WITCHY FACE & THE BIG OL’ DUMMY
‘M’, the head of missions, lasted four months at Glee before leaving for the faster pace and promise of fortunes in the big smoke. I have been my own hit and miss Head of Missions going on four wonderful years. I realise I am a different breed, for I love solitude, except – I am never alone.
When I first moved to Glee, a little black bird captured my attention. The Fork-Tailed Drongo might be a little bird, but its presence is mighty. He is all no-nonsense and a fiercely focused hunter without a hint of frivolity. He prides himself on being a prize fighter and whatever he does, I get the feeling he couldn’t give a damn about this admiring audience.
So, you can imagine my delight when on my evening walk, the drongo dive-bombed me. I couldn’t believe he was playing with me. I whirled around with excitement and shouted: “Hello! Hello Drongo!” He stared at me from the boundary fence. I turned round to continue my walk and he did it again, nearly knocking me on the head! Next thing Faye jumped two metres into the air. My brain went to fuzz and when it rebooted, I understood. I looked to my left, into the tall grass……not two feet away……. a serious-sized Puff Adder!
The next morning, I was feeding the horses when the drongo perched right in front of me. He was so close I could see the feathers on his witchy face. If I had stretched out my arm, I would have touched him. Witchy Face looked me dead in the eye and proceeded to give me the sternest talking to I have ever had in my life:
“Jwee, jwee, jwee, jwee” – “You Big Ol’ Dummy!”
Just like a salty sea captain.
“Jwee, jwee, jwee, jweeeeeee” – “Do you think I was warning you for my health?”
“Jweeeeeee!” – “You got to pay attention, Dummy!”
And then, the strangest thing. Witchy made the decision to… excuse the turn of phrase, he made the decision to take me under his wing! Over the years, Witchy Face would sit on the railing next to me, dive into the grass or a bush and come back with a cricket or moth and offer the morsel to me. Which is quite something, as I have witnessed how territorial he is. I’ve seen him fighting off a Kingfisher, another insect eater, who tried to move in to his kingdom.
When the dogs and I took our evening walks, Witchy would accompany us, leading the way. In the beginning he would fly up ahead from tree to tree, then he became more discreet, but always a presence checking that the ‘Big Ol’ Dummy’ wasn’t getting herself into any trouble.
One evening, on our walk, Witchy started making a huge noise. I saw him fearlessly take on a bird of prey three times his size that was raiding his nest. I was grateful I happened to be at the right place at the right time so I could help Witchy Face chase the marauder away.
He is also a little devil. He once proudly alerted me to the presence of a snake, then proceeded to harass the snake toward me! A highly venomous Boomslang!
Walking on the loop back to Swanky one day, that little devil half-heartedly dive bombed me. I froze and started looking for snakes. Witchy sped off with glee:
“Jwee, Jwee, Jweeee” – “Just checking you’re still paying attention, Dummy!”
A year ago, I moved up onto the hill into the Poppy House (Poppie huis = Little Doll’s house). Although Poppy is only eight hundred metres up the hill from Swanky, we might be in a different country. From the Poppy House we have views for days.
The only thing missing here is Witchy Face.
Two months into relocating to Poppy, Witchy Face came to check on me. I was inside the house, and the unmistakeable insults in that salty sea captain voice have never been so welcomed! It was so good seeing that little devil again. He visits from time to time. I catch him riding on Finn’s back, watching for insects in the grass as Finn moves around. Last year, he came to show off his wife and two children and this summer he arrived with his wife and latest child.
I tell him:
“It’s good to see you, you’ve done wonderfully well, Witchy Face.”
“Jwee, Jwee, Jweee”.
“And I am glad to see you are still paying attention, you Big Ol’ Dummy!”
APPRECIATIONS
Witchy Face himself! I had no pics to show you of Witchy and was wondering whether I should subject you to an attempt at a sketch. A stock photo wouldn’t feel right as it just wouldn’t be my Witchy. Well, didn’t the little devil Witchy Face arrive this morning and pose beautifully for you all. Can’t make this stuff up!
