Sretches - Stirs up the virtual fire and adds a couple of large logs.
I Shiver and wrap a wool tartan around my shoulders to ward off the chill on this bright sunny +20*f. moring. As I watch the birds coming to the feeders I wrap my hands around a cup of steaming hot cocoa.
Cardinals, chickadees, juncos, a pair (male and femal) of red bellied wood peckers, blue jays, house finches, both white and red breasted nuthatches, titmice, house sparrows and LOTS of fat mourning doves. Hmm I half expect the Coopers Hawk to come take her breakfast from among the fat doves, it has happend before. As long as the hawk does not take the red bellied woodpecker she is welcome to feed at the bird feeders. Of course I have no say in her choice. I watched a male Cardinal have a very close call with the hawk one summer day.
Earlier this winter when I investigated a loud bang that I knew was a bird hit on a sunroom window I found the female red bellied head down in the snow bleedingfrom her mouth. I turned her over so she was not on her back, brought her inside, and held her quietly between my hands to warm her up and fight the shock she was suffering. It took a couple of hours or more but she eventually recovered and when I released her I gladly watched her fly strongly away into the red cedars in the hedge row. I was not sure if she had truly survived but I have seen her several times now with her mate and am gratified that this year the male did not loose his mate on the window like he did last year.
What a glorious winter moring - but I am glad to be INSIDE looking out
