The Leaving of LIverpool

Well, actually the leaving of Fultonville. 

We did get a hard frost last night, cold enough to leave ice lying around.

The birds are taking it seriously and leaving in droves.

This morning the Red-winged Blackbirds are coursing over like hounds hot on the trail of Hell. There is no looking back, no pause in their travel. Although the individual flocks are small, a dozen here, a hundred there, I would imagine by the time it warms up thousands will have passed over the house.

As the sun rose their red epaulets flashed like stop lights as they flew over the Robins and Cardinals and Blue Jays that are still here.

A few starlings flew up to join their urgent quest, then settled back into the bare ash trees. Not yet. Too lazy. Too content to natter over the pasture, gleaning seeds and insects.

The leaves are living up to their name too

Their path crosses that of westbound geese, evidently still enjoying the river and the freshly harvested corn fields around the area.

I'm not ready for this.......