Beautiful Song

One showed up this morning. The first day of 2024. I always anticipate something special showing up on important days. This was that special something, a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). Not arriving for the seeds at the feeder, they’re not interested in that, but arriving to get a splash in the birdbath.

And oh the beautiful music they make. Mnemonics, basically means us humans putting words to the songs of birds to assist our memory. To help tell one bird song from another. In this case the Hermit Thrush is reportedly saying, “veer-veer-veer-veer; Why don’tcha come to me?; Here I am right near you”. A lot to remember but if you can get it into your brain, it’s going to help. A lovely and enchanting song.

Glad I was paying attention this morning to see its visit. Otherwise the day would have gone by with nothing special to note.

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The Tiny One Is Taking Charge

This morning a Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) came by for a dip in the birdbath. I was pleased to see the little critter since I seldom see them. They mainly eat insects but are willing to eat berries while they spend their winters here in Virginia. I have some raisins out on the feeder but I don’t think the little wren realized it. It knows where the birdbath is and went straight to it, to take care of its feathers.

Imagine a bird a tiny bit smaller than a Carolina Wren. It landed on the fence post with a take-charge sort of stance and chattered its bossy sort of twittering as if everyone should pay attention.

I wish they’d make an appearance more often. Maybe I should try different berries out there on the feeder.

Mercury Glass Ornament

Ten years ago, on December 9th, there was a remarkable ice storm here that entertained me for hours as I roamed with my camera. These images are just a very small look at the many pictures that I captured as I was wandering on Cloud Nine.

This first picture is a native shrub. Beautiful, particularly in winter, when it is without its leaves but, oh those wonderful scarlet berries! It is Winterberry (Ilex verticillata), a species of holly that is native to eastern North America in the US and southeastern Canada.

Ice, ice everywhere. Here it tries to drip from the yellow-green, twisted pairs of needles of a Virginia Pine tree (Pinus virginiana). Another native plant in the “neighborhood” here.

Ice dripping from the red branches of Blueberry (Vaccinium). Looking closely you can see the buds that will, in a number of months, turn into the flowers of the Blueberry bush.

My favorite find in all my strolling was what appears, to me to be a mercury glass ornament in the shape of a pinecone.

Why be normal. I adore ice storms and snow. Why be normal indeed!

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Late December Surprise

An adopted orchid bloom!

A lovely surprise this late in December. A short time ago I noticed buds emerging. I’m hoping it is in response to my careful watering. In any event something good is coming of the care this plant is receiving. Amount of light? Temperature of the room? Watering schedule?

My yoga friends might recognize this orchid plant. One of many that were, if my memory serves me right, rescued from the trash last year by another of the students. It has given me immense pleasure.

And now, great joy, with many more blooms to come.

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Moderate Drought

Pink, certainly not a winter color, but this photo has rain drops in it. That’s what I’m after. Priceless raindrops. After the past many months we have been through drought conditions. Slowly, very slowly, we are making progress.

Over the past several months we have gone from “moderate drought” to “severe drought”. Hanging out in that category for way longer than has been comfortable, as plants and trees seemed to beg for water.

We’ve only been out of the “severe drought” catagory for a couple weeks. I’m hoping this trend continues, and even progresses beyond that over the next few weeks. Slow is good.

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Stunning Beauty

A female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), hit by the sun at just the right angle and intensity, showing off her feathers at their best.

Cardinals are at their brightest coloring by midwinter/early spring, in preparation for the spring breeding season. They go through a complete molt in late summer, leaving them with not the brightest feathers but with feathers that have a subtle grayish dullness on the tips. As winter wears on, so do the feathers. Wearing off the dull tips revealing that brilliant red we know so well.

By midwinter/early spring the Cardinals will be ready for modeling for next year’s Christmas cards.

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An Occasional Visitor

This morning there was a visitor at the birdbath. That’s generally where I see the Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus).

Most often I see one at the birdbath, but on occasion I’ll see one at the Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) or Beautyberry bushes (Callicarpa) eating the berries. Mostly it is just one, not two or three. Just one.

But once in a while, not often, several will show up in the birdbath. What a surprise when that happens. And if I’m really lucky, I’ll be able to get a picture of six of them at the birdbath. Well here I was almost lucky. Five plus a sixth that is almost out of the image.

Here’s to seeing more of the Hermit Thrush in 2024!

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Colorado Blue Spruce

This Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens), on Dec 21, 2013, making its first appearance as a Christmas tree in the cabin. Shortly after, it was planted in the yard just outside my studio windows. And now it has taken its place again in the living room as a much larger Christmas tree, standing a stately 7 feet tall and 7 feet wide.

The Colorado Blue Spruce is native to Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. If one can tolerate the very sharp needles, it has an elegant shape for a Christmas tree. I tend to ignore the sharp needles, since I adore its shape.

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