Whenever we amass any stale bread or crackers, we save it, put it beside the door and I take it out for the birds. I try to break the pieces as best I can so the small birds can peck away, but the primary partakers are my three crows. They fly by most every morning to see if there any extra morsels. Crows like the larger pieces of bread, but they don’t eat them whole. Rather, they fly … [Read more...]
My Flock of Sparrows
Often, when I go to the back of yard to scatter seed, any birds there will dart off to the shrubs and branches, returning only when I leave. The other day, I noticed a small flock of birds actually flying my way when I opened the seed can. It was my small flock of song sparrows. They flew to within about 10 feet, beneath the forsythia branches, and waited because they have come to know … [Read more...]
Bluebird Happenings
For the first time in recent memory, I have two pairs of bluebirds in my yard. They seemingly get along fine – now. But come spring and nesting time, the feathers will fly. One of the pairs – I think the birds that raised a brood in my yard last summer – inspects the bluebird house on the fence every single day. The male will fly to the hole, peek in, occasionally go inside and turn … [Read more...]
A Cedar Waxwing Visit
We had an unexpected Cedar Waxwing visit over the Thanksgiving holidays. We heard a distinct “thump” at the dining room window, and when my son-in-law, Brent, went out to investigate, he found a small, stunned cedar waxwing under concussion protocol. He held the small fellow in his hand for several minutes until it regained its senses and then flew up to the treetops to connect with his … [Read more...]
Return of the Snowbirds
It hasn’t snowed yet, but my snowbirds are back. About 2 weeks ago, when the thermometer plunged to 20 degrees, they found their way to my backyard – where they belong. The friendly little songbirds had been missing in action since March, when things started to warm. Then, they headed for Canada to spend the summer. Now they have returned. Snowbirds, officially known as Dark-Eyed … [Read more...]
Swimming With The Fishes
Nancy and I were having breakfast in the cafe, with the ship docked just off the coast of Kona. About 500 yards from the ship, I saw a school of tuna chasing baitfish off the port side. It was hard to judge, but they appeared to be 30 or 40 pound yellowfin tuna. While a tuna will eat a ten pound bluefish, a whale will eat a 50 pound tuna like we would munch on a pretzel. I has hoped … [Read more...]
Whitey The Goldfish
Most goldfish, I suppose, are gold. That’s how they got their names, but we have a goldfish who apparently wasn’t happy with his birth-color and has decided to turn white. We call him (ta-dah) Whitey. Whitey and his seven friends are rescue goldfish. Let me explain. About three years ago, I went on an early spring crappie fishing trip to Lake Orange and stopped at a bait shop … [Read more...]
Harry The Heron
Tim and I were fishing on a pier in Urbanna Creek. Nothing was biting, but we continued casting, hoping a striper or trout would pass by. Suddenly, a Great Blue Heron flew towards us and landed on the pier about 10 feet away. I figured he hadn’t seen me, and would soon fly off, but I was wrong. He did see me and walked close enough that I could have patted him on the … [Read more...]
Tiny Little Titmice
I hadn’t seen my resident pair of titmice in several weeks – I even commented to my wife Nancy that they were missing in action. The very next evening while I was smoking a cigar on the back patio and watching my birds, they flew to the feeder. Two lovely, dainty titmice. They must have known I had missed them. The official name, Tufted Titmouse, is quite a mouthful for such a small … [Read more...]
My Friends: The Flickers
I saw a pair as I pulled in the driveway this week. They were Northern Flickers. I could tell by the white patches on their rumps as they flew away. Flickers are easily the most beautiful birds that grace my yard. Their plumage is complex and spectacular with a black “necklace” above their speckled breast, a red spot on the nape of the neck and a black moustache. A special few times they have … [Read more...]
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