Bootsie, the cat, is certainly not much of a hunter. He seems to have missed the lessons in Stalking 102. He must have had some lessons in basic stalking 101, for he knows how to crouch down, and watch. But it ends there. No cute wiggling of the bum, and no pouncing, and coming up empty when the birds fly away.
We don’t mind at all, and neither do the birds.
So when a few pairs of the most interesting little song birds decided to move into the space out front of our garden, we were not worried. As Gar says, “there is no chance of him ever getting close to these birds.”
They are too cat savvy, too alert, and just too smart. Besides they graduated with honors from Cat repellent school. There is always one lookout, and you can tell by their chirps how vigilant they are.
But that doesn’t stop Boots from sitting in front of our illegal bird feeder, and staring up at the empty container, as if to say, “hey were did everyone go?
If you call him back, he gives me the most innocent look, “who me, of course not”
Right Bootsie, you are just there to smell the flowers.
Meanwhile these little chirpers are dismantling my coconut fiber hanging baskets, piece by piece. They much prefer that, to the jute fibers, and dryer lint I have been putting out for them. A small price to pay, for such gorgeous fluttering, and singing.
And Bootsie? Well, he has no intentions of going to a refresher course on bird watching, and we all like it that way.
This is the clearest photo I can get of them, they don’t like us to come too close, but if you could tell me what types of birds they are that would be great. Someone did mention that they are House Wrens, but there is nothing on the internet showing a male with such gorgeous cinnamon red coloring.
Jen
Teach Bootsie how to use the camera. He could get closer. I always loved it when my cat would touch his nose to the flowers as if he really was smelling them.
ReplyDeleteHave a look for red finches on the internet and see if that is what they are.
Awww, I love Bootsie...what a sweet innocent kitty. He's keeping an eye on House Finches. In spring, the males take on such vibrant color plummage that seems to fade a bit by late summer.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week
What a gorgeous coat Bootsie has. Your pictures are just so pretty in the bright sunshine. I'm no help identifying the birds but I know how cheerful their birdsong must be!
ReplyDeleteYou guys rock!!!
ReplyDeleteI looked up House Finches on the internet, and there they are.
Jen
I was just going to say, finches. Great kitty pictures and story.
ReplyDeleteIllegal bird feeder?
ReplyDeletelook like purple finches to me
ReplyDeletethey look like finches....
ReplyDeletethey do have a wonderfully happy song.
your kitty is adorable...love that innocent glance
:)
Rub Bootsie's ears for me!
ReplyDeleteThey beat me to it. House finches they are!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Yup, house finches are kind of cool, though kind of greedy too. There are also purple finches which look quite similar but I like them more. Bootsy does look completely innocent.
ReplyDeleteHouse finches, Jen, wonderful singers and not too afraid of humans here in TN. They built a nest in the wreath outside the back door a few years ago and hatched and fledged several babies. I think they descendents return to that wreath, scaring the daylights out of me as I go out the back door by flying right in front of my face. So glad Mr. Innocent Bootsie is not a hunter! The flowers are beautiful too! :-)
ReplyDeleteFrances
Great shots. That cat is too well fed to need to hunt - thank goodness!
ReplyDeleteBet Bootsie graduated from bird watching school Magna Cum Laude...he probably knew the species.
ReplyDeleteWHAT an adorable name for a blog! Plus...I loved your story!! :) We had a cat named Scratches some years ago, that looked exactly like your boots...with the same hunting skills!
ReplyDeleteI miss him still!
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. I don't think I have ever been here before...HOW did I miss you?? (I wonder about things like that when I see a blog of note!) lol
We have house wrens here and the males do sport those pretty red heads and breasts sometimes..but I am not sure about yours. I think yours are a bit more exotic looking. Ours are very drab, at least the females are and there doesn't seem to be many brightly colored males!
(did I say I love the name of your blog? :)
Mona
Jen girl I would have said "Redpole" .. or that is what husband would say but we are virgin bird watchers and only know for sure about our Goldfinches ? hahaha
ReplyDeleteBootsie is so dignified looking and that pose .. well .. Cary Grant through and through .. maybe his middle name should be Cary ?? LOL
Joy
I wish Ceefer cat was as ineffectual a hunter as Bootsie is! We frequently arrive downstairs in a morning to find a semi-dismembered 'present' waiting for us! :(
ReplyDeleteYour birds are lovely, but I don't have a clue about what they are as we haven't got anythinh quite like that over here!
When cleaning the kitchen floor two days ago, I came across a dead lizard. I didn't put it there so . . . I suspect somebody feline did.
ReplyDeleteLucy
Bootsy looks innocent. A cutie.
ReplyDeleteWhat a look! I I was a bird, I wouldn't trust that cat!
ReplyDeleteThose cats, they are tricky! Watch out birdies!
ReplyDeleteBootsie in his defense, is a lively, and lazy feline. He loves food, oh, and food, and more food. As long as it is canned. We are in the process of training all of us that Boots doesn't need to eat everytime someone is in the kitchen. So far....well, I am sure you understand.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the illegal bird feeder goes, life in Condo land means Boots has only recently been legalized, and bird feeders are still a no-no. We hide it behind a bush, only we can see it.
Jen
Bootsie is an absolutely splendid looking kitty~and the poppy photos are wonderful...I can't believe the condo association has banned bird feeders~gail
ReplyDeleteRedheaded House Finches. Their song goes "de de re de"! Or something like that. In the winter I feed them sunflower seeds and they congregate as a group. Nice pic of the kitty also. Such a pretty coat.
ReplyDeleteBootsie isn't a hunter, it is just as well..he is beautiful, perhaps he is too handsome to hunt! Lovely Poppies..they are so cheerful:)
ReplyDeleteI like the little finches and your cat is adorable. I'm a fan of black and white cats. We used to have two of them...Mosby and Madison. Cats have such attitudes! :)
ReplyDeleteCute story Jen. Bootsie does look innocent.
ReplyDeleteThey look like Finches to me, but I'm no birder.
ReplyDeleteBootsie is obviously a lover and just wants to make friends. It looks like he enjoys their singing and their company. He's a beautiful boy, that's for sure.
I see you already know they are house finches. They have a wonderful song, don't they? I love Bootsie's white stash - he looks mischevious.
ReplyDeleteThose poppies are stunning with the black background. Did you hold up a sheet of black paper or something? I read about one garden photographer who always wore a black coat so he could use it as a backdrop when needed.
ReplyDeleteAwesome pictures once again! Bootsie's not fooling me, all cats are pretty savvy.
ReplyDeleteHi VW, about the poppies, they were shaded from the afternoon sun, and there were very dark shrubs behind them. Because I was using a telephoto lens it gave me a really dark background. I need to go back and check the properties on this shot, to see what I shot at.
ReplyDeleteBut the black coat is a great idea, I am sure we could get the same effect with PS, but I just don't have the time to play with it.
Jen
I had a cat with the same black and white coloration on the snout! :)
ReplyDelete