Monday 6 September 2021

When the vacuum cleaner's out.....

 Call it gut reaction or what you will, but when I came in from work last Friday and saw the vacuum cleaner out I knew something had happened. TYM was away and Mr GBT never hoovers for the fun of it. Usually it means that either somebody has been doing a job that's made lots of mess or something has got spilt. Finding Mr GBT beavering away at his furniture making I asked him what had happened.

"Ah well there's a bit of story behind that" he said wryly......

Hearing lots of clattering sounds coming from downstairs Mr GBT's first thought was that Humphrey had brought something in, but there he was lazing around on our bed as usual yet looking slightly alarmed at the racket. Wondering what on earth was going on then he went into the lounge to be greeted by the carpet being covered in a layer of feathers and one of these trying very hard to fly through the closed window!

 
A sparrowhawk no less! It must have flown through our open back door with its prey and then plucked it on our rug. Having tucked in it then found it couldn't get out again and was starting to panic. Fortunately Mr GBT is a sensible soul and rather than flapping about [which is what I would have done] he picked it up making sure its feet and wings were secure. He had a quick look at it, but didn't like the way it was eyeing up his finger when it turned its head towards him so released it pretty sharpish. Am pleased to say that it flew off fine and doesn't seem to have suffered any ill effects after its little adventure. We think it was one of this year's youngsters as it hasn't yet got all all of its markings. It made my walk I'd taken that afternoon look quite dull by comparison!!

Arilx

[photo from Pixabay....Mr GBT wasn't really in a position to take any!] 


11 comments:

  1. A Sparrowhawk in the house is definitely unusual but Mr GBT should really have taken a photo for your blog!!

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  2. I would have panicked so well done to Mr GBT. I get flustered when one sits on my garden fence ... it's the sight of those talons! x

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  3. Oh my goodness! That's hilarious! Your husband is very sensible. My husband is not sensible at all about flying critters. Last spring he walked into the kitchen, and there was a grackle perched on the back of a kitchen chair. He had a fit.

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    1. I'd have been having kittens! Arilx

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    2. I simply shut the door from the kitchen to the rest of the house, moved slowly to the basement door and shut that as well. I asked Tim to open the door to the mudroom, and then the door from the mudroom outside. He cocked his little head as the final door opened and immediately flew outside.

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  4. My goodness. That would have had the Tigger heading for under the bed. We had seen them in our garden when we lived in UK. I would never have dreamed of one coming indoors. Good news it was released without injury.

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    1. Humphrey was very sensible and steered well clear. Arilx

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  5. Wow! They are frequent welcome visitors to our garden, but I am very happy that they stay outside. Having seen how they make short work of any bird they catch, I wouldn't fancy one taking a liking to my finger! What an amazing thing to happen.

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    1. I would have liked to have seen it. Am still finding tiny feathers where it plucked its prey. Arilx

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