Twice Lucky Wren.

In March 2008, I shot my first ever Wren picture, as it was toying with this bright green cayerpillar. The series of five photos with the grub in varying degrees of "flatness, showed how the Wren killed it first by slapping on the wood of the shelf and only then ate the result.
Wrens prefer to stick to the wooden supports underneath the shelf, flitting between the slats, looking for Insects.

A few days ago, I spotted my Wren and it was strutting a whitish worm or caterpillar. A bit like the caterpillar of the Small Magpie Moth, I guess. Which is well possible it was one of these as I've seen the Small Magpie Moth on four or five occasions in the house/garden. After it had finished this one, it was still hungry apparently because it popped up again from below with a green caterpillar! There was barely 10 minutes between the two. It was moving about constantly with the green price; however it kept putting it down repeatedly, looked at it before picking up again. It was further away than the one in spring, making observation and photography harder.
Prior to the Wren I had concentrated on a few more detailed shots with the camera set on macro. Between the rapid clicks of the shutter I was trying hard to 'un-click' this setting with the little button beside the shutter. It did not really work and I shot a whole "film" before these shots which were totally ruined by the wrong focus. A pity because many had the first grub in the Wren's beak also. Which I thought would be a nice comparison with the green pictures.

The exppressions of the Wren is my main reason for taking these pictures; one of these birds with a face like no others. Otherwise I would not have posted these because the quality is not my best.

I have no idea what the green grub would become eventually, had it been left alone l . ater, and if anyone has any ideas, please let me know.









At last she is having the guts to pick it up again.

She then took it to a dark corner behind one of the little uprights on the shelf. I could only see the green grub tremble and move nervously as the Wren was still toying with it.
All These photos were the last of his/her encounter with her meal; she had been slapping it about for a bit before I took these pictures.
I think what happened was that this particular grub took longer to die. Which might explain her behaviour and expressions on the face also.

I am just very glad that my overgrown garden is still able to offer two meals at this difficult time for Birds. I hope there are many more left between the bits out there.
It is fasvinating I think that Great Tits especially, will also visit the support slats on their search for Insects. The Coal Tits too and even House Sparrows and Chaffinches have been down there. A pity that it is such a dark spot for photos.