Spring Fever

A touch of the late season crude has hit me a couple of days this week and I stayed home today...just because.   The morning began fairly warm and it turned out to be a beautiful day.  Not sure what the temps finally reached but I suspect around 65 deg. 

A pair of hawks spent the morning around the yard area keeping quite a bit of fuss.  Joining in the morning calling was a Pileated Woodpecker with another somewhere further in the woods answering.  The one close by would throw its head back and let out the unmistakable call then wait for the reply.

All the commotion and calling brought in the crows, a group of Grackles and the Turkey Vulture circling overhead.

 A walk about in the yard this afternoon showed definite signs that spring is not far away.  Lots of plants beginning to show signs of life and the insect population is becoming active on the warm days.  I saw three different types of butterflies today.

Unfortunately, the weather for the big birdcount weekend does not look promising.  I had planned to go with a group Sunday but that now looks like a wash.

Feeding Behavior - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

The Good - When you can get along with others, everyone eats

The Bad - The standoff and no one eats (amazingly the Downy won this round)

The Ugly - The bully and only he eats (or she)

Winter Lives

Winter just could not pass without reminding us it is still winter.  Temperatures have been dropping like a rock all afternoon as a cold front moves in from the NW.  Winds are gusting making it that much colder.  I believe I heard that we are going to drop down to about 23 tonight.  Too cold.  Fortunately this is only suppose to last about 4 days then back up to mid to high 50's.

I still cannot be up much on my foot without it starting to swell so I have spent a fairly sedate Saturday looking out the window and wishing I was outside.  I did manage to go to the reception for the art and photography contest I had entered.  Extrememly pleased I took first place in the park category and best in show overall. 

Back to birding.  Watching the birds today it is like they knew a cold front was coming in.  Activity at the feeders was high and alot of fussing amongst the birds.  The suet feeder was occupied all day and at times, possessiveness caused some intense conflict.

A small Japanese maple that is in the area of the suet feeder was a resting place for those not wishing to jump into the fray of the fight.  It is right in front of the window where I was sitting so provided some good shots.


Lots of Yellow-Rumped Warblers today.  More than I have seen the entire winter so I am not sure where they flooded in from.  I forgot how obnoxious they can be.  They were constantly doing fly-by's on the other birds and giving them a little goose.  A couple in particular thought the suet feeder belonged to them.

I see the male Pine Warbler quite often but today he brought his lady friend with him.  When I first saw her I had to stop and really take a look to figure out what she was.  Today, she stayed most of the day while he sat in a nearby tree.

Decoy Progress

Off of my feet two days running now.  I broke two toes yesterday morning early and by noon, almost my entire foot was swollen.  When I attempted to put on shoes this morning....no way.  Wouldn't even fit.  So I have spent the day with my foot up and rotating cold packs.  I have a photograph in an exhibit tomorrow and hope to be able to attend, in shoes at that.

Since I couldn't get out to bird, I figured this would be a good time for an update on my decoy progress.  I am still going very slow.  If I made a major mistake now I think I would cry.  Week 5 I starting roughing out a more refined head shape but still a lot left to do.  Week 6 work was on starting to refine the back end.  I didn't get as much done on Monday night as I had hoped but I was a bit under the weather and tired.

Adrift

Alone, adrift on the pond at the mercy of the currents and wind;
to what will be its final end.

Combined with many, strength, protection, given to flight;
alone on the pond it loses its might.

A slow drift by, then gone from sight;

a lone feather,  no longer to soar in the freedom of flight.

Goose feather, adrift on the pond;

complex simplicity.

 

Ummm Umm - Snake is good eating

When I arrived home this afternoon, I went through my usual routine of a little rough play with the dog then walk out on the deck and look around the yard.

I noticed a Brown Thrasher giving something the once over.  Back inside to get the camera and back out.  I figured it would be gone but it was still there and giving something heck.  As I eased closer my first thought was it was an earthworm on steroids.  The thrasher would peck at it on the ground for a bit then pick it up and sling it from side to side. 

I was finally able to get close enough to see that indeed it was a young Red-Bellied Brown Snake.  The thrasher kept eyeing me like I was going to take it's prize and finally grabbed it up and flew off a bit.

I walked over to check out the area and indeed there was another young snake out also but today unlike it's sibling, had a lucky day for it as it was free to move on.

What Will The Groundhog Predict?

Tomorrow is the big day when groundshogs predict whether we have six more weeks of winter or if spring is on the way.  The tradition originated in the Old Word with an ancient celebration of the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox.

Punxsutawney Phil  may be the most well known but locally our groundhog predictor is "Sir Walter Wallie" (a take off on Sir Walter Raleigh) for whom Raleigh is named.  With overcast skies predicted for most of the day tomorrow, bets are he will not see his shadow.

So despite whatever the outcome, mother nature is already showing signs of spring.  The daffodils have begun opening in the yard, azaleas are starting to show tale-tale signs of future blooms  and trees in protected sunny locations are showing signs of coming to life.