In the clear light of this morning two King Parrots arrived and took possession of the birdfeeder. Gorgeously attired in red and green; leisurely and delicately they tucked into the bird seed ignoring the still strong wind that ruffled their feathers before pink and grey Galahs appeared chuckling and screeching and as comical as ever. They strutted and preened atop the guttering and roof, tilting and nodding their heads, watching the King Parrots a waiting their turn at the feeder.

Clothed in black with hard grey beaks and tough yellow eyes, looking sinister and villanious, beneath the feeder stalk a couple of crows pecking at the fallen bird seed, seemingly ignoring the commotion above them

A curtain of heavy cloud still covers the sky as parrots flash through the trees and ground doves, their heads forever nodding unceasingly, chase one another. A strong easterly wind still sweeps through the gums spreading branches and rattling the leaves, almost sounding as if surf is sweeping up a stony beach.

A frantic warning shriek from a parrot announces the wandering arrival of our neighbour’s treacle coloured cat, who halts and still-like watches the bird-life in action. With a delicate flick of her tail she turns and prances off, like a ballerina on tip-toes. Obviously uninterested, she makes her way down into the lower reaches of the garden to no doubt hunt and torment the small field mice and skinks.

There is always something to be seen in the garden but time rushes onwards and the clock ticks , in resignation I pull myself away from the window, having to head off to the drudgery of work ……