Cock Sparrow's Misadventure

Don't worry. He's okay now.

This morning, while he was going about his business, this sparrow was abducted by an evil cat and carried off inside the house for the purpose of sport. When I entered the room the cat, who knows well my feelings about this sort of activity, slunk away. The sparrow saw his chance and made a desperate bid for freedom. Unfortunately, the kitchen window was shut and he fell head first into a cup of cold water that was in the sink. I rushed to his aid. He was stunned and half drowned. I carefully carried him outside and laid him on a bird table, where he was safe from the cat. Quite a lot of water drained out of him. This was a quick shot- I didn't want to scare him even more by pestering him with a camera.

From a window I kept watch with binoculars. He stayed like this for ten minutes or more. Then he got himself onto his tummy, steadied by outstretched wings. He looked terrible and I thought he must surely die. But soon his head was up and he was looking about in a perky manner. A few minutes later he was gone!

What a relief. Though had I known that I'd be blipping the bird table I'd have given it a scrub.

The air is still very smoky today. I can't see where it is coming from. The horizon is brownish in every direction. It must be a significant fire.