Depending on how well you can bear the heat, today is either pleasantly warm or horrendously hot. As neither of us respond very well to hot weather, we decided to take things easy.

Sunshine in Myddelton Square

We made our way to the deli but took a turn around a sunlit Myddelton Square.

Outside the deli

We found a table outside the deli and drank our coffee there.

Amwell Street, the lower end

When we had finished, we walked back to Myddelton Square but first I took a photo of the lower end of Amwell Street, the part that I photograph less often.

Sunlight and shade in the gardens

It was pleasantly cool in Myddelton Square Gardens. We looked for a bench in the shade.

A view from the bench

We found a shady bench in the centre of the park. Perhaps because of the heat, the resident pigeons seemed very lethargic and took no notice of us. I put out some seed but there were no takers.

A scramble for food
Photo by Tigger

At last, a single pigeon noticed the seed and flew down to claim it. That was the signal for a general rush of all the others. I looked for “my friend”, the one-footed pigeon. I offered seed and this provoked a scramble.

Feeding on the ground

I tried to attract “my friend” but he seemed reluctant to fly onto my knee, so at first I offered food in the ground.

Feeding from my hand

Eventually, he remembered – or recovered his nerve – and flew onto my knee. I’m sure he remembered me.

An interloper

Previously, the other pigeons had been less keen to land in my knee but today many more were ready to try. They have gained confidence from the one-footed pigeon’s example.

“My friend” tucking in

Having only one foot to grip with, my friend finds it difficult to perch and tends to slide of off my knee. He has now learned to move onto the top of my knee where it’s easier to stand.

Party crasher

It was noticeable that today more pigeons were prepared to crash the party.

Pigeons on both knees

Repelling an interloper

A last look at “my friend”

We were now ready to leave. There’s no way to tell the pigeons this, of course. They remain continually hopeful.

A final scramble

I emptied the remaining seed from the jar into the ground, provoking a final scramble.

Nuts for the squirrels

Tigger had brought nuts for the squirrels but the squirrels had not appeared. So she thought to leave some nuts wedged in the bark of trees. The squirrels will find them there.

Walking through the gardens

We walked through the gardens that were bright with sunshine.

Flower bed

A corner of the church

An old favourite, the Curvaceous Tree

We passed through Myddelton Square on our way home and so I photographed my old favourite, the Curvaceous Tree, silhouetted against the sunlit houses.