Grim Discovery.

Copyright © Mark R Kelly 2025

November 2nd, 2025 - a mild, day, laden with heavy rain showers. My task is clear: empty the tumble dryer in the garage. Nice and simple.

As I approach the side entrance to the garage I see it. My heart sinks and I groan inwardly. A scene of devastation, an act of nature once more played out in our garden. I can't help but scour the rooftops and the sky above. I know it's pointless, yet I look anyway.

It's obviously fresh, the feathers are dry and still gathered where stripped. I lean in to get a closer look. No blood. So the Sparrow Hawk took its kill elsewhere in order to consume, but not before stripping the poor Sparrow of its feathers. The biggest frustration - I was sitting at my pc in the back room and have a perfect view of the kill zone. 

What am I to do? 

Nature playing out as it should and does, whether I'm sat at my pc, driving my car or in work. It will happen, regardless. It doesn't stop me from feeling pity for the poor Sparrow, coupled with a pang of guilt for creating a feeding zone that draws both prey and hunter. 

I remind myself, it could be worse, it could be happening daily. But thankfully it doesn't. Small blessings I suppose.

The amazing thing - the Sparrows, Starlings, Pigeons, Doves, Magpies, Jackdaws, and Crows just carry on as if nothing has happened. The natural order of things, I guess. In their minds they get to live, fly, eat, drink, and nest for another day, and that's what it boils down to. 

Living for another day, regardless of the risks. 

To end with, here’s a delicate, yet emotionally intense track, from the brilliant Tokyo-based composer Katsuhiko Maeda (aka World’s End Girlfriend) — 'When I Touch Your Cheek,' from the soundtrack A Girl on the Shore. 

Big thanks to Virgin Babylon Records for letting this piece reach ears like mine.