I was quite excited yesterday when my son called me outside to point out a bird 'with an orange mohican' and there in the gum tree was a beautiful hoopoe. These boldy coloured, rather comical little birds are near the top my list of favourites, and I haven't seen one here in at least 25 years. He preened for a while, displaying his crest from time to time (it is usually flat unless alarmed or alert) and lovely wing markings of dark grey and white, before swooping off over the trees in their distinctive 'butterfly' flight. I hope he will be back with some friends.
Another reason for being excited was that my son had recognised it as a species he had never seen here before, so I have every confidence in his powers of observation.
Something somewhat less exciting is the news that a couple of kids from out of town have been throwing stones at the flamingos currently visiting us in Kommetjie, while the mother sits on the lawn without reprimanding them in any way. The disturbed birds obviously took flight and we were deprived of the pleasure of their company today. A neighbour informed me that on Friday there were also youngsters chasing and throwing stones at the flamingos and also hadedahs. It appears that their only source of entertainment is to hurt and destroy, and the parents are of the same ilk. So much for telling us the children are our future - if these are an example of what we have to look forward to, I can only confirm the majority feeling of 'don't spare the rod'!
We are constantly exhorted to not let the actions of others disturb our inner peace, but the only way that can be achieved in today's world seems to be not to come into contact with anyone - the monks who live in the mountains of Tibet certainly have taken the easy route. I would imagine their inner peace would be seriously disturbed by these kids!
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