Any day that includes animal encounters is ranked a success – as I believe I’ve said before.
Even better when it’s a creature I had no previous awareness of.
When fix-it chaps come to attend our latest equipment failure which happens all too often, Grant enjoys having the chance to talk with someone other than me, as he should!
These conversations are often quite interesting.
Recently we had need of a new water-softener which was swiftly installed by our very nice plumber, who in chatting with Grant revealed that he owns a considerable number and assortment of animals and fowl.
Including two that are quite rare. We were invited to meet them.
Let me just mention: They were moulting.
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“Really? You came to visit while I look like this?”
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“We usually look so much better!”
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‘My friend is a bit bashful because of having no tail, but you may take my picture.”
The birds were a little nervous so I didn’t attempt to get close. It was a thrill just to see them.
Perhaps the tail feathers and shape might have given me a clue as to what they were, but I had never heard of Melanistic Mutant Pheasants!
Also known as Tenebrosus Pheasant.
Because catching sight of a pheasant has always seemed to precede a fortuitous change of fortune for me, I consider them to be bringers of good luck.
The pheasants are only two of some 48 birds. We met just a few more:
Less exotic, but great characters:
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Two big Pekin ducks shared a pen with a female Black duck, but this was the only shot I got of her as the bathing boy stole the show:
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Then we went indoors. Regrettably, I did not get photographs of the two enthusiastic dogs that greeted us, or the black and white cat that was less effusive, but very friendly.
We were interrupting a very busy man, otherwise I would love to have met the rest.
But we did get introduced to Peanut:
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The smallest rooster we’d ever seen.
A Barred Old English Bantam.
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He is very attached to his person, following him around like a dog and sitting on his shoulder, the way a parrot would.
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Peanut may be diminutive, but he crows like a big boy.
While I was captivated by the bird, I could not fail to notice, in among the variety of equipment you’d expect on a farm, something quite different:
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Because I didn’t get a photo, I had AI create an image. It looked just like this.
Cars were so much classier back then!
You never know what you’ll run into up here!
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Thank you so much, Carolyn, for the wonderful post full of beautiful birds in your kind plumber house! I love old cars too!
Joanna
I often see pheasants, but they are not nearly as colourful as these in your photos – how beautiful. As always, I enjoyed your animal conversation and the car at the end was a surprise.
A very serendipitous encounter, resulting in an interesting selection of wildlife, and a simply wonderful car.
Best wishes, Pete.