Keeping an eye on the neighbours

Every so often we have the pleasure of looking after our neighbours’ cats while they’re on holiday. Cwtch and Sookie have gradually grown accustomed to us and I often use their more relaxed moments to catch some photos of them.

During my second visit they had come downstairs, ready for breakfast and a spot of sunbathing, although initially Sookie decided she would observe me from a chair beneath the dining room table!

Cwtch watching the garden intently for intruders….

Followed by a spot of unashamed lounging in the sun - not always in the most elegant way!

Eventually Sookie gained some more courage and came out into the sunshine.

Photos taken June 2023.

Introducing Dilly

I always enjoy photographing animals I meet on my travels and I recently had the pleasure of getting to know this little cutie. She’s called Dilly and she came along to the recorder I was teaching at in Wales with her owners.

On the final evening she’d lost some of her perpetual bounce (lots of walks in the Welsh countryside) and had settled beside the sofa while her owners, Sally and Stephen, enjoyed a quiet drink and conversation. This was too good an opportunity to miss so I grabbed my camera and laid down on the floor nearby to take a few photos of Dilly.

Photos taken 10 May 2023

Murmuration in training

At this time of year our garden is often invaded by a large flock of starlings. We see them murmurating over the road behind out house in the winter - just a few dozen birds - nothing like the huge displays you see by the coast. By late spring this year’s youngsters have fledged but are still happy to noisily demand food from their parents when they can get away with it.

I was doing some gardening when they arrived en-masse so I left what I was doing to top up the suet ball feeder and to throw a few handfuls of mealworms on the ground. This was enough to keep them happy and allowed me to quietly sneak closer with my camera and sit on the ground nearby.

This garrulous gathering were so focused on their food that they barely noticed me creeping down the garden path, allowing me to get within a couple of metres of them, sitting on the ground in plain sight.

Click on any of the images to see them enlarged.

This youngster was so oblivious to me that it landed on the edge of the bird bath about four feet from me!

Our unruly visitors were so noisy that many of our other garden visitors stayed away, but it didn’t take long for them to return when something spooked the starlings and sent them fleeing, however briefly.

Mrs Blackbird foraging among the wildflowers.

Judging by his threadbare tail I think our visiting robin has been busy raising a family and he or she is looking rather worse for wear!

Photos taken 29 May 2023.

Feline supervision

My stroll through London on Thursday took me past Southwark Cathedral and it would have been rude of me not to pop and say hello to Hodge, the Cathedral cat. Named after Samuel Johnson’s cat, Hodge has now been in residence for over two years and he’s thoroughly settled in.

Last time we met he was lounging around in the nave, but today Hodge was supervising in the Cathedral shop, although quite how anyone was supposed to use the computer was a mystery as he was sitting on the keyboard!

After a quick stroll around the Cathedral I discovered Hodge sitting outside the vestry door, hoping to be let in. We had a brief chat (you can see him meowing in this photo!) and I knocked on the door to see if anyone was home. Sadly there was no reply, but the steward at the Cathedral entrance assured me it wouldn’t be long before he was let in!

Photos taken 12 January 2023

Meet the neighbours

Over the summer we looked after Sookie and Cwtch, the two cats who live next door to us, for a few days and I finally made a break through in making friends with Sookie. Previously she’d been very wary, but she soon warmed to me when she realised I was her only source of food for the week! Over the last few days we’ve been feeding them again and naturally I took a few photos!

Initially Sookie was undecided as to whether she still liked me, but once she remembered what good cheek rubs I give she was my best friend again! That didn’t stop her hiding beneath the bed on occasions, but at least we weren’t back to square one…

In complete contrast, Cwtch was always happy to come and say hello and she patiently posed for me after she’d had some grub.

Photos taken 1 January 2023

Cats and cathedrals

It’s not that unusual for a Cathedral to have a resident cat - I’ve met several over the years. However, Southwark Cathedral’s cat, Hodge, has his own Twitter account and has quite the cult following. Each August the Cathedral hosts a feline themed day of talks and this year I was able to go along.

The day started with a stroll down from Liverpool Street Station, taking in some of the city architecture in the early morning sun.

I arrived at Southwark Cathedral early so I went inside to look for Hodge. Fortunately, he was in a chilled out mood, lounging near the door to the vestry, one of his favourite snoozing spots.

A couple more snaps from around the Cathedral as I headed to Borough Market to grab some lunch.

Photos taken 6 August 2022

Just chilling...

We’ve often looked after our neighbours cats, Cwtch and Sookie, while their humans have been on holiday and it’s always a pleasure. Cwtch is always confident and friendly towards us, but Sookie is a much more reserved character, often apparently afraid of her own shadow!

A big stretch from Cwtch

This summer they’ve both spent more time in their front garden, mostly keeping clear of their canine siblings, so I’ve taken this opportunity to gain Sookie’s trust a little more. Often you’ll find me on my hands and knees, giving her a cheek rub as if I stand up she’ll run a mile! One week over the summer though we spent several days feeding the two of them as this proved a real turning point. Realising I was a purveyor of both cheek rubs and food, Sookie became a total convert and she even relaxed enough for me to take some photos one morning.

I’ve never seen Sookie this relaxed before!

Photos taken August 2022