The Raven

No! Not the interminable poem by Mr Poe. This is a similar one by Mr Poo!

Once upon a morning dreary, Austin pondered, cheeky, cheery,

Over many a pack of kibble, juicy salmon and much more.

While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my glass back door.

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my glass back door'".

So Austin skipped across the floor!

Just to set the scene, this is what usually happens when birds visit the garden:

Austin the Brave Knave

But this is what happened today:

Austin the Wuss Puss 

We do have big birds here. Ok, not condor big, but big enough! Herons, buzzards, shags and of course ravens. When we throw food out for the birds, they are generally quite grateful and come and flutter around the lawn. However, this morning I chucked out a stale scone the size and weight of a cricket ball and practically took out a whole flock of starlings. Therefore the only taker was Rodney the Raven who is the same size as Austin and was the only bird with the muscles to deal with it.

The secret of survival is knowing when to keep your head down!