Yesterday, which was not yesterday as you read this, it rained heavily all day. I was heading to work so I had to put the bird food out in the dark. I knew it would all get soaked so I was rather sparing, trying to place it where it wouldn't just sit in a puddle. When I came home, it was twilight and though I went out - it was still raining a bit - there was no one about.
Then, this morning, I slept through my alarm and ventured out very late.
Bobbit immediately flew up and for once took some suet from my hand. He wasn't that interested in it afterwards, though, so it felt more as it he were just saying he was glad to see me.
While I stood at the green box, two of the squirrels rushed up and took nuts less than two feet from my face. The rat too was there. No one cared that I was right there. They were too hungry to focus on fear. I guess the rain put paid to foraging yesterday. Even so, I felt like St Francis, with the birds and the beasts...
Later, I returned to tidy up a bit. Bobbit returned and he was making a strange sound. Not the imitation of squirrels - or hydraulic brakes, which I have also heard - but like a sneeze.
It did not stop him from torturing a worm.
But what is this? A seed stuck in his throat? Or that horrible bird disease - Trichomonosis? I need to clean out the water baths. On the food side, Bobbit doesn't eat that much... but all it needs is to eat one infected piece...
On the positive front, no sign of lethargy or puffed up feathers. And birds do sneeze - and cough, burp and yawn as well, apparently. Let's hope no more signs of that tomorrow. Apparently, if it continues it can be a BAD THING.
***UPDATE
I went out at twilight to put out the hedgehog and fox food and Bobbit appeared again. No sneezing or coughing or whatever it was! PHEW!
I'm glad Son of Bob returned to normal.