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I've noticed the magpies of Beach Place, Holt are singing during
the earlier hours of darkness of late, starting during twilight and continuing
until 9 or 10 pm. Haven't heard them later though.
The Common Blackbird, however, is a long time nocturnal
chorister hereabouts particularly during bright moonlight and, I somehow
suspect, the street lights set them off as most certainly does an overnight
shower . Ah, warm spring evenings, air redolent with blossoms, new grass and
warming earth accompanied by the song of Turdus merula wafting through
the bedroom window. Makes a bloke wax all poetic y'know viz,
I love to hear the blackbird sing
His joyous song throughout the spring
Come autumn when he eats our fruit
I' m gonna shoot the **/\/\--!!~ brute
But Magpies and Common Blackbirds pale into insignificance when
compared to the Mocking Birds. These dulcet voiced mongrels start at
dusk, continue 'til dawn. Then when it comes 'round to the next dusk the
DVMs are off again. Doubtless this explains why some Americans choose
to keep guns in their bedrooms.
John Layton.
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