SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s.

RAMBLES, PLUS PHOTOS...

 I am sharing a photo our son took a couple of days ago.  He often sees deer on his walks, and he always shares them with us.  

It rained today but we went to a store we don't always go to.  I don't mind rainy days, and this wasn't a heavy rain, one of those rains where you can put your hood up and not have to get the brolly out, just avoid the puddles and maybe put on a pair of jeans that are not too long for my short legs.  The bottoms were dripping wet by the time we got home.  Note to self, get your needle and thread out dear and shorten those jeans!

I had fun walking around the store.  We didn't buy much but came out with a couple of loaves of bread (sour dough and whole grain), celery, pine nuts, a container of coleslaw and a piece of salmon for tonight's dinner.  I will be sharing the recipe next Monday.  

Our son and daughter-in-law came over to help dad celebrate his birthday. Always lovely to see them at the best of times, but this was even more special and they are such great company.  I had chats with my dear niece in Germany, and another Facetime with my brother-in-law over there. We had a phone call from an old friend who is moving back to Virginia soon, to this area, and we will be making plans to see each other.  I have loads of letter writing needing to be done, sadly lagging behind, but I get some comfort that this blog is a good way for family and friends to catch up with us in the meantime.

After last week's walk around the nature refuge, we went back to Green Spring Gardens.  I wanted to check out this particular plant to see how the blooms were progressing.  Still not fully in bloom but it's coming along.  This plant I have mentioned before, "Edwordia Chrisantha", which I have shared photos of, and will be sharing again in a post.  

A young lady started chatting to me about it.  It is the 'friendly' plant I call it, and is the second time someone has come up to me when taking photos of the soon-to-be-in-full-bloom-but-not-quite-yet blooms. We chatted for about 15-20 minutes.  She told me she only lived three-quarters of a mile away and came often.  She was drawn to the plant just like I was. Neither of us had seen it anywhere else. She also told me what a lovely scent it had, which I wasn't aware of, and I checked it out.  Yes it has a delightful scent.  She also told me about another favorite of hers and where to find it.  It is called Korean Spice Viburnum.  It was in one of the small alcove-type gardens we walk by and quite often sit in.  It also blooms but not yet.  The leaves were only just starting to grow.

 I will be going back in another couple of weeks to take more photos of the Edwordia Chrisantha, and this one now. The rain is going to hang around for a couple of days, so will have a rest from walking.  We want to go to Huntley Meadows to see what birds are visiting on their way up north. 

And as far as our own birds are concerned, the Grackles have arrived!  They are a bit naughty!  There is a large flock, at least a couple of dozen of them, that stop by twice a day.  They are voracious eaters but I am enjoying their interactions.  It's like everyone is a boss, no one seems to back down, all lay claim to their own patch and refuse to give it up. Lots of fluffing up of feathers and strutting around going on.  And the Cardinals come round well after they have gone.

I have started Spring cleaning and got into some closets, but before I bore your socks off any more, I'll quit now.  It has been a good week and has gone quickly.  

Thanks for listening to my rambles and I do  

hope all is well where you are.

AND THEN THE SNOW

I took these photos with our camera from inside the house, not the trail cam.  That came inside when I realized the snow was coming. Its lens in rain and snow gives some interesting effects, but on the whole the photos are poor.

When I wrote this, (Saturday, March 12th, 2022), it was snowing since early morning, and 21 deg. F.  The day before it was well into the mid 60s.  Today (the 15th) it is 72 degrees.  The birds must have been wondering what was going on.

Fluff your feathers out more, said I, you are supposed to be flying north!  

I have been enjoying watching the birds and squirrels.  Several had their feathers fluffed out more than others.

The squirrels lay with their backs to the wind and their tails flattened over them, to try and keep warm presumably.  Just like we would put on extra layers, they make good use of their tails.  I have noticed the birds sit/stand in the same direction, against the wind, a whole flock of them.  Maybe you have noticed this also.   I haven’t done any research, so I am adding it to my list of things to find out.

The Starlings were having more than their share, but were not in as great numbers as the Grackles. It seemed to me that there was an abundance of our feathered friends, more so than normal.  The  snow had actually brought dozens to the feeders, a steady stream of them.

For the first time this year I noticed a Red-winged blackbird.  The shoulder patch showed a little yellow, with a faint touch, very faint, of red.  Perhaps a non-breeding male?  

The only time I notice them is during the warmer months at Huntley Meadows, always near the water, with a very rare sighting at our feeders.  There is a creek nearby but I think they are passing through. 

The male Northern Cardinal gave me the eye, saw me taking photos but posed nicely.

And then he had enough and flew up into the tree.

I saw a Dark-eyed Junco on another branch, patiently waiting a turn.

For the first time this year the Common Grackles showed themselves.  You can't see by this photo, but there were literally a couple of dozen in the highest part of the tree.

Fascinating birds, I enjoy observing them.  

The Blue Jays are back also…

and the American Robins…

and mustn't forget these little darlings, the Carolina Wren.  Probably wondering if she would get a chance to eat from the suet feeder, but she scratched through the snow and found some tasty seeds below her feet.

Later she found space above, with the company of a House Finch.

The Furry One was there...down below on the deck…

as well as other family members.

He didn't have to dig very deep before finding food.

He remembered his manners and said thank you for replenishing their food all through that snowy day.

You are very welcome Sweetie!

When the wind was strong, sitting on the hanging feeder must have been a roller coaster ride, and sometimes the feeders were doing good impersonations of spinning tops, set into motion by each bird coming and going.  (I made sure they were secured tightly.)  Spinning tops aside, they got on with it and kept eating, sometimes chasing each other off to get their spot.  

It was quite a day and when the wind picked up, heads were lowered as the flurries of snow hit their faces.  At one point I watched a Starling battling a gust of wind.  A thought crossed my mind of what it must be like in a wind tunnel.  It was struggling for a few seconds, and then the gust went away.  It settled on the rail where it scratched away the snow to get at the seed, just like this American Robin did before him..  

As I mentioned, there were a lot of birds at the dinner table, much more than we usually get.  Was it the snow and the lack of food elsewhere? I did give them extra birdseed between those flurries, it was the least I could do.  It was such a dramatic change in the weather, as yesterday the sun was shining and in the 60s.  The weather people told us we were under a storm watch.  It started raining in the night, which turned to snow.  Fortunately not as bad as before, and it was a wet snow.  As I finish this post off it has all melted.  

This is our weather through to Tuesday the 22nd. 

That's the end of my bird viewing during snow day at home.

Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest of your week.

WORD OF THE DAY: SCALLYWAG

The Grackles and the Starlings, who remind me of the word ...

"Scallywag"

A person (or in this case, the above) who behaves badly but in an amusingly mischievous, rather than harmful, way.  Another word we could use would be "Rascal".

THE GRACKLES HAVE FOUND US

I haven't seen these in a long time but recently they started visiting again.  First one, then two and then the whole family.  If you would like to learn more about them click here.

Also sharing a couple of videos from the deck cam.  (Just to remind you that I have no say in what pops up afterwards - advertising and new videos.)

If you look at the end of the rail near where the birdhouse feeder is, you will see a squirrel standing its ground, if a little bit out of the way.

Smart fellow!

Hmmm.....

Enjoy your day everyone and thanks for stopping by.