ANOTHER MID-SUMMER MYSTERY

BUMBLES MYSTERY: Mrs is in the foreground and the two

were inseperable

..Or, where is Mrs Bumbles?

 SOMETHING very curious has happened involving the arrival of a stranger and the disappearance of one of the hen pen's most industrious residents and I am beginning to wonder if the two are connected.

 The mystery centres on the most devoted couple Mr and Mrs Bumbles who usually go about their business together and are rarely seen apart.

On the odd occasions they've not returned to the hen pen they share with the Scots Dumpys, The Bumbles, a pair of Guineau Fowl, perch on a tree over-looking their home until the morning. They're extremely cautious and make one hell of a racket when startled so I've never been unduly worried that they'd fall victim to Mr Fox.

 Like officious little regimental sergeant majors, The Bumbles zoom around the place ignoring all other residents, including myself. Anyone who invades their space or gets to close is repelled by a noisy shrill clucking sound and their beautiful grey speckled feathers bristle, fluff up and flap.

 Native to Africa, they are known for traveling in large, gregarious flocks and were first introduced into Europe by 15th century Portuguese explorers. There are seven species of guinea fowl, of which the "helmeted pearl" is by far the most common, and certainly the weirdest looking, with their oddly shaped helmet, white, featherless face, bright red wattles, and gray polka-dotted feathers.

 Last week Mr Bumbles came home alone and I feared the worst until the next morning when he hurtled around the grounds making a muted squawking sound as if searching for his soul mate. If she had been nabbed by an intruder Mr Bumbles would have seen it happen and he would have made a racket loud enough to wake the dead; and I guess he would have moped around the next day but he really seemed to be looking for her.

 The next morning another Guineau Fowl appeared perched on a tree favoured by The Bumbles. I thought it was Mrs Bumbles until I noticed this one had white flashes across the wings and was indeed a male. The male species have flaps of scarlet red skin framing their faces whereas the hens don't. Where he came from or how he arrived at our small-holding is still a mystery but his arrival was treated with outrage and fury by Mr Bumbles as you can see from the 40-second video clip I made of the angry encounter a day or so ago.

HAPPIER DAYS: The Bumbles were 

once inseperable

 The stranger is still here, undeterred by a hostile Mr Bumbles but there is still no sign of Mrs B. I wonder if she has a nest somewhere as when I think about it, her little brown eggs have been absent of late. I'm hoping she has gone broody and made a secret nest although I would've thought she would have shared the location with her partner.  And he does seem lost at the moment as he wanders aimlessly around. I am beginning to miss their frenzied whistles, chirps and odd clicking noises.

 In the meantime I suspect this mystery will run for sometime - if anyone has any answers please drop a line and share your thoughts. And if you live in the Borders and are missing a male Guineau Fowl let me know.