Today winter finally showed it’s face. For the last three years it has been relatively mild here in the Midwest – it was in the 50s at Christmas. But today…its here.
Looking at my bird feeders, it looks to be about 5 inches…so far and supposed to snow all day. It is a wet heavy snow with temps at 33 but when that artic air comes in later today, the temps will plummet to single digits. The snow will become dry and powdery and a hazard to those who have to be out in it because we are expecting 20 sustained winds – 40 gusts.
But for now, lets enjoy the beauty of it.
Birds always gotta eat. The cardinal guarding the small feeder.
Love my mourning doves. So for now Daisy and I sit and watch…and think about the huge task at hand. Gotta get the rest of Christmas down…there is a lot! But what fun it was.
Have a great week, stay warm if needed or enjoy you summer conditions while we relax by the fire. And as always, remember to be kind, its a lot easier than you think and twice as rewarding to you.
While Goldfinches do not mate for life, they do stay within their flock and remain as pairs for a season.
While I do not have the equipment for amazing shots like Nat Geo, I do enjoy sharing what I can. I assume this is the same pair that frequents my sunflowers but if it’s more than one pair, then I am doubly blessed.
The male is striking but very bashful or more cautious that the female.
The beauty of nature that God shares with us should always be appreciated. It gives us a glimpse of the beauty of Heaven. So watch for it and share it with others. And always be kind – that has a beauty all its own.
I am always amazed at the types of flying visitors that visit my yard and the flowers that I plant. I think I am most amazed at how many house flies seem to like flowers…at least I think they are house flies. I looked up flies and was amazed and the number of types of this little pest. I think that is why this one visitor is there…waiting on a fly to land so he gets a meal…
But the flies seem persistent with their blue-green color. When I was a kid we had a name for these but being online, we don’t want to use that kind of language, but I think you get my drift.
But we also have many types of bees that come visit, bumble bees, honey bees, and some type of tiny bee. This sunflower has a small bumble bee and one of the tiny type bees. This little guy’s legs are covered with pollen crystals.
Then we have the flying creatures that always bring about a smile…
Goldfinches are loving my sunflowers this year and then the Mourning Doves are always stopping by the feeder. Having a pair that visit you regularly is a sign of Love Peace and Hope. I am always up for those feelings.
Other visitors are around as well…
The nature that is close by in our yards should be enjoyed and not forgotten about for their presence is what makes our gardens flourish.
And as always, I remind you to be kind. Let it flourish from you as well and see the vast difference it can make.
There are many reasons people choose certain flowers for their yard; their color, the way they bloom, or maybe their fragrance.
For me, a large component is what they bring to the yard. Some of my flowers bring butterflies and some bring in certain birds. It has been two years since I have seen the goldfinch come to my yard, but they are enjoying the sunflowers.
I had a pair today, male and female, both very interested in the sunflower blooms. They were beautiful but very skittish. I was not able to get a good close shot but wanted to share their beautiful yellow color.
Now my sunflowers…well, they had a rough start. First, they were planted by the birds from last year’s flowers. While this particular flower is standing about five feet tall…it has a good two feet crawling on the ground where the drought, heat, and a dog trampling through them when they were young plants that affected their full potential. Yet they are still beautiful. Nature’s resilience is always amazing.
Hopefully, we can all understand nature’s strength and resilience and use that knowledge to make this a better world – maybe a little kinder.
Who doesn’t love a baby…well some critters I don’t care for but spring always brings out the babies we (generally) love to see. Like mamma Robin and her baby…
Then in the community garden at the church we have baby rabbits. While they can be a pest and did eat my string beans…🥺, they are still so cute. I just replanted and added marigolds to help run them off from tender shoots.
Spring is a time when we bird watchers get excited about all the new life we see at the feeders. Their colors are so bright and they are very talkative.
Spring helps us relax from winter doldrums and get ready to smile and breathe in the fresh air (after I take an allergy pill) and enjoy new life for another season.
As you enjoy the sights you see of spring, remember to always be kind. Even the animals understand what kindness is.
Linda Hill challenges us on SOCS this week with Wild Animals. Well, technically these are wild but…they were too comical with how they had tied in with humans. The animals I am referring to…the California Sealions at San Francisco. They had commandeered the marina at Pier 39. My daughter and I spent 5 days in San Francisco and the seals were visited daily. Very entertaining.
They reminded me of my daughter’s basset hound where they would bellow and make lots of noise but would not bother sit up.
The wetter seal just came on the dock disturbing those already sleeping causing much bellowing but nobody really get up.
Occasionally you would have a faceoff of two males proving who was the “baddest”. There would be noise, huffing and puffing, and the occasional snapping about…
But then after sufficient noise, they would all lay back down and go to sleep, usually with a head laid across the other. Maybe man should take notice of how seals settle their arguments, ending in peaceful slumber.
The most comical wild animal at the pier was actually a seagull. I was kind of amazed of how much trash was around the area and in the water, especially when they speak of the damage the humans are making by throwing debris into the oceans. But back to the seagull…someone had thrown a small rubber ball in the water and the gull was having a blast. There were about 15 humans being fully entertained by this bird. He would take the ball, throw it in the air, watch it bounce, and then chase it to throw it again.
Sometimes he would throw it in the water and then go after it, bringing it back onto the dock.
It was all very entertaining watching the “wild animals” at Pier 39. But it gave me pause to see how easily animals and humans interacted with each other creating joy or sorrow at the same time. We all need to be more mindful of God’s creation.
I close with a reminder on the value of kindness and that it doesn’t always have to be towards humans. All of creation needs to be dealt with kindly in every way that makes sense. And in my mind, Kindness always makes sense.
Animals understand kindness as well. Always be kind
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge fits right in with my yard this week…birds. I have learned a lot about birds this year as in the birds you wants verses the birds you get. There are two major things that dictate that, the type of food and the type of feeder. Some of these pics are repeats but they tell and explain the reason for their repeat.
Platform feeder with red house finches
This feeder above had belong to my sister so it has sentimental value as well as interesting feeder options. The platform feeder draw those birds who usually feed on the ground.
George and Chippy…again
I enjoy the mourning doves but not so much the chipmunks. Also a big fan of the platform feeders are sparrows. Since they are also ground feeder, they love the platform feeders as well. What a lot of amateurs’ like me don’t understand is that sparrows, while they are cute, they are take over birds, meaning they run everyone else off with their sizable gathering. So I changed feeder types…
Dummy!!
But I didn’t read the fine print of my research. To distract sparrows, you need tube feeders with less perching options. Then maybe they won’t end up inside the feeder. Silly bird. Food type is also important. Your basic mixed bird food also draws in other non-bird feeders to you station.
So I learned that squirrels don’t like safflower seeds and other birds do, so we swapped to that and at least eliminated that particular pest problem. Now to be rid of sparrow problem or at lease tone them down. Switch to thistle seed. This seed is a favorite for finches, juncos and chickadees. The seed stackers are also an option and they come in “hot” flavors to distract squirrels.
So the drawing paper is out for new yard design for next spring to add in other types of feeders while still allowing the sparrows to come play. The air is cooling (finally) so the thistle seed will come out as it adds for the energy nutrients needed for cooler weather. When it really gets cold, we will add out the suet feeders with the extra fat needed for warmth.
But we cant leave our bird story until we also show our zippy friend…
Best feeder
Of all the hummingbird feeder I have tried, I like this one the best. I have one at the house as well as at the church. So regardless of the birds you enjoy watching, remember they are also a gift of creation, so remember to always be kind to all kinds.
We all know this is a fact that the animal kingdom is always in self preservation mode from predators or from “friends of like kind” who want what they have. Greed knows no limits of creature types. Today we are talking about a few creatures that came across my path this week. I am choosing to highlight their paths of possible doom to highlight that kindness can stretch across all specie types. While I don’t have a picture of doomed fate of this butterfly, I did manage to save it from drowning in the birdbath.
His wings stuck together due to be so saturated
After a couple of hours in the sun, he was able to completely dry and fly off to his next error of judgement for his very short life.
I work part time at my church answering the phone so of course I set up bird feeders outside my window. I have share many photos of the antics the birds, squirrels and rabbits do there. They do keep us entertained. But yesterday…well, I am not sure what to say or be able explain how this happened, However, my gut tells me somehow there was a squirrel involved.
He was quite terrified as I approached to release him from his trap but finally I was able to turn the feeder upside down and he scrambled under a bush. Twenty minutes later, with a full feeder, they were all back eating. I am sure he was part of the group.
Now this next creature was not so fortunate in getting rescued as this stairwell of the church is seldom used but alas somehow he managed to get inside of it and find no way out.
Bats really are quite interesting creatures and watching the Zoo shows on TV, it reminds us they are vital to our environment. They eat lots of skeeters. We hope we don’t have bats again in the bellfry of the church. Not a fun thing to deal with.
The last creature, the tiniest of the creatures, is the winner of the fight. After an extended fight over who owned the feeder, there was a clear winner.
See the mark on his chest?
Maybe that is just under plumage but it looked to be missing feathers. Seems the same bird is clearly marking this as his for the better part of the week.
There are so many wonderful things going on around us in nature. You just need to open you eyes to see them. Embrace the beauty you see, help when help is needed and always be kind.
Today was a day of much needed rain, a good slow soaker. So not much activity at the feeder. But yesterday…
Hello. I am Harry Hummer. I am resting on the peanut feeder keeping guard over “My” feeder
But there was another visitor to the sugar water feeder…
Crafty little creature, Little George.
I could not figure out why he chose to be there, so I did a little research on what mantis eat. This must be the season they are really coming out or maybe they are just extra hungry. Below is a big one that visited the church.
Big George
My research tells me they eat all kinds of insects, grubs and even the occasional small bird. Small bird…a hummer is a small bird. Well maybe Big George, but surely not Littler George. Still I am not taking chances.
Little George getting more into attack position
Research said they eat things bigger than themselves….okay, not having that. So I went outside and shooed him off. I didn’t hurt him, just made him leave that spot. I enjoy my hummers way more than any bug.
I close with a reminder to always being kind. Even a smile can take the hardness out of someone’s day.
Nature creates blooms from huge to tinyNature displays objects from elegant to craftyNature shows seasons of growth, change and rest
Nature is a gift from God for us to enjoy each day as we open our eyes to see the beauty that is in front of us, regardless of the season. We people have a nature and the strongest component is kindness.
For the Love of 