ELSEWHERE

Apostlebird duo

Struthidea cinerea is a ground living bird. It associates in flocks of six to twenty individuals in the woodlands of Northern and Eastern Australia. I have not seen or heard one but would very much like to. You too?

"I am laying the foundation of a city"

Here is a second blackbird I have drawn for Jurate. This time it is a Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula). It is a common long-tailed thrush of woodland habitats ranging from Europe and North Africa to India and, as we also know, Australia (as an introduced species). They are territorial and often like to visit domestic gardens. A pair of blackbirds has been visiting my garden each breeding season for several years now. At least I think it is the same pair.

The title of this post is taken from The Fowler and the Blackbird, Aesop Fable, XXXV.

Mr Percy and a Million (other) Paws

Sunday was Percy’s big slow amble, a day where he joined in on the RSPCA’s Million Paws walk. It was 5kms of nose to bottom, rib to rib, lead to muddy foot walking.

Luckily, Percy is not overly worried by other dogs and is generally happy to meet and greet, but when what seems like a trillion dogs and owners all crowd into a muddy park it is bound to be a little overwhelming. Therefore, a few barks were had and a worried look or two was cast. Once walking however he calmed down and enjoyed the ride, especially when we wandered behind a pack of greyhounds that seemed to radiate serenity.

One hour and thirty minutes later, Percy made it to the finishing line with very muddy paws and tummy. He came home to a warm bath and an enormous sleep in his basket replete with three woollen rugs.

Talking RSPCA, Percy has just received a certificate for completing a little training course there. It was held over four dark, cold and wet Wednesday evenings in an outdoor garage area. Percy learnt alongside a very young pug/pomeranian cross and a very clever two-year-old kelpie. Percy, the was the senior of the group at a rough ten years, stared nonetheless. As I pen this post, he sleeps happily on his little bed by the computer. Omar sits nearby, and Olive too. Over the last six weeks, he has settled into life here in Fitzroy. He seems to trust Gracia and me more each day and we are learning to understand and love him more by the minute.
 
Perhaps I will try to draw him soon for you, but in the meantime, here are a few photos of him and Gracia walking back to our car post Million Paws Walk. Weary but very happy.






 
From muddy paws to woollen scarves, something non-canine to round out this post… brand new handmade scarves by Thelma. They are gorgeous.

A Yellow-necked mouse

This grey wet morning, following on with a rodent theme, I bring you a Yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). This nocturnal woodland species is difficult to distinguish from the wood mouse but an expert tells me that they are different.

(Thanks to the folk at The 22 Magazine for the feature. Gracia and I are always interested to see which works people are drawn to, what colour palette they like.)

Squeak!

A Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) especially for G because she loves mice so. This mouse is the most abundant wild mouse in Europe and it lives almost everywhere.

Nocturnal

There have been a lot of birds in this space. Time for a carnivore or two. This is a Blanford's Fox (Vulpes cana). As you may have guessed from this post's title, this chap is strictly nocturnal. This particular fox inhabits steppe country of the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East. Should one come to tea, they like to feed on invertebrates and fruits.

Also, two extra-exciting links for you all. Firstly, Gracia and I make a little appearance in The May - (mid) June 2011 Book Arts Newsletter, No. 65. And secondly, Mr Percy will be making an appearance at the RSPCA's 2011 Million Paws Walk. Gracia and I will be escorting him, and at times possibly carrying him if it all gets too much for the dear little chap. I've set up a donation page for the cause, should you feel able to donate a penny or two towards the RSPCA in Mr Percy's name.

A brush-tailed bettong

The Brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata) is bigger than it looks from my drawing of one. It is somewhere between 30 to 40 cm in size, and it lives in the forest and grassland areas of S. W. Australia. Best of all, it has a prehensile tail. This is very handy when nest material needs moving, or so I am told.

On another note, if I might be excused a moment to brag about my collaborative chum, Gracia recently entered one of her postcard travels works into the Picture This Postcards Competition run in collaboration with Myriad Editions in the UK. Gracia’s piece received a special mention by Vicky Blunden the Fiction Editor at Myriad Editions.
 
"I found it hard to stick to just one! Several of my favourites are among the highly commended postcards, but I also really loved the greylag goose in his gondola, in Gracia Haby's entry. The back of the postcard looks so conventional but is charming in its surrealism and whimsy! The front is just such a beautiful image, despite the cross expression on the goose's face (understandable given the difficulty of keeping his balance). It is memorable and makes me smile, so that's the one I'd choose."
 
Well I am proud as punch, well done G!

Of four and twenty blackbirds

Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye.
Four and twenty blackbirds,
Baked in a pie.

This particular blackbird is for my friend Jurate. It is not for a pie.

This bird has a yellow head and is for that reason called a Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus). From my field notes, I can tell you that this is a marshland bird of western North America that breeds in colonies and sites its nests over water.