One of the more common ground birds in all of Uruguay is the
perdiz comun (spotted tinamou). They're all over the farm, living in the grasses. They tend not to fly unless they are startled from their roost, and even then they don't fly far. Just before they take flight, they make a double popping sound. Remember Princess Bride (1987) and the rodents of unusual size in the Fire Swamp, and the double popping sound that always occurred just before the flame burst? It's something like that (minus the fire, oversize rodents, swamp, and of course Wesley and the Princess)....so I always brace myself in anticipation.
My goal has been to catch one. And I finally did.
The eyes were a bit eerie ... They never did shut, but quite honestly I wasn't paying too much attention to them. I was trying desperately to get the feathers off my tongue. There are waaaaay too many feathers on this bird to make it worth while.
Looks tasty! I like squirrel for a quick snack when I'm outside. Here in Houston the squirrels are nice and fat from eating FH's tomatoes. - Trampy
ReplyDeleteThe gall of them....but clever on your part to encourage FH to plant tomatoes so you have a constant supply of snacks. I must remember that! My handlers had a dismal garden this year even with your handlers precious gift of seeds. They'll try again in September. I'm counting on the return of the rabbits then too. Could use your help Trampy. What a team we would make!
ReplyDeleteRabbit! I can only imagine! I've heard about those but haven't seen 'em in Houston. Unfortunately I have to spend the week with my stoopid dog brother, Seymour. Ur so lucky not to have dogs in your family! - Trampy
ReplyDeleteBees are what your handlers need for a good garden. We have 3 (!) hives now (but only one on Ridgecrest!) The interlopers who took over your former residence appear to have bees as well, but no cats. Good grief. And they hate Pippo. They comment to strangers (to them) coming in and out of our drive way about how much the dog barks (a lot, they say). They don't even get UPS deliveries! They have no idea what a lot is. We are still putting up with Pippo and Daisy-the-Fat-Beagle, though the Beagle is showing marked signs of old age (finally). Periodically now, she will go under the back porch and just bay. For hours. At night. We say that the littlest human will be made to crawl under the house and drag her cold stiff body out when she finally dies. Do you think that will traumatize him too much?
ReplyDeleteWe have two thriving colonies about 20 meters from the garden, but perhaps the bees are more focused on the 1035 almond trees rather than the garden plants. We think it's the clay-like soil. The olive plantation next door makes their own bricks out of this soil.
DeleteThe rest of what you wrote sent us into laughing fits.
My big question is....has Pippo gotten off his lead and gone next door to say "hi"...or does he feel the vibes and hasn't dared to venture to FH's old office window?
Wow, what a great shot of Ricky! Not so fond of the rest of the subject matter...
ReplyDeleteThe memory of this is still very clear, and I'm back to rodents and rabbits now. I'll gladly share one with you if you come down!
DeleteHahaha!! No thanks! But I'll come love on you anyway!
ReplyDelete