Growing things

There are many sunflowers growing in the grass at the base of bird feeders in my back yard. I call them "volunteers" because I don't plant them.

After a while, the  petals turn brown and fall off and all that's left is this:

A huge seed head with some of the little bits of flower from the centre left.
Then:

With not much left, the birds have turned to:

The feeder not the giraffes....:) Though the giraffes make good perches while waiting for a spot on the feeder. There are still some smaller sunflowers that are offering seed and it's fun to watch the goldfinches perch on the top and bend over the rim to pluck a seed from the centre of the seedhead... but mostly now they go to the feeder except for the few who prefer their food to be really fresh.

The giraffes by the way were created by Michael Pocock of Clarksburg Ontario, who is a gifted iron and metal sculptor. I couldn't resist them several years ago, and still love having them in my yard - along with the birds of course...

The watchers

With a flurry of wings and spread tail, a blue jay adjusts its position on the feeder that holds the black-oil sunflower seeds. Greedy, it stuffs as many as it can in the pouch behind its beak, and then flies off.

A blue jay called me shortly after dawn this morning as I was out taking pictures of the rising sun. I believe it was reminding me that I had yet to put the feeders out.

Wherever I've lived, jays seem to be quickly aware when there is a sympathetic human around and when food may be available. They have constantly harassed me with screams if I've forgotten to fill a feeder or haven't been quick enough to get feeders removed in the evening to prevent marauding racoons, out in the morning - particularly those cold snowy winter mornings when birds are most often looking for suet.

I love their raucous alerts.

Where I lived before this, they would hang around when I went outside to try to photograph them. But here they are more exposed and fly off if there is movement behind the screen door in the sun room as one fellow euphemistically calls the entrance to my current home. This morning I tried again with the camera after seeing several jays - two in the feeder, one on nearby chairs I'd removed from the deck so the roofers could get to their work this morning, and several on the ground and nearby cedars waiting their turn at filling their gullets.

All this bird activity makes me chuckle. The chickadees and white-breasted nuthatches pay no attention to the jays except they do fly in when the robber-birds start screaming that foods on the table so to speak.

Such a blessing to be able to enjoy Mother Nature's gifts - of all kinds.

The line-up

Every morning I'm wakened by the gentle but insistent woof of my blonde Labrador - Bliss. As soon as I stir, Eleia the calico cat comes bouncing in for a cuddle before I go downstairs to be greeted by the big boys.

It's usually between 6 and 6:30 a.m. this happens. Often I struggle to wake if I've been up reading or writing late the night before. Eleia makes sure that I respond to the call though if she's inside. Often she's slipped out through the screen that she has cleverly torn off the window ledge to give her freedom.

This morning was one of those mornings. But Christopher was on the bed and licking my fingers was his cue that I really should get moving, he was hungry.

But first things first. Dog Invisible Fence collars had to go on, then birds had to be fed. I don't leave the feeders out over night any longer since raccoons seem to know and raid them, often breaking them in the process of lifting them off the hook or limb and dropping them on the ground.

So this morning I sat outside on the deck with my coffee, dogs having been fed and watched the lineup at the one feeder closest to the wee church. There were two male purple finches - scarlet in the morning sun rather than rosy. A female purple finch waiting her turn, several redwings flew over to the larger feeder on the other side of the yard along the treeline. That gang includes grackles and most often mourning doves.

Not this morning. A mourning dove landed on top of the little arch leading out to the lower west garden much to my surprise and as you can see a couple of house sparrows took over where the finches had left off. An American goldfinch arrived and then one of the four male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks that hang around. He began eating greedily.

Then I heard a soft cry. Looking around I saw a smaller female grosbeak fluttering her wings and tail feathers, a sure sign that she was a baby and needed feeding. Or else it's mating season and Mrs. Grosbeak wants some courting. She retreated to the nearby blue spruce. (I'll have to take field glasses and see if there is a nest.) Mr. quickly followed her.

It was a busy morning at the diner. I don't often take time to go and watch the line-up but I think I will for the next while. As I was enjoying coffee, bird song, and the show, I was dive-bombed by a series of tree and barn swallows.

Later heading out into the pasture for the first doggy walk of the day - 15 tree swallows were on the hydro wire that crosses the road. I ran back for my camera - what a site - all fledglings I assume since three of the next boxes in the past couple of days have been suddenly silent as I walk past. The barn swallows too have fledged - there are two nests inside the drive shed and the adults become very irate if I walk in to get some garden tools or put something away.

So the dogs and I followed the neatly mown pathways (not my work but a neighbour's son who kindly helped out recently) and then of course they became silly.

Most often they roll at least once or twice in the tall grass of the pasture, (in winter its the snow that they love to roll in and Spirit will snorkle along for the longest time). This time they couldn't resist the dewy grass of the path. If I could have gotten closer you would have seen the grins on their faces. 

And so it was a great start to the day.

Hopefully it will end well - though they (the forecasters that is) are calling for thunderstorms - wherein both dogs will got outside and bark like fury.

But last night we were treated to a brilliant apricot sky and bit of flame as the sun set. Perhaps your day will end like this tonight

Up close and very personal

A couple of days ago I was at my pottery class and yesterday posted photographs mostly of cardinals.

But there were other birds visiting all the feeders at my teacher and mentor's home. This feeder is fascinating - it sticks to the window - and as the birds become used to you on the other side of the glass - they learn to ignore you.

Brilliant I thought. I'm going looking for one.


Here is that wee house finch - head on, ignoring me completely.

As well as this fellow there were chickadees and even the cardinals trying to grab seeds from this feeder. Interesting that even a blue jay would tackle it. Much too big, but it tried. Apparently the house finch will sit inside the enclosure as if it's home. You have to chuckle at that.

We also saw a flock of starlings, not a usual sight in this village in mid-January - usually one or two - but they were scrambling for seed as well. It was hard to get much pottery done that day, I was so busy with my camera and also with just watching. Birds can be so fascinating. Enjoy your day and may you see something worth spending time watching as well.

Looking out the window

Looking through the glass doors that open onto the garden, at pottery.

Yesterday I saw a cardinal at my feeder early in the morning. I was late getting to my camera and so never captured a photograph.

I know that cardinals are more plentiful in towns and villages so I hoped/wished that I would see them when I went to my pottery class yesterday afternoon. I took my camera with the idea that I might get at least one interesting photograph since my pottery teacher loves birds as much as I do. She has feeders set up in her back yard on a wonderful arbour that grows grapes in the spring, as well as in other places close to the arbour.

The first thing I noticed was one of my favourite birds trying to get a peanut out of the feeder - the upside down abilities of nuthatches white and red breasted - is to my mind one of the most endearing. Their clown-like activities up and down trees, feeders the sides of houses and barns is definitely smile and happy-making.

And then we saw one bright red splash - crimson - glowing in the pale sunlight. A male cardinal came close to the glass doors.

It suddenly seemed as if this bird sent out the call - "Seeds here - lots of seeds here." One more male cardinal and a female arrived.

Can you see missus, cleverly hiding in the tree just below the male?

And more - we counted up to a dozen at one point. And I spent more time with my camera than I did with pottery for a while. But I've promised to paint cardinals for my teacher... I will love doing that. Enjoy these photos - some a bit blurry from being taken through glass... and then enlarged but lovely I think, just the same. And think about this - once again I wished to see a cardinal to photograph... hmmm?

Missus C and a mourning dove in a tray feeder made from an orange crate - clever this!

How many can you see? Wasn't this a treat? And boy oh boy did I ever get what I wished for. Makes me feel very blessed. May you be blessed with receiving something you wish for today.

There's something about early mornings...

Almost always, the dogs or one of the cats wake me just before it gets light. I turn on some outdoor lights and one indoor light and let them out, then go to make much needed coffee.

Shortly after, I join the dogs outside, after pulling on my boots and an old down jacket that is mended with duct tape the cloth is so thin. We wander around the house filling the feeders while light begins to show in the east. I often hear the delighted "dee dee" of my tiny feathered friends who are usually first to have breakfast.

This morning there was the sound of mourning dove wings, they make a joyful whirring sound as they find a place closer to a feeder where they know I'll be dropping seeds on the ground for them. They sometimes line up on a branch, or an overhead wire, watching the proceedings carefully. And wait until I go back inside before they land for their first meal of the day.

Somehow the snow that arrived the day after Boxing Day still clings to the trees, my car, which must be brushed off today and all the shrubs and the deck. We'll be busy this morning. But while I'm outside at this early hour, I enjoy the silence of a weekend morning. There's something about early mornings that I love. Is it the stillness? The sense that I'm at one with the world when there are no cars racing by, off to work or coming home from?

The only sounds I usually here are birds sounds, or a lone car or truck struggling up the hill, yesterday it was one loaded with two huge trailers-full of logs - headed for the local logging outlet I suppose. Often I a raven or two calls greetings as it flies past over the fields next door.

It's a magical time, and occasionally, though not a lot recently I'm rewarded with the most amazing colours as the sun creeps above the horizon and gives the illusion of fire and warmth. So lucky! I am so truly blessed to be able to experience these special moments - dogs rolling in snow, tiny birds calling to one another then cracking open a seed on a branch, sometimes feeling snow or rain on my face. All amazing, magical and wonderful.

May you have an awesome weekend, as we move towards the new year.

 

After Christmas, before New Year's Day

All around the wee church is a deep drifted blanket of snow at 7 this morning. The wind is just high enough to blow snow off the roof and onto the car, and fill in the front stoop.

The dogs are in heaven. They believe, I'm sure, that snow is God's creation just for them. They snorkle through it, investigate overnight visitors' scent and smells and roll around as if in ecstasy. Well perhaps it really is ecstasy for them. I will enjoy it later when I'm well dressed for it, but it wasn't too cold when we went out to fill the feeder and pour seed onto the deck and under the trees.

We won't be going much further today - snow still coming down and it looks as if it will be so all day long. I will be enjoying the remains of turkey and treats from an incredibly bountiful Christmas day spent with my sons and dogs up in Muskoka. We had a peaceful time, a warm and loving visit. We enjoyed walking with the dogs in the bush, watching a deer bound away in the opposite direction from the one the dogs had chosen to inspect, slipping through the trees and snowy hillocks, as the dogs raced over a hill an eventually returned panting and smiling.

Today I will begin my pledge to myself to resume writing daily, either the blog, the books, a journal. I will also read some books that have been sitting on my shelves, never opened by me.  A book with an inscription on the flyleaf dated 1923 - to my mother, a gift from her friend Helen. Fairy stories and myths from around the world, it's oldness catches my attention. As does that of another book Wood's Popular Natural History, a gold embossed cover with a bear imprinted in gold and black, caribou and whales, birds, flies and butterflies and a hugely horned wild plunging sheep...Inside this flyleaf it reads in very explicit and careful handwriting  "David H. Boddington's Book: Given him by his Father, July 19th 1893." What? I've never looked inside either of these books before. David Boddington was my grandfather, a gentle man who loved nature. I will really enjoy both these books and will describe them later. that is if you're as curious as I am.

In this photo the dogs check out sounds earlier.

They've been outside frequently since, loving what this morning is bringing.






Me? I'm still in my pajamas. I'm loving the morning as well.

And so the mourning doves join the sparrows on the deck, a first. The cardinal was in earlier to choose a few select seeds. Jays have feasted at another feeder, as have finches, nuthatches and the cheerful chickadees.
May you have a wonderful day today, in between the two big end/beginning of season celebrations. May your day and the rest of this year be filled with things, people and experiences that you love or enjoy (hopefully both). And I hope too that you head into a new year filled with excitement, anticipation and a sense of fun and adventure.

Breakfast time or is it day-long brunch?

As I look out to the deck this morning to see what visitors are nearby, this female hairy woodpecker completely ignores me as she buries a seed in the bark.

The tree - a Siberian elm that I allowed to grow from its hedge form to replace an American elm, is obviously dying. It will go in the spring. It's roots have invaded my septic system for one thing, but more important the birds have been using it as storage and have hastened its decline.


However breakfast time seems to be now brunch - birds don't come out of that semi-hibernative state they go into overnight when it's cold. It's closer to 9:30 when the birds hit the feeders, rather than dawn. And I've been so fortunate to see so many around despite the rainy/snowy weather.

My first post on my return to writing this blog was about wishing for snow - well it came true. That night it surprised me with about an inch of wet snow. Then last night more snow, just a touch, but a bit of white to promise a white Christmas. Yesterday it rained and snowed most of the day, but I counted more than 30 American goldfinches either on the deck or in the trees and shrubs nearby. Regular visitors throughout the day are the three pairs of hairy woodpeckers, the many bluejays - I think there are at least four in residence in the blue spruce, and several nuthatches. Downie woodpeckers chased each other on the wall of the drive shed yesterday, seeking more spots to put seeds I assume. They've drilled holes in the north side and I suspect that the south is about to get its turn.

With five feeders out, they are all well attended. Several house sparrows - I counted 25 and gave up as they flitted around - have made homes in the cedar hedge in front and the junipers. Bliss delights in chasing them from tree to shrub to bush and back to tree - it's a game that the birds seem to get as well. Chickadees wait for him to show up underneath their tree and lead him a merry chase.

There have been white crowned sparrows, juncos and American tree sparrows, a family of red-bellied woodpeckers who come in separately, and to my utter delight - a beautiful bright red male cardinal.

Sometimes brunch runs all day long - but by 3:30 or so, all except one or three of the myriad chickadees have gone to find a warm place to sleep. Truly a bird-watcher/lover's paradise. I am so blessed. Hope you enjoy something special today.

The female hairy woodpecker buries another seed, and a blue jay watches from the feeder in the archway. You can easily see that the suet blocks in the little red holder are being devoured. And the birds have taken most of the sunflower seeds on the rail. Enjoy your day!

Early morning breakfast at home

It's snowing, well sort of snowing.  It's way too mild for real snow so it's mixed with rain - a combination that's deadly on the roads. I think I'll stay off them today.

I can't help noticing all the action outside my deck door and windows.

The birds are obviously glad that my feeders are full on all sides of the house.

Mostly goldfinches and their cohorts, house and purple finches. But I've spotted some pine siskins as well as the other regulars, chickadees and white breasted nuthatches, woodpeckers, mourning doves and blue jays.

Birds squabble over perches on a silo hanging feeder, some are more "polite" and wait on the rail.






And then there is  the feeder attached to my weeping birch... more little birds and bigger ones too - the constant flutter is almost audible through the closed window.

The snow continues, but goes back and forth between rain, sleet and actual snow. The birds continue to flock and suddenly disappear, then return in twos and threes, only to flutter away again. Is my friend the sharp-shinned hawk hovering nearby I wonder?

It's a busy morning outside my home this day.

Some time in the future I'll learn how to take a movie with my camera and post it - the activity, the noise of little wings, the continual calling back and forth is completely delightful and I'd love to share it. It reminds me that whatever my worries or concerns, life on this planet outside of human activity, continues at its own pace. Seems to me it's just fine today to become engrossed in all these happenings outside my home and enjoy the gift - abundance in nature.