Although it has been a frantic week for farming, chores are taking at least an extra hour twice a day because of new mothers and babies, it has been a magical week for birds.
This time of year they are not all spaced out making nests and raising chicks and they have time to come close to us and hang around. I was at the kitchen table with the girls the other day and heard geese low and urgent. Although I skipped grabbing the camera and wished I had, I got to enjoy a moment of amazing beauty as waves of them raced south right over my head as I stood on the porch.
They were so low I could see the webbing on their feet tucked up against their belly feathers. There is something mysterious about a Canada goose bent on business, even if they do spend a lot of their time making messes and raiding corn fields.
The little chickadees have kicked the tameness up a notch, what with the darned Sassenachs stealing all the sunflower seeds. When I step outside and the feeder is empty they swirl around me in a cloud of hungry. Even the goldfinches seem extra friendly, maybe because of the cold.
And I swear I heard and saw a pair of fish crows yesterday. They flew over the barnyard heading north and cawing in the weirdest high-pitched voice. Certainly didn't sound like regular crows at all. If I was positive they sure would be a nice addition to my little bird count.
At any rate it is nice to have the birds around to lighten up the atmosphere, what with cold and mud and extra barn work. And the price for enjoying them is certainly right.
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4 comments:
Wow. Wow. Wow.
That picture. The contrast in textures.
Ice and Feather.
And I'll be you knew this - I surely didn't . .(or if I did - I've already forgotten:)
Fish crows in NY . . close to you. Isn't that something.
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/fish-crow/
Love our birds! Glad I get a chance every winter to enjoy yours. :)
I love how you love your birds and the way you have of conveying your love for them. Thanks for another delightful post.
Cathy, thanks, it was just there in the driveway.... As to the fish crows, they do occur here and probably that is what was flying over. the caws were very distinctly different from normal crows. I won't count them without confirmation though, alas.
Dani, I am so thankful that you host them in such comfort every winter...but I miss them
WW, thank you, I enjoy them so much.
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