Yesterday was much like today, cold, wet, windy and pretty miserable.
I was engrossed in the last few pages of a crime novel when a loud bang lifted me out of my chair. It sounded like a bird flying into the window right beside where I was sitting but much louder than usual maybe because it was so close. As I lifted my head I saw a kestrel approach and fly over the house and guessed that it was indeed a bird fleeing the hawk that made the noise.
When I first found what had made the noise, the little kingfisher was splayed on the front steps, wings akimbo, head at an awkward looking angle, beak on the step. By the time I grabbed the camera he had tucked his wings back in and perked up a little but was still obviously dazed as he took no notice of me opening the window above his head.
It took the poor little thing about 15 minutes to recover and I kept as quiet as possible hoping it wouldn't leave until it had recovered completely and not make an easy meal for the kestrel.
I do hope it's OK. They make lovely neighbours.
The colours of the kingfisher reminded me of the new mural on a side wall at the shops in a low socio-economic part of town. The bird in this artwork is a tui, a beautiful New Zealand native bird. The wall is part of a mission to brighten up the city. It sure does that.
