Sparrowhawk!...'Red in Tooth and Claw'

First of all I should mention the slight change of name. When I started this blog three years ago and named it ShySongbird's Twitterings I had never heard of the social network site 'Twitter' and have never used it myself but since Twitter has become so popular I have been concerned about the possible implied connection. It has also troubled me that with the exception of 'Songbird' there is nothing in the title to indicate what my blog is actually about. Therefore, after much deliberation I have come up with what I feel is a more appropriate title...I hope you think so too. It would be great if those of you who have so kindly added me to your sidebars could find a moment to change the name. I know it's a nuisance but if you could just go into your 'My Blog List' you will see there is a rename button which you can click and then amend the name remembering to save the changes. There is no need to delete and reinstall.

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WARNING! GORY PHOTOS AHEAD!

After my last post, showing the Fox carrying its supper, this post has, I'm afraid, even more gory photos! There was a time when I wouldn't have taken the photographs let alone put them on my blog but it has to be acknowledged that Nature is indeed 'red in tooth and claw'. How else would that Fox feed itself and it's family?  How would our beloved garden birds feed their chicks if they didn't catch grubs, insects, caterpillars etc? And the distinction must be drawn between a creature which acts on instinct and purely from a sense of survival, and man's inhumanity to man and his fellow creatures, for no reason other than ignorance or pure evil. It is of course extremely distressing to witness one creature killing another and when it happens in one's own garden, it is particularly so. So it was with the Sparrowhawk which caught and consumed a Blackbird in my garden recently. I'm glad I wasn't in the back of the house as my husband was when he was alerted to the noise in the garden. By the time he reached the window the poor creature had already lost the battle. I didn't look out for about forty minutes by which time the hawk had almost finished its meal. I was surprised to see it was right outside the French door, just five or six feet away from me. Considering it was dull, pouring with rain and the (not very clean) glass was covered with raindrops I was surprised that the photos came out as well as they did. Please excuse the long grass, there hadn't been a chance to cut it due to all the heavy downpours!

Sparrowhawk

'Who trusted God was love indeed
And love Creation's final law
Tho' Nature, red in tooth and claw
With ravine, shriek'd against his creed.'

(Alfred Lord Tennyson)

'Nature is no sentimentalist.'

(Ralph Waldo Emmerson)

'[Nature] is all things. 

She rewards herself and punishes herself;

 and in herself rejoices and is distressed. 

She is rough and gentle, loving and terrible,

 powerless and almighty. 

In her everything is always present.

 Past or Future she knows not. 

The Present is her Eternity.'

(Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe)

 

'A man who lives with nature is used to violence and is companionable with death. 

There is more violence in an English hedgerow than in the meanest streets of a great city.'

(P.D. James)

 

'Nature does nothing without purpose or uselessly.'

(Aristotle)

'I am the hawk and there's blood on my feathers,

 but time is still turning they soon will be dry;

 All those who see me, and all who believe in me, 

share in the freedom I feel when I fly.'

(John Denver)

 

'Let us permit nature to have her way. 

 She understands her business better than we do.'

( Michel de Montaigne)

Uncomfortable viewing I know but nevertheless part of Nature. I hope no one is offended.

My next post will be easier on the eye. Until then...enjoy the beauty of Nature, wherever you are.