A Robin called Ian and a Blue Tit called Betsy

We have some friends in our garden - a Robin called Ian and a Blue Tit called Betsy. Ian is rather awesome actually. He can often be found sitting atop an abandoned log and watching while we garden. He has a nice inquisitive face although he gets a little annoying when he decides to fly in to the garage just as we’re closing it up and are on our way out for several hours.

“Ian, come out of the garage please. If you don’t come out you’ll be stuck in there and that won’t be very nice, will it?”

Ian can be a little naughty on occasion.

The name Ian is stolen from a Starling that visits my sisters garden and was named by my Dad. I thought it sounded good as a birds name and it clearly suited my Ian, so I nicked it.

Betsy on the other hand is a new addition and has been seen hanging on to these two decrepit Sunflowers a great deal over the last two weeks.

The rest of the Sunflowers are long since gone but these two flowered so late into the summer that they just got left in the ground. Robert the Husband spotted Betsy upside down and chowing down on the seeds that were left. And look at the meal she’s had!

Betsy has almost totally cleared this Sunflower as the weather has gotten colder and she’s even started in on the surrounding area. It’s wonderful to see Betsy do her very best Cirque du Soleil impression as she hangs upside down and reaches for the hard to get at seeds.

It’s reminded me to make sure that all of the bird feeders are full and has also made me realise that the show put on by the birds when they raid the sunflowers for seed is far greater a site than that of cleared empty beds.

I’ll be leaving ALL of the Sunflowers in the ground for a lot longer next year and perhaps we’ll have a whole row of birds feeding at once.

Bees visiting by the minute when it’s warm and birds eating it empty when it’s chilly. All that from the humble Sunflower…. It’s got to be worth the £1 I paid for the seeds

And in only four or five months time I’ll be looking to plant them all over again.

Love it!

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