The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is a year round resident, one that doesn’t migrate. Looking stunning all year long, but particularly in late autumn and winter, when there are few colors to complete with their many shades of red. This female Cardinal is enjoying Beautyberry (Callicarpa) drupes.
Oh MY! What a beautiful morning. How wonderful to wake up and find 2.75 inches of snow plastered all over everything. Up early because an electrician was coming out at the crack of dawn this morning. He managed to show up in his trusty 4X4 Silverado, despite a very challenging, narrow, twisty-turny, snow covered, mountain road.
This image above is snow lit by the sun just beginning its path across the sky. Snow on the branches of Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) trees. Branches that just a short time ago were filled with crimson leaves.
Anticipation of the electrician’s visit had me up much earlier than I would normally be up. Because of that I was able to catch the early morning light accenting the snow. So many enchanting things to see, as if a Snow Fairy had waved her magic wand, decorating everything for Christmas.
And this second image with Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) in the background while a Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) stands out. More than likely this stunning tree will come inside, and will mark the spot where Santa will bring his gifts in just 2 weeks.
Who would have thought, a visit from an electrician would enable me to witness a Snow Fairy’s magic.
At the yoga studio that I visit often there has been a vernal pool. Notice I said, “has been.” Over the years it has been there nearly all the time. Sometimes large, sometimes small, but there.
It has provided me and my camera much entertainment. Particularly in the cold weather with its frost and ice creating wonderful natural artwork.
I doubt I’ve seen water there in more than a year. I miss it.
A winter resident. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata). An insect eater while the insects are around and berry eater during the chill of winter. Favoring the berries of Juniper, Poison Ivy and Poison Oak, Grapes, Dogwood, and Virginia Creeper.
They love the birdbath. And though I’ve not made up any suet recently, I’m planning on putting some together soon to see if I can tempt one or two of these warblers to the bird feeder.
The birdbath AND the feeder. I’m hoping for more sightings.
Such an enchanting bird, the Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum). Its head a buff color trickling down the neck to gradually become soft shades of gray. These neutral colors are accented with small spots of brilliant color. The waxy wingtips of scarlet that are gained through age. The tips of the tail feathers a bright sunflower yellow. Its eyes “covered” with a narrow black mask outlined in white.
I’ve mentioned the tips of the tail feathers, being bright sunflower yellow. But that isn’t always the case. In the 1960s Cedar Waxwings began appearing with orange tips of their tail feathers rather than the normal yellow. Look at the photo immediately above at the two birds. The one more in focus and to the left has that orange coloring on its tail.
This has happened because this bird with the orange tipped tail has been eating the berries of a nonnative invasive bush, Morrow’s Honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii). The birds that eat these berries absorb the carotinoid pigment of the berries which change the color of the tail tips as they are growing.
A female Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens). A bird that is native to most of the United States and Canada with the exception of the north’s tundra and the southwest’s deserts.
As they are in Virginia, these woodpeckers are permanent residents to most areas. During the winter though there are a few exceptions. Northernmost birds, and birds from western mountains possibly move slightly south and to lower elevations during the cold of winter.
Suet will entice these little woodpeckers to your yard. I thoroughly enjoy having them here year round.
The past several days I’ve been seeing Robins (Turdus migratorius) and Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) in large flocks visiting my little pond and my birdbath. This is a normal thing to see during the fall and winter, these two species on the lookout for berries and a source of water. Depending on each other to spot that tree that will be loaded with yummy berries. During the spring and summer as well, Cedar Waxwings remain social birds, but Robins become protective of their territory during the nesting season.
Interesting to watch the behavior of birds, and other animals for that matter. Changing as the seasons change.
Though it IS December, and there is talk of a bit of snow in the higher elevations, it’s STILL autumn. Autumn has inspired the decorative top of my apple pie. The leaf of a Black Oak (Quercus velutina).
The Black Oak has alternate leaves which are a shiny, rich dark green on the top side. It’s under side is brown, leaning toward yellow. The bark of a mature tree has a blackish coloring, which is reflected in its common name.
The perfect colors for the month of December. Crimson, emerald green and a bit of frosted white. Thrown together with a touch of naranja. Crimson, made up of red bell peppers. Emerald green, expressed with jalapeño peppers. Frosted white up there in the top left corner, in the form of cauliflower. And naranja, sneaking into the mix as sliced carrots in the lower left.
I see this and think of the holidays of December, my Mom’s birthday, and the first day of winter. All packed into one special month.
