Sights and Sounds

A sad sight. Directly across the road from the entrance into my neighborhood, six acres of a refuge for wildlife has been flattened, quickly. Oh how we need another strip mall! I understand that growth has its advantages but I regret that I’ll never see a Loggerhead Shrike there again.

I’d rather believe the trash flew from a refuse vehicle than to blame it on people who don’t care about the landscape. Won’t be long before this parcel of land is flattened just like the photo above, located on the other side of this former country road.

To live on the countryside or in foothills of the mountains sounds divine to me right now. At our age, I wonder if there are assisted living residences tucked away in scenic, natural surroundings. HA! Probably not ;-) My tiny 1/3 acre habitat needs more work. More native plants, flowers, and more bird feeders!

I can recognize birds by sound this year and how they change with the seasons.

Aaaaaack! Belted Kingfishers have reflexes that might drive me to drink. It’s unusual to see her before I hear her mechanical voice. I dream of a nice portrait…

When I listen to my backyard birds, I know who is waiting in the wings.

The feeder King has relaxed. I enjoy the Mockingbird’s voice - a beautiful range of melodies. Still demands to be fed and tends to drive most birds away from his feeder cups, but not as vehemently as before. There is only one other bird who defies him and wins,

I admire this chatty little bird. They make me smile.

Cedar Waxwings have been landing before sunset a few times a week, only for a brief visit and a drink on the pond. I don’t recognize their sound yet.

Red, grumpy-looking old men are loud lately,

and their nags are grumpy, too.

Speaking of grumpy… There was a bird fight low inside the evergreens. A Starling squabble pales in comparison to what I saw. When ten of the terrorists emerged from their battle and perched in a nearby tree to compose themselves, I reacted swiftly by raising Bella’s hula hoop, crashing it against the fence, and sending them on their way. And I growled. I don’t regret it, either.

I’m glad for the sweet-natured.

My scissor-billed White Breasted Nuthatch loves the Zick dough and when it’s gone, he relies on the nuts. He’s a constant visitor and is doing well. A female visited only once…

The Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers always excite me and they know it! I hear his cronk for a while before he arrives. He doesn’t like my hair. It’s too bright, even when I think I’m camouflaged behind the wax myrtle. There’s a dark green hat on my shopping list.


I’m seeing some hints of spring.

It’s only February. The weather changes overnight. There could be ice.

I'm already thinking of hummingbirds…

I'm so glad to end this post. I need some caffeine now. Maybe it's the season, but I just bored myself to tears. Heck, I couldn't even think of a decent title for this post. If you're still here, pour yourself a diet Coke or a cup of coffee. I understand...