The Red Bishop last year - Maree

I get to enjoy the tranquillity and peace of mind that results from watching colourful birds flitter around my lawn or deer grazing in my neighbour's pasture field.
- Rick Rouse, from Why I Love Country Living




In November last year, rather late in the season, I noticed the Red Bishop was back - maybe he never left, it's rather difficult to differentiate him from the Sparrows and similarly brown-coloured birds when he's not wearing his breeding outfit. I also only know when his female is around when I see them together - she's similarly sparrow-like.

With spring breaking through here in South Africa now, the Black-headed Oriole is already enjoying the sweet nectar of the Aloes and I'm looking forward to hearing the Red Bishops bright chatter again!

The Red Bishop again - Maree Clarkson

This is the Red Bishop (male) from my garden again - his nest-building is absolutely masterful and he spends a lot of time hanging from the nest, his wings shivering in anticipation as the female hops from perch to perch, deciding whether to have a closer look or not.

Last season I found a fledgling in the garden minus one wing, probably the stray Tabby's work, and I managed to find a good home for him with a bird-lover friend. He wouldn't have much of a chance spending his life walking around in the garden.



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Red Bishop - Maree Clarkson

I hope you love birds too. It is economical. It saves going to heaven.

- Emily Dickinson

The Red Bishop on my fence post...

The Bishops have returned to my garden this Spring and I was so excited! The male's buzzing song alerting the female to the nest he's building for her is always the first to alert me of their return and, contrary to the male, the female is brown and very inconspicuous. He only carries these colours during the breeding season and in Winter reverts to brown similar to the female.