Glorious sunshine greeted us this week, what a change! The woods look so Green
and Lush
We gathered and ate mushroom soup under the shade and contemplated the
plentiful Birdsong around us. A Robin’s nest in a Tea chest, not far away, a Robin
swooped into our circle and away.
We welcomed new and vintage Elders. Our bespectacled, Bird Teacher, none other than a Turtle Dove, passed her beautiful feather around and we shared our ideas and thoughts on the theme of Birds (mostly) with a few Bees buzzing through latterly…
There was Pigeon controversy, some of us loving them for the clever ways and their
pairing up and preening, and others with deep aversion to Kevin(s) (as they are all named Kevin apparently)- most unpleasant and very messy… although they do go well in a Pie
We heard stories of Florence Nightingale who kept a Wren in her pocket… the lovely
beaky profile and the bendy backwards knees of the Avocet, with a wingspan of 77-
80cm, the emblem of the RSPB and once a rare bird….don’t go a visiting when the
chicks are young though… it’s a blood bath…..
Barn Owls appeared “when I went into Labour “and in the Gravel Pits, flying low over
crouching heads and at the Somerlyton Fireworks display – spectacular! Their distant
cousins, the Frogmouth Owls and the Moorpark Owls also had a mention,…
We heard the tale of Grandma’s cousin, who took a pigeon everywhere with her in
her handbag as a pet, even to the Café! And a magnificent story of House martin
chicks, fallen from the nest and saved from the cats, fed every 3 hours, they grew to
know their kindly Humans as “mum and dad”. Nests were constructed in straw hats
and pudding basin, pink powder puff comforted and warmed them at night, they ate
mealworms and scrambled egg, and had flying lessons on the bed…..they visited to
Minsmere and a wedding bird sitter…. they sat on the windowsill and flew away but
came back with friends to meet the folks…. Then, the following year they were seen
and recognised again… eventually departing … mesmerising and beautiful…
We learned that at Fritton lake, there is an Owl sanctuary and you can hold one for
£3. There is a Swift tower at Eastbridge being launched next Tuesday… and there
are Kittywake Towers out at sea. Small birds are the only ones that sing for mating.
Bigger birds have calls rather than songs. We heard the Robin and the Chif Chaf and
the Blackcaps singing near our circle.
There have been 4 Jackdaws down the chimney & have to dismantle the fire to get
them out. 2 Robins came in through the catflap- the baby Robin jumped onto a wrist!
Birds’ eyes are positioned on the outside of their heads so they can keep one eye on
the food and the other one watching out for predators….
And, at last the Bees! Victorian beehives made of straw – called Skeps and a glance
at the fascinating Natural Bee Keeping Book.
Brimming with wisdom, laughter, and new friends, we made our way to dance the
Maypole in traditional Kali wood style, up and over, under we wove, and gathered
nuts in May on a lovely sunny afternoon.
Returning to the Fireside, we made charming Pinecone Birds and Alder Bees,
chopped wood and Hot Cross buns and caught up with our friends over a nice
cuppa! Too soon the time passed, and our session drew to a close with good wishes from Rachel in Wales – Wasps are Cool, Bees were once wasps and Ants are wasps
without wings!
Departing words, sounds and Bird calls, Great, Fab, Prrrrrrhhhhhhh, Full, Satisfying
sighs x 3, Haaaaaahhh, Sunshine, Flapjacks, Maypole & MMMMMMMushroom
soup….
Next week … our theme, bursting forth from the imaginative, collective Elder Mind is
“Rabbits & Sexy Hedgerows”. That will make Rachel smile! It’s going to be a good
one!
Kinda Elders in the woods 