Watch out for birds which, although common in your area, can be difficult to spot. One such bird, although vociferous, is the sombre greenbul (‘gewone willie’), always challenging an adversary, “Willy! Come fight with me!” and then enquiring in a softer tone of voice, almost as an afterthought, “Sc-a-a-a-red?”
At Minwater we often see sombre greenbuls in thickets next to watercourses. Every now and then, however, we have the privilege of one visiting our garden.
Of course, the following account of the observation and “interpretation” of the behaviour of two sombre greenbuls is given with the tongue firmly in the cheek. Although, well aware that one should take care when ascribing human characteristics, emotions, morals and motives, to other creatures, I couldn’t resist the temptation!
The other morning, during lockdown, I noticed a bird even less often seen in one of the pepper trees in front of our house, a juvenile sombre greenbul! Apparently, it was looking for something to eat, without success, however…
…very soon it was looking quite forlorn and sorry for itself…
After a while the mother arrived, clearly exasperated with the truant…
and straight away gave it an earful…
The youngster seemed suitably cowed…
But like all kids, however, showed that all this acting up is water off a duck’s back by interrupting the tongue-lashing, complaining, “But I’m so hungry, Mommy!”
To a human outsider, under lockdown, quite entertaining!
To be continued…