Every Fiber of my Being - Cortni Frecha

Friday, May 27, 2011

cardinal nesting

Bird report:
This morning as I gazed out on the pond I saw little ripples indicating somebody dawdling in the front and center. I got binocs and saw three female merganzers (hooded I suspect), one with five babies! Oh so sweet and close to mama, almost on top of her as they all paddled along. I didn’t know they nested here.

The cardinals have a nest in the American Cranberry viburnum beside the front door.

Rebecca and I met this late morning at Sleepy Hollow in Concord and planted geraniums for all the women in our plot. We talked about ways to note other family members. She loves the idea of my finishing Mom’s angel alighting birdbath and putting it there. We also put in a little portulaca. Wouldn’t it be cute if it did well and reseeded around?

Friday, April 15, 2011

more birds

This morning clear and bright, practicing tai chi on the deck. There are tree swallows circling now over the pond. Amazing that the insectivorous birds can get enough food this early. Jet Li the llama seemed interested in my meditative practice and stayed watching near the gate in a comfy lying down spot. Maybe he was just monitoring that I’m up and moving, so when does he get grain?

Thursday, April 14, 2011

bird report as the buds begin to burst

We still have some hooded merganzers and ring-necked ducks on their migrant way north stopping here for a week or two. The Merganzers are early comers, when the ice is not yet out (perhaps two weeks ago now), the ring-necked more recent.
This morning I saw Wood Ducks fly into the pine snag between house and pond, where woodpeckers have nested before. What a gift to have it front and center of our view.
All the usual early spring birds are here: Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles, Mourning Doves. I think I heard a Winter Wren, and would like to hear more. Lots of Rob-bob-bobbins, Cardinal song and happy noises from Nuthatches and Chickadees, Titmice, woodpeckers. I may have heard the Kingfisher, and as I write I think I heard the burr of a warbler. Is it early? Herons are here of course and a few turtles have gotten out to sun on logs on warm days.
We seem to have a good quotient of Hylers this spring, some years they’re a little thin. Always there are more at the east end of the pond.
The phoebe has been here for several days and Bluebirds are around although I don’t see nesting behavior related to any of our boxes. Still to overhung with big trees? We’re still re-opening the meadow for llama graze and Bluebird habitat.
I cut the Syringa tree and one Redbud near the llamas to make room for a new veggie/herb/fruit garden. Still need to stump it and spade before adding compost. We also have a great big oak to take down which provides more shade than veggies will want.
All the hens are laying, from old mama white Silkie to younger Red Pyle Old English bantams and other layers in between: Spitzhauben, Golden Buffs, Araucanas and the goofy barnyard cross (Barred Rock plumage, Araucana ears and beard, Silkie top-puff).

Thursday, July 01, 2010

wildlife sightings today

Driving home from work, I had to brake for a red fox. Time about 6:45pm. A lanky youth by the looks. This was at the conservation/historical area in Lexington near the entrance to Hanscom Field.

Then when I stopped near home at a store, a pair of bluebirds flew right over my car and landed on a railing on the building. And hung around for some minutes looking around (probably for bugs).

Lovely!!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

light returns again with bird report

I can get very excited this time of year, at least for a little while, about the brightness, the longer days. and the energy it brings me. I can already see some buds getting a little fatter. Birds begin to sing a different song: titmice and chickadees notably, sing spring notes that have not been heard for many months.

The white throated sparrow still had his little squeaky “old sam peabody, peabody” in a snow storm or two this year. and a few weeks ago there were a dozen red-winged black birds at my feeder. I thought they left for the winter, but they were unmistakable of course. Half were females, seldom seen in the spring when they busy themselves with domestic topics.

The hens are laying up a storm, but also are antsy to get out and roam as the warming days promise thawed earth for dust bathing and scratching. Hawks notice and visit with fair regularity. We have what I’m becoming more sure is a Cooper’s hawk as well as a red-tail who’re regular customers. the spitzhauben chickens are not as well equipped to see a hawk coming.......

Saturday, May 23, 2009

kentucky warbler

I work at a garden center tucked in between to patches of swamp. Today we had a little warbler inside the store for a while, probably the Kentucky Warbler, lovely simple coloring, black mask but I think the eye was visible unlike the Common Yellowthroat, and there was not the white patterning such as the Yellow-throated Warbler.
Anyway, I finally caught the poor frightened thing by hand and released it to happy freedom.

When I have this sort of close contact with a tiny bird-being I usually feel as though a fairy has been sent to bless my day. How sweet life can be.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Woodcock afternoon

photo from maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com

A lovely warm afternoon, I walked the dogs east along the pond at a leisurely pace. As we advanced into the little vernal puddle in front of the house a woodcock flew up and away northeast into the scrub beyond the vegetable garden. I think I might have seen one thereabouts once before. It was probably getting worms in the thawed ground around the puddly place.

There have been robins around for more than a week, snacking on any left over crab apples and the like. Mine crab trees are long ago depleted. I think I cannot grow too many of those to feed the birds. Also a red-winged blackbird came to the feeder the other day during the snow. Must have been Monday. I keep looking for the winter wren in his spot over by the bridge into the woods across the pond. Perhaps he has a cozy spot for a few months in deep winter, although I must have seen him in late December.

I never did see a red-breasted nuthatch this winter. Sad to say. But knowing one nested here last spring gives me courage that they’re here somewhere. More suet feeders.
The song sparrow and carolina wren have been regular visitors to the feeders this winter. Otherwise nobody too exotic. Not many purple or house finches. Although plenty of goldfinches have been regular.

Should see some diving ducks pretty soon-

Monday, June 30, 2008

bird report 01

Tonight I saw the red-bellied woodpecker pop into a cavity on the pine snag between the house and the pond. I suspect the second nesting. Possibly they’re using the spot the flicker was using earlier this spring. I’ve seen the female hummingbird twice on my Cherry Chief sage. Brought home some slightly old hangers: pink petunias and another which is petunia and dark pink bacopa. They need fertilizer. Trumpet vine is getting ready to pop flowers everywhere. Happy hummers! The female (rose-breasted) gros-beak came to look for seed in my empty feeder yesterday. I’m sad not to feed her, perhaps a baffle to deter the chippies. Heard bluebirds yesterday I think, but was working on something, maybe digging post-holes for the llama chute and so I didn’t stop to look around. Thrushes are singing across the pond mostly. Maybe I’ve heard them since early June. There’s a wood thrush or two and a veery. Yummy.