Masked visitors -

. . . . . of another kind!

Cedar waxwing: Bombycilla cedrorum

These are the Cedar waxwings stopping by the garden for a very quick visit to drink at the birdbaths. They are rarely seen because they're so quick both in flight and visiting. 

I've only caught them one other year, 2016 (see last photo), along with the visit this past week. While sitting near the window, a flock of about 20 waxwings descended out of nowhere, making their high-pitched whistling sound. . . . . . and I almost fell over myself trying to grab my camera! Unable to get a good shot of the group at the birdbaths, I did get a few of individuals perched for a minute in the fig tree. 

Besides their 'trendy' masks, you can see their fabulous red and yellow tips. Male and female have the same pointed crest and colors, the yellow belly and bright markings.

These sleek-looking beauties - they actually do look as if they have been dipped in wax - are partial migrators here in the Carolinas, wandering in winter to find food supplies. Usually seen in flocks, they move from area to area looking for berries, spending most of their time at the tops of tall cedar trees eating the small blueberry-like cones.

This was the previous fleeting visit in 2016 when I also managed

 to get a few photos of these beautiful birds. 

Finding February joy -

English Folklore

 

So it's already February, goodness only knows where the month

 of January went.

Today I will flip the kitchen wall calendar to February.  

There's really not much excitement pencilled in - other than some

 upcoming birthdays, an online webinar date with my new health

 insurance provider, the appointment for our second COVID vaccine

 on Valentine's Day - of all days - and the 14th Anniversary of my starting

 a blog (my first one was Across The Pond for three years) which 

really doesn't seem possible!

Beautiful Barn Owls - Angela Harding 

January 28, 6:00 PM ~ evening moonlight after our light morning snow.

Known as the Wolf Moon, Snow Moon or Hunger Moon, it was

 the first of the 12 full moons we'll see in 2021. 

For me, a glorious full moon in the night sky is always joyful.

Male Eastern bluebird eating breakfast on my front porch 

According to folklore, many Native Americans hang dry gourds to entice

 bluebirds to nest near their settlements so they can enjoy their enchanting

 songs of happiness and hope. Just gazing upon one of the little flying

 cobalt creatures of contentment is said to bring joy.

I'm in total agreement and will be sharing more of these delightful

birds soon - they've now moved onto the porch in all the rain we've

been having the past couple of days. My camera has been active!

No doubt the "grass and grain" will not suffer here with so much rain.

May your February days be pleasant - remember sometimes we have

 to make our own happiness when times seem somewhat bleak.

Chin up!