Peace

[pjthompson]

These guys have been at the bird feeder all week.

They have one of the strangest calls I’ve ever heard: like a baby dragon. Or a hawk on acid.

It’s quite unnerved the wild finches, sparrows, et al. All the little birds have kept away from the feeders since they’ve been around. I have to think it’s that call that’s frightening them—too much like the hawk, I suspect. But no worries because these blackbirds are seed eaters.

They come up from the marshland less than a half-mile from our house, but I’ve never seen them here before. Quite a wonderful surprise to look out the window and see those yellow heads.

The beautiful singer from last year has returned, too.

The peach tree is absolutely laden with fruit, fecund branches hanging so heavy I’ve had to prop them up with a ladder. We’ll be having peach cobbler very soon now. The entire neighborhood is tingling with anticipation.

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Comments

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

The river marshes behind my apartment in Ohio were full of redwing and yellow headed blackbirds. The redwings are much more melodic and I loved listening to them, especially early in the morning.

Birds are the main thing I miss from Ohio. This is a totally urban area and all I have here are ring necked doves, an occasional English sparrow, hordes of grackles and big, black vultures.

I miss birds, alas.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

I love birds, too, and the nearness of the marshlands mean we get a good variety. The redwing blackbirds have been and gone for the season already, on their way back north.

[bogwitch64.livejournal.com]

How beautiful!!! I want to sit by your bird feeder for a while.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

It's constantly fascinating. The crow boys alone are a great show, but we get all these other treats, too.

[bogwitch64.livejournal.com]

I feed the crows every day. I love to see them waiting for me, and their great black bodies swoop down from the trees to quork their thanks. LOVE!!

The other day, I heard them making a ruckus out back, and looked out to see a gorgeous turkey vulture at their treats! They were hopping mad, but the magnificient matron just kept eating the fish I'd left out, totally ignoring them.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cabezaprieta.org/images/hedrick/turkey_vulture_2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://cabezaprieta.org/bird_page.php%3Fid%3D1690&usg=___JQ5fQvW3c6QMAQA84EcHS-sEtk=&h=450&w=378&sz=26&hl=en&start=7&zoom=1&tbnid=6kh2yBE0aBjkrM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=107&ei=dMG1TevlBtC20QGwqLmuCQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dturkey%2Bvulture%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know! The boys wait every evening for me to put out table scraps and every morning for peanuts and our pet starling's reject mealy worms. (She's a princess, can't be bother with anything less than prime.) If I'm running a little late, one cheeky devil sits on the roof overhang on the front porch, leaning over and looking in the window to ball me out.

Sometimes we get a hilarious game of predator tag between the kestrel hawk and the crows. They're about the same size so frequently the kestrel will chase one for awhile, then the crow turns and chases the kestrel. I suppose it wouldn't be so funny if anyone actually caught anyone, but neither side ever seems to.

There are a couple of squirrels who take peanuts from my hand, too. One of them was in the bougainvillea the other morning barking up a storm. I went out there and said, "What's your problem?" He rang down the vine until he was at eye level and held out his hand. So of course I gave him a peanut. No more barking after that.

[bogwitch64.livejournal.com]

I want squirrels to take peanuts from my hand!!! That's so cute.

One morning, I (heavens to mergatroid!) forgot to put out my daily offering to my crow overlords. I was up at my computer, writing, when all of a sudden I heard the loudest squawking and quorking I've ever heard. I came downstairs to see if there was a crow vs. seagull war going on in my yard, only to find a row of fine fat crows standing along the perimiter of my patio, scolding me for having forgotten them! It was hilarious. I'd never been balled out by crows before.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

I want squirrels to take peanuts from my hand!!! That's so cute.

The little gubbers get pretty bold if you feed them every day. If they don't run away, just talk gooey talk and hold out the peanuts and they might get bold enough to do it.

It was hilarious. I'd never been balled out by crows before.

They're such hilarious guys!

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

That turkey hawk is very imposing, btw. I'm sure the crows wouldn't be quite as cavalier if she showed up.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Part of its call sounds like the notes you get when you dial a number that's out of service. And how bright and dramatic it is! We don't get them here, I don't think--I've never seen one.

We had this little guy today:



A yellow-rumped warbler--common, they say, but I've never seen one before. It's pretty, isn't it?

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

That is a pretty fellow!

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

He's cute, isn't he?

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Very pretty. And I think the yellow heads are a western range bird. They're supposed to be common, too, but I'd never seen one until this week. Their call sometimes goes off into even madder territory. I thought a miniature donkey must be up in the tree at times.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

What a pretty bird.

And peaches! Already!!!! Wow. Enjoy a heaping helping of cobbler for me.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

The peach tree started blooming early in January! It's loved all the rain we've had. My mouth is watering already.

[marycatelli]

Ah, spring, roaring right along.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Yes--bursting forth.