An unnerving few moments with the babies (who are now not such babies,
but still very vulnerable) this morning.
I've metioned the buzzards that fly over here before - there are usually
three or four of them in the vicinity, these days - I presume the two
parents and the two "chicks" (now not chicks any more!). I can usually
tell that they are around before ever I see them because I can hear them
calling.
This morning, I heard them louder than ever before - went outside the
back door, and there was one very low, right over the house, calling
excitedly to another that was just over the hedge, in the next field -
and a third in the middle distance. They seemed to be converging over
Autumn Cottage, with more and more determined and excited mewing to each
other as they did so. I had never seen them quite as close as this.
Suddenly, it dawned on me that this was not just a social call - I
looked round and both Lissy and Sintra were on the roof of the
conservatory - just about rabbit size, and just right for a meal for
four raptors.
I leapt onto a chair, grabbed Sintra and dragged her off the roof - then
ran up into my office and hauled Liss in through the windows.
Within two minutes of taking them in, the birds had glided off over the
fields and far away. I may have been being paranoid - but rather
paranoid than devoid - of kitties!
(Below - the fascination with how the water appears in the sink through the tap, how it dissapears in a different direction down the plughole, and the wonderfully gurgilaceous noises that it makes as it does both of these things is an endless source of fascination and mystery to Lissie and Sintra. )
My word how these little ones have grown in such a short time. Before you know it they'll be big enough to keep the buzzards at bay by themselves!
Posted by: ardi | Sunday, October 09, 2005 at 13:36
Buzzards seem to have become very successful in recent years. We often see them flying overhead on our forest walks. i am glad the kitties are safe.
Posted by: Mary O | Tuesday, October 11, 2005 at 09:02
Thank God you rescued them in time. What adorable kitties they are.
Posted by: Fran | Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at 04:20
What cute kitties and so curious! Buzzards are great predators, indeed. Very luck they don't have success!
Posted by: Sonia | Thursday, October 13, 2005 at 14:27
Hi Roz. I am glad you saved your cats. They are really growing, aren't they :-)
Posted by: Britt-Arnhild | Sunday, October 16, 2005 at 08:42