"Water Ballet"

I have had this birdbath with a cherub pedestal hanging about in the flower garden for 3-4 years now and it has had it's venue changed frequently, in the hopes of discovering exactly where the birds or bees would like to use it. I believe that the bees prefer a sunnier place...for that matter maybe the birds do too. I dunno.

At any rate, I have moved the thing around in the sun, out of the sun...in dappled locations and in central as well as peripheral spots--all to no avail, until this year.

The final resting place was at the chipped path crossroads by the Buddleja arches. This is where I spent the hotter days this year, sitting in the shade. If there was any breeze at all, then it got sucked through the arch and was nice and cool.
The birds seemed to be attracted to human presence and would come and chilp and pick at little bugs in the Clematis and Buddlejas above my head.

One day, I found feathers in that birdbath--what looked like Merel feathers (a merel is like the american robin redbreast--without the red breast).
A few days later I found feathers that were the colour of the great and blue tits.

I was elated at this new discovery and decided to be more attentive. I wanted to see them with my own eyes.
You know, having a birdbath is not just for the birds, it is equally for my own enjoyment.

Well, while sitting about three yards from the bath, they started coming in for a bath after being very coy and careful.

Below I will show a series of pics that are not so good in quality due to the shade, but do demonstrate the bird's bathing skills and enjoyment.
Coming in for the bath.

A cautious splash.

Then a look-about.

More splashing...getting wetter now.

A pause. Looking. Listening....

Throwing caution to the wind, and totally going for it.

When finished, he just sort of sat there looking like a drowned rat, but no doubt feeling very pleased with himself.

Then he took off to sit above the bath and preen.
It must feel so good to him, on such a hot day.

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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html

Thank you so much, EILEEN--I sure would like to see your bluetits doing "the dip" on the pond's lily pads. That must look reeeely neat.

Ach DAISY-- You sure are right about that. I was just like a child taking those piccies and watching.
I have noticed the birds waiting in line as well. They either sit way up in the Buddlejas or over in the Ceanothus tree. When they get impatient, they larger birds sometimes swoop-in and scare the smaller ones off.

Thanks NETTY--Good luck strimming those plants around your birdbath.

Thank you, B--I don't know if birds particularly like shade or not. The first time that I put the birdbath in the shade they did not come at all...now they do. I have no idea what is going on in their little heads.

Thank you for your nice comments, BALDEAGLE--Those birds are a pleasure to behold.

Thanks BUNKIE--No bird bathes like a duck does, eh?

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Sjoerd http://www.volkstuindersvereniginghoornenomstreken.nl/Page11.html