingly photogenic, cormorants. So you didn’t learn that poem as a child? I thought it came after Humpty Dumpty in the Child’s Lexicon of Daft Poems.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Oh, brilliant! But I’m afraid it had me thinking
    “Like a bird on the wire,
    like a drunk in a midnight choir
    I have tried in my way to be free.”

    Liked by 3 people

      2. Ah, the wonderful Lenny. And it’s not a drunken choir, but A drunk in A choir – much like the Christmas Eve Midnight mass in Wakefield cathedral when everyone poured out of the pubs and into the church. I’m guessing there were a few drunks singing along there. Not me of course. 🙄

        Liked by 2 people

  5. Love that poem! 😂 I also love these shots. I have no luck capturing birds on a wire. We have stonechats here and I’ve tried many times with no success. Your shot reminds me of warmer (drier) times to come 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Much better, Margaret, thank you. Life is returning to normal. A different normal (like most of us) but normality all the same. Hopefully there’ll be a post on CoC very soon 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  7. I love the stonechat and also your featured photo – so many birds! Thanks too for reminding me about that poem, I haven’t heard it in years! Like Sue above I was channelling Leonard Cohen 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Missed out on that post. What a miss it was! Completely adore that first shot riddled with birds…. incredible!
    And then that crazy poem. Love it – never heard of it (of course – that’s not the kind of poems you learn in school while trying to decipher the Shakespearian language!)

    Liked by 1 person

  17. These are fine shots! I love that cute little poem. I’ve never heard it before but we don’t have Common Cormorants here in the US. Please don’t ever think you are subpar to everyone else. We are all amateurs who just happen to love birds. I’ve shot professionally, weddings and portraits, but I don’t have pro equipment. I can’t afford that! We are just here to have fun and learn what we can from each other. You just taught me a cute little poem. And if you have nothing to say and just want to share photos of birds, that is okay with all of us as long as it fits the theme of the week. I love that the Wood Pigeon was snubbing you with his back turned. LOL! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

      3. Yep, I’ve started a weekly post on my blog called wild Wednesday . I don’t just take photographs and post them, I do a little research as to the species etc. I took some photographs of bees today. I am now researching the different kinds of bees.

        We are shielding so I am trying to find ways to stay sane lol …

        Liked by 1 person

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  20. Wow, those very many birds on the wire is incredible. I wonder if there is a collective noun for so many birds on a wire? I am sure you can come up with one if not?
    I also like the cormorant pic and the rather daft poem that manages to conjure up such beguiling images.

    Liked by 1 person

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