Friday, April 19, 2013

Bird Sightings

This week a set of binoculars and a copy of the Audubon Society's Field Guide to North American Birds (the Eastern Region) has been added to the kitchen windowsill.  This being the ideal place because of the suet cages and peanut feeder that hang from a shepherd's crook outside the kitchen window.  The feeders have had many visitors this week in addition to the birds that we've been seeing collecting bits of things for their nests.  My bird sighting time is usually during morning dishes.  I'll wash a few mugs, then grab the field guide to look up my latest sighting.  There's just something about the discovery of the name of a creature that is very satisfying.  And if I can't locate a bird in the guide, I pass the book to Eagle-Eye Eli whose eye for detail can easily spot what I'm looking for.

This week's bird sightings:
* Black-Capped Chickadees (singing to me as I pruned the lilac bush)
* Mr. and Mrs. Tufted Titmouse (their eyes remind me of those of mice)
* Starlings (their iridescent feathers caught in the sunlight are striking)
* Mr. and Mrs. Downy Woodpecker (so sweet hanging upside down picking at the peanuts)
* Mourning Doves (gathering straw for nest building)
* White-breasted Nuthatch (one of my favorites - so elegant)
* Robin (a rather plump one sitting in a fruit tree next to the barn)
* A gorgeous Red-Tailed Hawk (soaring above our neighbor's field)

1 comment:

La Tea Dah said...

You have an impressive bird list for this week! Birds are such precious little friends!