SOME BIRDS STOPPING BY MY GARDEN

Yesterday I had a pleasant surprise. A WOOD THRUSH found its way into my garden. He was alone. It was impossible to mistake his rust brown head and back, with a white breast strewn with black and brown slash marks like lightning strikes. He sat only. He could not be mistaken for a Thrasher.

I remember hearing a WOOD THRUSH once before I saw it. I was out walking in the woods, not yet far from the houses. When I heard the glorious song, I stood still, and looked around. He sat atop a small tree singing his heart out. It was a most profound experience.

Another visitor was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. I love the blobs of yellow on each side of his head, with the white and dark stripes. The body is a bland sparrow brown.

Today, a TUFTED TITMOUSE sat on a tree by my window, looking in. I believe he spotted me behind the geraniums. How charming his plump little gray body was, with a few slashes of rust on the lower sides.

Birds bring birds. Although there is little food left in the feeders, they come along anyway. I am thankful the BLACKBIRDS come seldom now. Families of JUNCOS are here often. One can see the striking white tail feathers when they fly. The DOVES visit from time to time. One male was most interested in a smaller female, but after all, it is Spring. Most of their families I see when the snow covers the ground.

The BLUE JAYS come for a peek to see if I have put any nuts out. Without these, they don't stay long. I Have been waiting for a rainless day to toss the nuts up to their stand.

Several of these birds are only passing through. I would love to have them stay. Sigh!

UNPLEASANT SIGNS OF SPRING

I have been remiss in posting to my blog, but must get this one off. The Blackbirds are back.

They came back massing on my trees. At the time they perhaps had just arrived, for they glared at my busy feeders and took themselves off.

After settling in, one by one they came, increasing in number, until there are now too many. They come by the half-dozen or more daily. Most of the food is gone.

My other birds have to scramble for food. There is almost nothing left for them. A Dove was here, a Cardinal family, Juncos and Sparrows. Unfortunately, that means I cannot feed these birds. I will miss seeing them, and hope they find food locally. The snow is gone, and with frequent rains the trees and bushes are budding, the grass growing. Soon natural food will be abailable for my birds. Or, others using feeders on the lower road, do not have the same problem with Blackbirds. I wish my birds the best. I hope to see them again in the fall when the Blackbirds have left the area.

I am too close to the woods where the Blackbirds mass by the hundreds when they come and go in Spring and Fall.

I refuse to feed Blackbirds.