Author: Rae Spencer

Another Warm Day = Another Walk

Rae SpencerLeave a comment

First Landing Jan 21

Today we walked one of our favorite trails at First Landing State Park.

First Landing Jan 21

Squirrel Jan 21

Egret Jan 21

We heard a report, shortly after arriving, that two Bald Eagles had been spotted there this morning. We missed the eagles, but did see a number of egrets.

Egret Jan 21

Egret Jan 21

Egret Jan 21

As usual, I tried in vain to photograph the trail’s smaller birds. I missed Eastern Bluebirds and Chickadees, White-throated Sparrows and Brown-headed Nuthatches. I missed Pine Warblers and Downy Woodpeckers. The only one I didn’t miss was this wren.

Wren Jan 21

I believe it’s a Carolina Wren, though it was not singing a typical Carolina Wren song.

Wren Jan 21

I’m very curious to hear from more experienced bird watchers. Is this a Carolina Wren? If so, is this a typical call variation?

Now that I’m home and at my computer, I find myself wishing I had stayed out longer. If our forecast holds, the next few days will be too cold for comfort. I will be trapped indoors with a frightening stack of neglected bookkeeping. I might be forced to start another crochet project or organize the archives. Work on an unfinished manuscript. Fake an illness. Anything to avoid starting the taxes…

Too Soon for Spring

Rae Spencer4 Comments

Rose Jan 20

The yard seems blissfully unaware of next week’s weather forecast, which calls for overnight temperatures in the teens and highs barely above freezing.

Pear Tree Jan 20

Perhaps the yard knows more about forecasting weather than our current computer models? The roses, pear tree, and hydrangea have roused from their winter slumber, as have the tulips and hyacinths.

Hydrangea Jan 20

Tulips Jan 20

(This is the same hyacinth that I photographed earlier this month…)

Hyacinth Jan 20

It’s not just the plants. A swarm of hoverflies invaded the yard today.

Hoverfly Jan 20

And the winter flocks of robins have broken up. They chirp testy challenges to each other as they forage, defending larger and larger spheres of territory. Last week, seven or eight birds happily shared the pear tree’s branches. Today, there was only one.

Robin Jan 20

The weeds needed mowing yesterday, which shaved off an entire crop of blooms. A few escaped the mower’s blades, mostly those growing in the iris beds and cactus pots.

Deadnettle Jan 20

Weed Jan 20

While photographing weeds, I noticed the old cactus seems to have produced some kind of seed this year. Would I get a new cactus, if I planted it?

Cactus Jan 20

Finally, I considered washing the windows today, but decided to put it off again. They aren’t completely opaque, yet…

Cat Jan 20

I’ll get to it later this week. Maybe.

Another Walk in the Sun

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Trail Jan 19

More sun today, and much warmer. We chose a new path, one that cuts through a residential area before joining a series of nature reserve trails.

Trail Jan 19

Trail Jan 19

The reserve is heavily managed along these trails. We saw evidence of selective tree removal and a pair of unnaturally straight drainage canals.

Trail Jan 19

The area seemed somewhat barren of wildlife, though I suspect today’s lovely weather had lured heavier traffic to the trails than usual. Perhaps the constant flow of joggers, bicyclists, dog walkers, and groups of hikers contributed to the conspicuous silence from the trees.

Trail Jan 19

Trail Jan 19

We saw a few flocks of chickadees, and plenty of sparrows foraging in the underbrush, but no woodpeckers or warblers, and no waterbirds.

Chickadee Jan 19

Sparrows Jan 19

Back in the car and on our way home, we spotted another hawk hunting in a small field. We turned around again, and once again I wasn’t able to get a very good photo. The hawk was perched just beyond my camera’s comfort zone.

Hawk Jan 19

Each time I get one of these “nearly” photos, it makes me eager to try again. I’m already looking forward to tomorrow’s walk. The forecast calls for one more day of warm sunshine before winter’s next frosty pass.

Trail Jan 19

The Sun Returns

Rae Spencer5 Comments

Red Wing Jan 18

Today’s sun made the air seem warmer than it actually was.

Red Wing Jan 18

Red Wing Jan 18

Red Wing Jan 18

We took a long-ish walk through Red Wing Park, where we heard more birds and animals than we saw.

Red Wing Jan 18

Red Wing Jan 18

Red Wing Jan 18

A cluster of early blooms reminded us that spring isn’t all that far away.

Red Wing Jan 18

Red Wing Jan 18

Red Wing Jan 18

Red Wing Jan 18

I found several sunlit doorways.

Red Wing Jan 18

Red Wing Jan 18

On the way home, we circled a field three times after spotting a pair of hawks. I didn’t get a very good look at them, nor a very good picture. I thought, at first, that they were Cooper’s Hawks, but maybe they were Red-tailed Hawks? Is there a way to tell for certain, using only the information in this picture?

Hawk Jan 18

I’ve really missed the sun, and I hope it decides to stay for a while.

Red Wing Jan 18

Feeder Photos for a Cold, Cold Day

Rae Spencer4 Comments

Dove Jan 17

Today’s rain swirled on a bitterly cold wind. Given the conditions, I can’t blame the birds for seeking an easy source of food.

Sparrow Jan 17

(I would love a little help identifying the sparrow above. Is it a song sparrow?)

Flock Jan 17

I can’t blame the birds because I was seeking my own easy fare. The weather was simply too miserable for a walk, or even for a long stroll around the yard. So I stayed indoors and took photos through the kitchen window.

The doves and robins looked so cold that I wanted to invite them to join me.

Dove Jan 17

Robin Jan 17

The cardinals seemed less affected by the cold.

Cardinal Jan 17

They had more troublesome things on their minds. It started with a small flock of red-winged blackbirds.

Flock Jan 17

Flock Jan 17

Cowbirds appeared next, as if responding to an alert about freshly filled feeders.

Flock Jan 17

Flock Jan 17

Flock Jan 17

The cardinal female tried to claim her share of the seed, but the flock ignored her fretful complaints and fluttering attempts to land among them.

Cardinal Jan 17

Cardinal Jan 17

She even tried eating on the ground, where she was forced to dodge between and around a milling crowd of larger birds.

Cardinal Jan 17

After a few desperate mouthfuls, the cardinal gave up and moved on.

The flock stayed for another half-hour or so, growing more and more nervous as the feeder’s contents dwindled. They stampeded into flight over and over again, then returned for a few more minutes of ravenous feeding.

Flock Jan 17

Flock Jan 17

Flock Jan 17

Finally, there came a time when they burst into the air on a loud flurry of wings and did not return. I saw them twice more, passing overhead as they visited other yards, but they were finished in our yard for the day.

I was puzzled by their retreat, because the feeder wasn’t completely empty. I wondered if they might have seen a hawk or cat, but the only thing left in the yard was this squirrel.

Squirrel Jan 17

Is it possible that they left because of the squirrel?

Squirrel Jan 17

Perhaps they were simply bored, or the feeder ran too low to make their continued efforts worthwhile. Or maybe they tired of my lurking presence in the kitchen window and my clicking, whirring camera…

Flock Jan 17