We were out for a pre-breakfast walk and it was horrid, cold, wet and barely light. It was much brighter than I thought as I was wearing my sunglasses. I am fast approaching the stage where I will need a carer. Who in their right mind and compos mentis wears sunglasses in the rain?
This Crow is almost tame and as I give it bits of apple, pear and banana it has taken to pecking the van step for attention. I don’t mind every hour or so but every ten minutes gets annoying. I went out to tell it to Fly Off or words to that effect. It hopped off and started pecking the ground, I wondered what it was eating.
There didn’t seem to be anything there. A bit of grass, some moss, a little lichen, a pound coin and stones. Then I noticed the tiny white flowers. The crow was eating grit for it’s crop no doubt expecting more apple. I fetched my tweezers and picked a bit of the flower.
I have no idea what it is. I was thinking it was one of the many stonecrops but Google had nothing like it. The seed pod or whatever is a bit odd. It is very small, possibly the smallest flower in the UK but I Googled that to no avail.
With thanks to PHIL this tiny plant has been identified as whitlow grass Erphila verna.
That’s all for today.
What a treasure you've found.
ReplyDeleteGraham, Fife is full of discarded pound coins.....Don't tell anybody else though.
DeleteA fine looking Crow.
ReplyDeleteThe flower is too.
Keith, I often find friendly crows. Usually Jackdaws. They get tame quite quickly if food is involved.
DeleteThe flower is weird, it has an outer shell then petals then the pod thing.
Taming wild birds doesn't always bring rewards. I have several semi tame Blackbirds but the ungrateful **** are forever digging up my flowers.
ReplyDeleteJohn, it is fun feeding them but Jackdaws are devils for shredding wiper blades. The Crow is just noisy. It is there now sitting just outside the dogs reach and cawing ever few minutes.
DeleteLove your Carrion Crow, and I love the flowers, one in the every million.
ReplyDeleteCheers Bob, The flowers are a find.
DeleteLooks like whitlow grass Erphila verna, Adrian
ReplyDeleteMany thanks Phil. That's it. I love tiny things but they are hard to identify. I am amazed how small it is....a magical spring flower.
DeleteThe crow is a great shot. Can't help with the flower.
ReplyDeleteDouglas, Phil has sorted it it's whitlow grass.
DeleteEvery day, something new to find, great read as ever.
ReplyDeletepeter
Peter, I never tire of seeking out little things as most are new to me. It is a great way of passing a walk and of not walking too far.
DeleteWell whatever that flower is, is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMargasret it is Whitlow Grass. Phil told me.
DeleteSo could this be an invasive species of some kind? Crows? Extremely intelligent birds. He's training you to give him food. And how do you know it may be his buddies who take turns to get food from you?
ReplyDeleteRed, It is an early spring flower native to most of Europe and North America.
DeleteThey could be taking turns but I see three at a time and one of them has some feathers missing the other is smaller so I suspect it's the same one.
Good eye! The crows won't pull anything on you.
DeleteBuen descubrimiento Adrian!!
ReplyDeleteTe estás especializando en macros, son muy buenos .
Que tengas un buen domingo ;)
Un abrazo.
Laura, esta es una maravillosa flor pequeña.
Delete