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Further to recent reports of large flocks of Red-rumped Parrots, I counted
26 in an autumn-bare tree this afternoon on the short, mown grass near the
McDermott Place barbecues at Lake Ginninderra. Another twenty-four grazed
nearby until a portly labrador called Useless (honest) loped down the slope and
sent them packing. Old Useless blundered on yapping and flushed another group of
about twenty Red-rumps I'd not noticed. Happy in his work, Useless
scattered a gathering of dozing Wood Ducks, and blundered across the
cycle path nearly cartwheeling a Flaxen-crested Chickadee as she hurtled by on
roller blades.
I know the mutt's given name was Useless, and I also know he had one
of those unusual, hyphenated family names. His full name appeared to be,
Useless @#%!!-Mongrel. I know this because I distinctly heard the hurtling
chickadee address him as such.
John Layton.
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