Bluebird Real Estate -

 

 This was a surprise yesterday!  

A male Eastern bluebird visiting a decorative bird box hanging on the front porch.

Our large family of bluebirds have been nesting in the larger bird house

 on a post in the garden for the past three years, and hopefully they'll

 continue to use it this spring. We truly enjoy the bluebirds year round here.

It's a very cold morning here with a little icy rain falling. 

34F now and high today only reaching 36F, brrrrr!

Many bluebirds seem to enjoy the porch on these chilly, wet days.

These damp bluebirds are sheltering on the hanging lanterns which

 have become a favorite spot . . . . . . and I do admit to scattering seed 

on the porch railing on the really cold or wet days!

Some interesting bluebird info I found online today:

It is quite common to see Bluebirds visit nest boxes during the winter. 

You may even see them carry some nest material into the box. 

This is not actual nesting behavior but more than likely a male showing

 off a good place to raise young to a female. It never hurts to get a head start.

Bluebirds will typically raise between 2 and 3 broods each year, and they

 will often re-use old nests. It could take a couple of seasons for them

 to start using your nestbox, but after that, bluebirds generally return

 to the same area each year.Bluebirds prefer their nests facing – in

 order of preference – east, north, south and west.

Enjoy the weekend.

Hope you see "bluebirds of happiness" in your garden.

Late winter in the southern garden. . . . . . . . .

Sunrise today..............

Yesterday afternoon our only snow so far in this strange, mild and wet winter season,

fell silently. A new dimension in the garden as the mid-afternoon light changed

 rapidly, and the fig tree suddenly became illuminated with cardinals, male and 

female, and several other species of beautiful garden birds. All were very

 hungry, pushing and shoving for space on the feeders as well as the ground 

beneath. 

It was quite a heavy snow. Flimsy branches on shrubs and smaller trees

 seemed to bow under the weight of just an inch of so within an hour.

 Mrs. Cardinal

 Mr. Cardinal

 Light snow fell until around midnight so we ended up with a couple of inches.
Very wet, heavy snow so tree/shrub damage possible again. 
There were many power outages but thankfully we didn't lose ours.
Brilliant sunshine this morning and melting is happening quickly.

Good news - my flooring guys arrived on time despite some icy roads, 
and by noon the new bedroom floor installation should be completed.

Gardening for Christmas -

Other than raking, gathering and piling the leaves - and no sooner that's done

more fall - there's not much gardening going on around here!

Very different weather this morning.

Rain, steady but light, temperature a few degrees above freezing

 (could have been snow if colder), enough to dampen down the dust and

put a sheen on the gazebo now sporting the annual Christmas tree 

to brighten up the dark nights.

While working out there yesterday, our family of Eastern bluebirds returned

 to enjoy the birdbaths and suet feeders. I managed a few quick photos of this

 handsome male, so colorful at this time of year. . . . . . and they brought me 

much happiness.

Christmas preparations are in full swing here, although mine are much

 more simple than those of many younger bloggers I've noticed.  

Did I used to have that much energy?

Do I wish I still could do all that? 

Yes of course.

How can you not. . . . . . . . .

LOVE them?

And, when you have a slew of nuts left from the holidays what do you do?  Despite two nutcrackers in the kitchen drawer I, like most people, find cracking iron-hard nuts a real pain/tough job, so what do you do but share with the Eastern Grey Squirrels - or whichever version you have in your area - who are eating your birdseed like there's no tomorrow! 

We watched from the kitchen windows, thinking that if a squirrel can gnaw through a hard hickory nut, as they do, it could manage an almond easily. I lined up four on the deck rail and before I was back in the house, this chubby, bushy tailed, sparkle in the eye guy showed up! Long story short, he/she picked up each one, tossed it around in it's little sharp claws, sniffed, licked, then jumped down and went and buried each one in the garden! It was quite funny to watch and at least I managed to get some photos through the window.

Of course once the nut burying was over, this cute rodent was back at the bird feeders. . . . . and, just like their busy acorn burying back in the Fall, it's said by people who know the ways of our wildlife friends, they never actually find them again, or dig them up and prepare them for a springtime luncheon or a summer night party!  

~~~ Almond trees do have lovely blossoms I believe ~~~

Birds of a feather, flock together!

You may recall a recent post on my Winter companion, the American robin 

who hasn't left the garden for several months. His long term 'rental', on

a fig tree branch complete with suet feeder, was tested yesterday following the 

night of heavy snow. 

Mid-morning, while awaiting the return of our power, and staring out the windows 

at the icy conditions, in flew a flock of obviously hungry robins who proceeded to

gobble the seed and crumbs thrown down until we could get to out refill the feeder.

Robins in this large number don't usually arrive until Spring.

Unable to determine which robin might be 'our robin' in such a large group, I was 

wondering if he would perhaps find a mate and leave our habitat with the flock when 

they flew off.

They did what robins do best, nibbled, stood around silently turning their heads and, 

after about 15 minutes they all disappeared.

ALL, except MY robin that is! 

Yes, he didn't leave with the flock!

Apparently he's sticking around to wait for Spring.

Still hanging about the fig tree, quietly sharing the suet feeder with other 

birds, then shuffling about, snacking on seeds and crumbs under the feeder. 

Perhaps he knows a good thing - daily meals no matter the weather, 

melted water in the bird bath for drinking and bathing. . . . .or perhaps he

just feels like he's one of the family here and doesn't want to move out!

Today the sun is shining, much of the 6" of heavy snow is falling 

from branches. Many trees and shrubs look sad, perhaps permanently 

pruned by the weight of the wet then frozen snow. Our cul-de-sac is heavily 

rutted with hard ice where 4-wheeled drive vehicles have been able to turn - we 

are not going out - no reason to take the risk with trees/branches down across

 neighborhood streets, schools and some businesses still closed, and many 

accidents on the highways.

Here's to Spring - sooner rather than later would be really welcome.

I just remembered and thought I'd share this little tidbit with you, my wonderful blogging friends.

Today, February 27, marks 8 years since I first hit that Publish button and became a blogger!

Wow time goes by quickly!

Night in the garden. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . and just where were you last night? 

At 1:30 AM I woke up and went to peek out the windows. Dark, yes. Normal 

dark when slumber muffles the brain and blurs the eyes, definitely not!

I flipped on the the lights in the gazebo hoping to see more. 

This was 'more'. The sky was actually very bright with heavy falling snow.

At 6 :30 AM the power went out. We were under six inches of wet snow, 

bending branches to the ground, snapping pine trees at their 

slender waistlines, silencing the neighborhood streets, and bringing the city 

to a halt yet again.

Our power returned around 11:00 AM. We were fortunate. Many of the 100,000 
area residents who lost power are still awaiting their supply to return. 
Many accidents have occurred taking down wires. The thaw is already well 
underway, however with bitter temperatures tonight, there will be a refreeze and 
tomorrow will be yet another stay close to home day for many, including me!

Suddenly this has become a very long, cold Winter here in the southeast.

Be safe if you too are in the path of these storms and bitter weather patterns.

February Snow. . . . . . . .

Totally unexpected. Well they did say a few flurries possible. It started

around 6:30 am and was already sticking by the time I looked out at 7:30 am. 

It's still falling now, huge fluffy flakes flying by the window as I write, and it's 

almost 2:00 pm. We may get about three inches today. 

Of course this is nothing compared to up north, but for here in the south it means 

everything is shutting down again - just as the ice from last week melted and 

was a memory, and the kids returned to school yesterday, but are off again today.

I just had to let you see my flannel-robed snowman/birdman out early this morning 

to refill the feeders and toss some crumbs and seed out. Dozens of birds, and four 

squirrels, were looking for breakfast by 7:30 am - they know when the weather 

conditions will be bad.

Note Bob is none the worse for wear after yesterday's slip cover debacle!

Temperature will remain around freezing today so little melting expected.

Hope you enjoy these pics from my garden today. 

Another storm may pass through tomorrow night bringing 

more snow on Thursday morning. . . . . and here I was thinking

Spring was about to appear. 

That old Mother Nature is up to her trickery again.

American Robin redbreast. . . . . . . . . .

This special bird has become a fixture in my Winter garden.

Never leaving despite rain, wind, sleet, and a severe ice storm last week.

It stands motionless on the grass at times, or pecks around under the feeder.  

Sits on the bare branches of the fig tree, hops on to the suet feeder for a 

quick snack, even takes a drink or a quick bathe in the chilly bird bath. 

Looking out the dining room window on Friday I managed to get this special

closeup when it was drinking from the fountain by the front porch.

It warms my heart and makes me feel quite honored to have this 

one lone robin sharing my home all these months. 

I just hope it finds a mate come Spring!

"The robin flew from his swinging spray of ivy on to the top of the wall and he 

opened his beak and sang a loud, lovely trill, merely to show off. 

Nothing in the world is quite as adorably lovely as a robin when he shows off - and 

they are nearly always doing it."

~ Frances Hodgson Burnett - The Secret Garden ~