Breakfast Blind

I can't imagine a better bird blind than our kitchen window.  From the warmth of our breakfast table on a cold winter morning, our attention is drawn to dark silhouettes against the sky in synchronized flight, darting and pivoting together as if connected by invisible strands.  Cedar Waxwings swoop our way and line up, briefly, on a supplejack vine over our bird feeder.

These sleek birds must have just picked up their jackets at the cleaner's; not a feather is out of place, and in their early morning flight, they dipped each wingtip and tail in the waxy glow of sunrise.

They leave as quickly as they came, and the others replace them, nuthatches and goldfinches, tufted titmice, chickadees, cardinals, and downy woodpeckers.  They come for the sunflower seeds, and on frozen mornings, a mix of peanut butter with oatmeal and seeds and raisins.  How could they resist?

At the piercing cry of a Red-shouldered Hawk the small birds scatter, but moments later, we discover that it is only a Blue Jay doing his best hawk imitation.  He raids the feeder, gulping one sunflower seed after another in swift succession, lifting his head after each swallow.  Don, who's fond of counting things, established that this one broke the old record for sunflower seeds consumed at one sitting, which was 50, with a whopping 76 seeds.  It's a wonder he was able to lift off.

Our breakfast is finished and the day's work is ahead of us, but there's nothing like starting the day with an arial display.

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday
and Saturday's Critters

Swing Shift

The sun's almost up over the hill, 

and four young raccoons, their shift nearly over, forage under the bird feeder, 

their busy legs still wet from a romp in the birdbath. 

They look straight ahead, 

their small hands in constant motion as they grope for another morsel, 

a black oil sunflower seed that the birds left behind.

A slight disturbance sends them scrambling up the nearest tree, 

before they reverse their direction and run for the shelter of the woods.

The sun is up, the night crew gone, and the day crew has started their shift.

Linking with Camera Critters
and Weekly Top Shot

Spring Gold

After a colorless winter,

 the earth heaves a sigh of relief;

  its breath rustles feathers, spins wildflowers into a dance, and stirs the dogwoods.

A chickadee examines a home in the dogwood tree;

  What could be nicer than a curtain of lacy white?

Gold finches, so drab in the winter,

have put their down jackets in mothballs,

 and now bid for attention as the males molt into their breeding colors...

and animate the forest with their brilliance.

There is gold in these hills,

not the kind of gold that many seek,

but warm and animated.

Who could ask for more?






Linking with Weekly Top Shot

Olympic Hopeful

On a recent foggy morning, high on a branch overlooking the lake,

little gymnasts were practicing their moves.

This nuthatch's performance was practically flawless.

When we raised our cards in the judges' box, they both read 9.9!

Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday

Imitation of a Nuthatch

This young tufted titmouse has been practicing gymnastics...

...and wondering if it can grow up to be a nuthatch.

Thanks to Kim Klassen for her textures,

Let Go and If Only.

Linking to 

Texture Tuesday

 Wild Bird Wednesday

Camera Critters