Berry Sorbet

Happy Thanksgiving!

GOBBLE, GOBBLE!

A Turkey Speaks

I have never understood

why anyone would

roast the turkey

and shuck the clams

and crisp the croutons

and shell the peas

and candy the sweets

and compote the cranberries

and bake the pies

and clear the table

and wash the dishes

and fall into bed

when they could sit back

and enjoy a hamburger.

-Unknown Author

Simply Duck

Taking Flight

As I returned home from a shopping trip I had to wait for this group of geese to move along. 

Look at those wingspans and the white tail feathers. 

What nature reveals when the leaves are shed

Carefully Observing

I was out in the yard taking photos of the leaves and saw a few juncos observing me very carefully.

The Goose Wedge

While watching a group of about seven geese practice their wedge formation, I just had to laugh. The first pass they did over the house was in a V, but one lost goose tailed them, flying back and forth between the two arms of the V, unsure of where he belonged. As they passed by again they were even worse off by forming two rows, one in front of the other like an equal sign.

This is not a photo of that group, but it looks like they are trying the equal sign too.

The (non-thieving) Magpie

I've heard the overture to the opera The Thieving Magpie many times on the radio and I confess it's the only thing I know about the bird. I wasn't even sure what one looked like until my friend pointed it out while at Rocky Mountain National Park.

There was nothing criminal about this magpie.

A different brand of blue jay

In Rocky Mountain National Park, the color palette is very brown, tan, grey and green, with splashes of gold in autumn as the aspens change. So when bright blue darts across your path, it catches your eye.

Introducing, the Steller's Jay. Majestic blue coat with a black crested head.

Fall is Coming

While not exactly a V formation, a telltale sign that fall is on its way! (Photo taken almost a month ago).

Wildflower Cafe

Two goldfinches look over the day's special, black eyed susan and coneflower salad.

Enjoying coneflower

Quite the buffet!

Digging in

Room for Rent

Unfortunately the robins who lived under our deck have moved out. They didn't like their noisy neighbors, I guess.

Lower Deck Inhabitants

The closest I could get to this robin's nest without being dive-bombed by a pair of protective parents was about 10 feet. These two built their nest underneath our deck, directly below our patio table. All you can see of the nest from this photo is a long wisp of something hanging from it.

While I did save myself a pecking on the head, a nervous robin swooped and fluttered above me before landing in the yard, a severe look of warning in his eyes. I apologized and excused myself quickly.

King and Queen

These two finches conversed for nearly 10 minutes from the top of this pine. Discussing the state of their kingdom, perhaps.

More Cedar Waxwings!

It has been over a year since I saw the flock of cedar waxwings, and now this week I've seen them twice! There must be a pair nesting nearby because there were two in the same maple tree as last year, and yesterday this guy (looking behind)...

In the Neighbor's Maple Tree

A pair of cedar waxwings
In the neighbor's maple tree
No longer with their flock of friends,
Wild and soaring free

Cowbirds at it again!

Just like last year, the cowbirds are after the robins again.

Happy Father's Day!

Daddy is looking out while his little ones eat. 

Birdie Shower

A mourning dove showered in our sprinkler today. He nestled into the grass and lifted his wings one at a time to get those underarms!

A Chickadee's Nest

This, from our correspondant Diane. A family of chickadees took up residence in a small hole in the foundation of Diane's house. They discovered this on Mother's Day as a busy little mommy chickadee fed her babies while dogs and humans looked on. What a strange little place for a nest.

Holly checking out the nest.

An Owl Story, from Illinois

Almost a year ago, my uncle in Illinois told us about an owl who liked to hang out in a tree by his front porch and poop bones and fur onto the sidewalk. He recently sent us another owl story just as fascinating. Take it away, Todd!

"Walked out my back door around noon and heard thumping coming from one of the black garbage containers I have outside. Figured a squirrel had somehow figured a way in despite them being closed. Flipped the lid on the first on, peered in = nothing. Flipped the second one open and again, nothing. Then I hear noise from the brown waste container (it has no lid). Peered in and there was... AN OWL for cryin' out loud! Not sure why it was in there. Nothing in there to eat. Maybe hiding from crows or other birds. Anyway, I laid the container down and was able to get quite close (almost to petting range). But that beak and those talons keps me cautious. He left after awhile but seemed to show no fear."

A Chinese Proverb

"Keep a green tree in your heart and  

perhaps a songbird will come." 

Just before the rain hit...

Happy Mother's Day!

Love Birds

Perhaps they are celebrating their anniversary, too.

 

Can he fit on there?

You know there's a big bird at your feeder when you can hear him eating from inside the house.

Look at that beak! (Chomp, chomp!)

Alarmed and Bossy

We went for a walk at a nearby park and the geese seemed to tolerate us, even as we were steps behind them. Though a few of them had feathers raised in alarm on the back of their long necks, the only aggression we saw was when one goose tried to boss around another one.

They thought we were following them...
but really they were just in our way.

Alarmed and Bossy! 

Happy Easter!

I made these bird rolls from scratch for our Easter lunch. They were a hit, soon to be a tradition.

A Robin's Evening Song

Cedar Waxwings

Two years ago today I happened to look out the kitchen window and watched as a flock of crested birds swooped into the yard and flitted between our birch tree and the neighbor's maple. They were cedar waxwings looking for berries together before mating season would pair them off.

"A flock of cedar waxwings on the neighbor's maple tree..." sounds a bit like the beginning of a poem.

I haven't seen one of their kind since.

Dedicated to Grandpa Bob, a bird lover himself. Happy Birthday, I love you and miss you!

Duluth Robins

Courtesy of my Dad:

I've never seen so many robins in my life, even in a season. They're out front under the crabapple tree. Some are up on the branches knocking the dried crabapples down, and the others are enjoying the works of the others. Out back, it's similar but a better variety of birds, mostly ground feeders. So I've been throwing out a cup of seeds every hour or so. Fun to watch, for sure. I'm used to seeing robins on warmer, moist days in spring, not with a snow cover. These hardy souls were definitely on the hunt for nutrition after almost two days of strong winds.

A Blackbird Consortium

There are at least 21 birds in this posse and they've been swarming the feeder all day long, moving as one organism as they descend on the yard or get spooked away by a passing vehicle. Most of them are grackles, with a few cowbirds throw in the mix, and about a half dozen red-winged blackbirds. All these different varieties of one type of bird.

Who says we can't all get along?

Nothing clever, just a cardinal

Springtime Birdservations!

A briefing on what the birds have been up to in my neighborhood:

• While on a walk we heard the chickadees with their two-note call. One bird called out and another answered, descending down the musical scale. As they continued with their individual rhythms, the notes were soon in tandem with each other to make perfect harmony.
• The goldfinches are gaining their summer plumage back so they look more as their name describes and not the buff color they were all winter. I saw one call out from a spindly sprig at the top of a pine tree, alerting all available females to his grandeur.
• A crow also took advantage of the highest point on the street and claimed himself to be king of the hill from atop a chimney.
• Every time I see geese my heart melts a little. Often in pairs on grassy areas, one picks away at the ground while the other watches for danger. 
• Two bluebird sightings in one week! It's so exciting to see rusty red and cerulean blue dart through the air.
• There is what I believe to be an egret living in the pond by the community center. They move so carefully, even their flight appears in slow-motion.
• Our backyard has been full of activity from the robins as they hunt worms and enjoy old berries still on the tree.
• Also in the backyard was a large bird I didn't see long enough to figure out what it was. It was bigger than a robin, was feeding on the ground, and when he took flight there appeared to be a bright yellow coloring under his wings. This would lead me to believe it was a flicker but I'm not certain.
• I've heard more red-winged blackbirds than I've seen.
• And finally, I've seen many birds of prey gliding overhead. Their cries reminded me of something you'd hear in an old western movie as  the sun bakes the desert landscape.

Spring!

The robins have been out in full force today and there is not an inch of soundscape not crammed with their song. This must mean spring is around the corner.