Went outside about 6:30 this morning and realised the blue tits were fledging. Much calling and coaxing from the parents, at least a couple young in the walnut tree and another peeping out of the nest box.
Told my wife and by the time we went to look a few minutes later they were all gone. We’ve noticed this before – they really don’t hang around. With various magpies and jackdaws hanging around on the chance of a tasty breakfast, it’s not surprising.
The pair of robins for whom our garden is their territory (policed with considerable violence at times, in contrast to the benign greetings card image often portrayed), successfully raised a couple of chicks about a month ago. Up until a last week, the parents were still feeding the fledglings in the garden. As a result all four family members became increasingly bold around us.
The youngsters seem to have moved on now, but the parents remain, and are still very bold, the female in particular. She will come very close to us to get food that we put down. Yesterday she even came into the kitchen as if to demand some food!
The blue tit chicks must be nearly ready to fledge. A quick check with the camera yesterday and all seven look to be present and correct. I expect they’ll fly this week.
Haven’t seen the whitethroat for about a week now.
The blackbirds are building another nest beyond the garden as I watched the female gathering great bundles of moss or grass from our lawn.
Our resident pair of wood pigeons, who we have named Kylie and Jason, are currently building one of their structurally unsound nest-things in our walnut tree. Will they never get any better at it?
Having a holiday is great. Immediately launching back into everyday hustle and bustle, without taking proper care to manage sleep needs, overwhelm and anxiety is not so great. As [I learnt to my detriment](https://strandlines.blog/2022/05/22/overload/).
Trouble is, I am prone to think that when I’m rested and energised, I can then put my foot to the floor and achieve all sorts of shit. Which may well be the case – for a short while.
Part of the problem is that anxiety sticks it’s oar in. It has a way of telling you to keep going, just keep doing SOMETHING. What exactly, is not so relevant, just anything that gives you the feeling that you are working to resolve those perpetually cascading problems that anxiety generates.
The problem solving capabilities of the human brain are an evolutionary success. But with unhealthy levels of anxiety tossed into the mix it becomes a pretty toxic recipe. An endless cycle of ‘what ifs’, then coming up with a solution, only to have another ‘but, what if …?’ pop up for our attention.
I had to abandon work on Friday, after nearly passing out while in a discussion with a client. I’d been feeling none too great all morning. Went home and spent most of the remainder of the day in bed. A weekend of taking it easy and I feel largely back on track.
I think a couple of weeks of poor sleep, anxiety about various things, busyness at work and little to no breathing space in between all caught up on me. I was aware of the anxiety building – my chest had been feeling tighter all week. Without taking steps to give myself a break it’s not really surprising then that my body finally said enough is enough.
Funnily, I’d been reading about perfectionism earlier in the week. Recognised the trait in myself. Never cutting myself any slack.
Just when you think this adulting thing is getting easier…..
Looking at my options for moving the blog away from Netlify.
Been doing a daily meditation for 3 months now, bar a couple of days missed.
I have seen some very small benefits, I think, but also a lot of criticism towards myself. Barely any change in my ability to focus, which is just for a second or two before my mind wanders. And now I’m nodding off a lot.
Parking the whole idea for now.
Most years we get a few common whitethroats in the area where we live. Usually see them sitting atop a hedge or clump of brambles singing. Not that it’s that much of a song – short and scratchy. But I rather like it.
I’ve been hearing one for the last week when I’m out in the garden. Even heard it coming from somewhere within the garden. Then on Sunday while I was sitting outside, it turned up for a bit of a splash in our birdbath. Then sat in a nearby bush and had a good preen. And again yesterday.
Which was really rather delightful.
Holidays present the possibility of reading a lot more than I usually find time for. In theory. In practice, they often don’t. The holiday I have just had, the first since 2019 aside from a few days here or there, has been the exception.
Consequently, I was able to pick up on Robert Wright’s Why Buddhism is True from [where I left off](https://strandlines.blog/2022/01/09/cycles/) and finish it.
Wright is someone who is not content to accept ideas on face value, in a good way. He has so many questions that he explores. This appeals to me. I think the book can be approached in two ways. Stop at every point and consider what is being said, at the risk of losing sight of the overarching theme. Or read through the whole thing so as to get the main ideas and then go back in detail.
I think the latter is the better approach and I will certainly be revisiting it again.
I see there is a recurrence of the problem I had with Netlify not properly deploying the blog when there is a new post. Harrumph.
First swallow of the year. Spotted briefly while I was out and about. Not one of ours but hope they are not far behind.
Our robins have three eggs, probably more to follow. I was able to take a quick peek while both adults were away from the nest. The blue tits have been busy carrying moss into their box.
Still a few winter migrants around; fieldfares and redwings. And spotted a peregrine soaring high above our village.