The highlight for me is a moment of shared and felt intimacy.
Like this.
I often hear the dunnocks whisper singing in the hedge and sometimes see one. Usually they stop whisper singing when I am too close. But this one, probably the preener from the other day, seemed entirely at ease.
Another highlight: I didn't have the camera with me when I saw Tiny land on the green box to grab some food. Bobbit landed on the perch (broom handle) and began his special swaying courtship song. He looks so vulnerable in these moments as he is not all puffed up but rather long and thin, with the feathers of his throat ruffled and his head up so his neck seems exposed and delicate. She flew off and he came back to me before hopping up through the lilac to sing.
I miss how close the squirrels used to come and the blackbirds - they are ion constant tension, with the two males chasing one female and the two females hardly on good terms either. Their chases are not the torpedo attacks of the robin. More like a local bobby telling teenagers to "move on".
The starlings are as flighty as ever. As for the tits, I think they toy with me.
This post, of course, has similarities to the one about golden moments. And, in that vein, here is an interesting piece about experiencing these moments of "rapture". In the article, I particularly like George Orwell's comment on Shakespeare:
Shakespeare was not a philosopher or a scientist, but he did have curiosity, he loved the surface of the earth and the process of life – which … is not the same thing as wanting to have a good time and stay alive as long as possible.
Wonderful! I like having the opportunity to get to know the dear dunnocks. We don't have them. Interesting to hear more about Bobbit's swaying song and time with Tiny. Thanks for all your observations and the quote from the 'rapture' piece, including the small moments of rapture. I have started reading it and will read the rest after supper. Pysche has good posts. And so do you :-) ps great tit pics.