Tapping

 

Suddenly there came a tapping

 ‘. . . suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door'

 Lines from Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, ‘The Raven.'

It is commonplace for one or other of the cats to sit in front of a wood burner, though usually only when it’s alight. We were concerned to discover that Herschel had taken up position by the conservatory fire a few days ago and wondered if he was feeling quite well. There was no fire in the grate and no apparent need for him to be there.

He hopped over the fire guard with no problem when we called him, so it was clear there was nothing wrong with him. His attention was still focused on the fire, however, and soon we heard the tapping that must have alerted him. 

                                           Great tit (Parus major)

Behind the door, which looks like glass but is actually ceramic, a little bird was desperately pecking in an attempt to escape. We made sure the conservatory door to the kitchen was shut and opened the doors and windows to the garden. When we opened the fire door a rather dusty great tit flew out in panic. Birds always seem to fly up when trying to escape and this little chap flew up to the cross bar and sat, beak agape, to gather his senses.

After several minutes, Barry wielded a large net to guide the little bird towards one of the windows, and he exited to sit among the leaves of a low-growing shrub.

chimney cowl 

Birds searching for insects seek under the chimney cowl and sometimes find themselves unable to find their way out. It happens rarely. We had a blue tit in the fireplace many years ago which made its exit safely into the world again.

                    Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great tit

We now check the fire regularly to ensure there are no prisoners trapped in it.