Rabbie and the red hot pokers

We first met Rabbie the Pheasant on 9th May, then Jean and all nine kids on 7th June. Since then both Mum and Dad have carefully shepherded the chicks up to the feeder every day, for all the world looking like a fully functional family.

We've only seen Rabbie on his own for the last four days, looking rather alone and miserable. We hope that nothing bad has happened to the others, because the chicks were nowhere near ready to leave home.

Today Rabbie was standing in the garden as usual, but this time he spent the whole morning staring at the red-hot pokers. Even when it was pouring with rain, he just hunkered down a bit, rooted to the spot. Well , if it cheers him up ...