2021 Begins
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I start the first day of the year like any other...with coffee on the carport well before daylight. It's the time of day when it's the most peaceful, four am. No one is awake, and if all goes well, there will be no sirens on the nearby highway, and the alcoholic neighbor who lives in his father's garage won't be outside this morning puking his guts out. If things go really well, a Barred Owl may offer me some soothing morning hoots before she flies back to her sleeping place. The silence at this time of day is simply magical. I feed the outdoor cats right away, so their bellies will be full and they'll be napping under their heat lamps when the sun rises and the rest of the birds come out from their roosting places.
And so another year begins. Quiet. Cats fed. Hot coffee. More quiet. It just doesn't get any better than this, this moment of nothingness. I wish it could be this way all the time. |
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Since I've been bird watching, I've become more and more irritated by noise. I'd rather hear the sounds of delightful chirps and bird songs while a soft breeze blows across my face. If I had my way, I'd be finding such a place to be today, on this first day of the year. But, alas, my silence and bird watching on this day will be limited, since we're having our Christmas on this particular New Year's day. Due to corona virus, we were in quarantine over Christmas. So I'll do the family thing today, and get back to my normal routine tomorrow. But first, to start this new year, I'll take a walk, as soon as daylight begins. I don't even care if I see a bird yet, I just want to walk these streets before traffic begins and people arise. Among the musical sounds of the waking birds and under the glow of the emerging sun, I feel it would be a good way to begin 2021.
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Christmas Carol
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January Is My Favorite Month...
Alone
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January is my favorite month - not just for new beginnings or resolutions, which ultimately fail. It's my favorite month for birds. Here in Tennessee, what little bit of winter we have emerges in January. And with it come the birds...lots and lots of birds. They're cold, they're hungry, the need shelter, and unfrozen water. I offer them all of that, drawing them in to my space. Yes it's cold some days this month, but I'll put on my winter camo coat, and gather up my favorite cameras. I'll head outside to sit as long as I can, or sometimes, I'll stay in the car with my heated seats. Heated seats are a luxury for a birder in winter. Being as most birds and wildlife feel more comfortable if I stay in the car, it works out well.
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Many people don't like January. And maybe that's why I love it - there's less people out. Less distraction, less noise. Sure it's colder, and here in Tennessee it rains a lot during this month. It's gray, it's cloudy. I love gray, however. Gray provides me with even light for my photographs, and neutral backgrounds. The leaves are off most of the trees, and I can see the birds and wildlife better. The fields are barren, so I can see birds better in the fields during this time of year. Plus, because of the lack of food elsewhere, I have plenty of fun visitors to my place.
Watching Birds in January
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When at home, I'll go to one of my porches to sit and watch and wait. Feeders surround the house, so if it's too cold on one side, I'll move to another spot. Porches are a must. I have two of them. I have decks in the backyard, both designed specifically to view different areas of the small fenced backyard. I thought about covering them with rooftops as well, but then I wouldn't be able to see birds in the sky overhead. So I keep them uncovered, except for umbrellas I can raise during the wrath of the Tennessee summer sun.
Some days are warm enough in January to sit outside for hours. Others are so frigid, I'll sit in the car in the driveway with the heat on and watch the nearby berry bushes, which always draw a crowd early in the year. The robins, the bluebirds, the mockingbird, and my winter favorite, the Cedar Waxwings, all show up to feast on the glory of the millions of purple berries alongside the driveway. I have no idea what kind of berries they are, but my feathered friends absolutely love them. |
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Perched Waxwing
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When the Waxwings come in, it's unexpected, and a flurry of activity. I've learned to know they're here by the shrill sound of their voices atop the big trees which surround the driveway. Once I spot them and verify their existence, it's time for the camera gear to come out. I often need a tripod, even though I hate being tied down. But the light is so low when they swoop in for their fifteen to thirty minutes of berry feasting, I have no choice if I want to obtain any decent photos of this explosion of delight. When these gorgeous masked bandits are having their berries, it's a great time to take photos. A Cedar Waxwing will perch without fear of you, tossing a berry up and catching it in the beak. You can actually see the lump of the berry sometimes as it swallows. These amazing birds will strip a bush completely of berries in a matter of minutes. There's strength in numbers, and they come as a flock, descending en masse for the delectable meal.
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They leave just as quickly. First, to the top of the tree for preening and decision making time - where to go next? Second, one brave bird will fly off, leading the others to the next destination. They exit in small groups, occasionally leaving a straggler behind still filling his belly. He'll catch up, the berries give him the energy required to do so. And so it is over. Looking at the clock, only 22 minutes have passed. I wait for a few more minutes, hoping for their return. Which is unlikely today. I've noticed a pattern with them and these berries. These are breakfast berries, apparently, because they only come for them briefly, in the early morning. Afternoon waiting for them proves futile. They may be back the next day, and then again, they are in migration, so I may have to wait for the next flock to show up. There's still berries left, and the next group will find them, I'm sure.
Hundreds...Thousands...
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As the month goes on, I turn my focus onto the songbirds. Finches. Hundreds of them. But the Pine Siskins? They appear in the thousands it seems. Every feeder is covered. They come in carefully, easing down from their perches in my big driveway tree. First one, then another, then the rest. They eat for maybe 15-20 minutes and then whoosh, they all fly back up to the big tree at once. Thirty minutes later, they'll be back down for another go. In the meantime, this break gives the Cardinals, House Finches, and Gold Finches time to get their meals. A nuthatch slips in during this time as well, snatching seeds and taking them to the same driveway tree, tucking them into the crevices for later. My local Mockingbird and a Wren monitor the backyard, scouring for leftovers and keeping watch for the hawks.
Periodically, my Mockingbird will go to the red holly tree in the backyard, and snatch berries for herself. She gets very possessive over her berry tree, chasing any bird who decides to land in that tree out of the yard. She doesn't have to worry about the Waxwings though, at least not until spring. For some reason, the Waxwings don't want those red berries in the winter. But once spring arrives, they'll be here in even larger numbers, and Tilda (the Mockingbird) will be beside herself as she tries to guard her berry tree. The Waxwings, in larger numbers, usually win. But Tilda doesn't give up, I think she must chase them in her sleep. |
Portrait of a Siskin
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Disabled Birds
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This year we bought some new feeders for the front yard. Seed cakes, I believe is what they're called. Some are cylindrical, others have the shape of cute little animals. They become shapeless relatively quick when the Finches, Chickadees, Nuthatches and even Wrens discover their existence. I don't know what they contain, but the birds really love to feast on them, and before I know it, they're dwindled down to nothing and I'm ordering more of these delicacies.
Yesterday, I met a young Black Capped Chickadee. He appeared to have a problem with one of his feet, but it didn't slow him down. He flew from one feeder to the next to get his meals while I photographed him. Occasionally, he flew up in the nearby pine trees, but he quickly returned. I'd been photographing him for a few minutes when I noticed the problem with his foot. I get a lot of what I call "disabled" birds. Maybe that's why I'm here and why I'm doing this...someone has to be here for these birds who may find it difficult out there in the world. Just like us humans, some have issues and need a little help along the way. Whenever I think I may be tiring of feeding, cleaning, buying feeders and new food, whenever I think I'm too tired to go check the water in the bird baths, whenever I think "it can wait until tomorrow", I'll see one of my disabled bird photos in my folders, and I go do what I'm supposed to do - make sure they have food, water, and that things are clean. Because they need me. And you know what? It feels good to be needed. |
The Raptors
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My little birds give me joy. My raptors, on the other hand, give me excitement. I'm fascinated by them, these birds of prey. Here at home, we have several species of hawks - Red Shouldered, Red Tailed, Mississippi Kites, Coopers Hawk and a Sharp Shinned Hawk I've named Speedy. Speedy has been elusive this month. The Coopers Hawk is an every-so-often sighting. The Kites are only here in Spring and Summer. The Red Tailed hawks don't usually come down low, except for the occasional juvenile in the fall. The Red Shouldered pair who has been nesting here in the area for the past eight years has been spending quite a bit of time here this month. With a bird buffet like ours right now, I guess I can understand why. The female puts up with me taking her photo, so she tends to stay around the house the most. The male is much more skittish.
We have Barred Owls living among us, but they roost outside the neighborhood during the day and only come in here after dark. I hear them more than I see them, unfortunately. |
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Sometimes, a Bald Eagle will pass overhead. I believe it's one of the pair from the Pinson area, which is about 15 minutes south of us. They rarely come in close, although one did one time when I happened to be outside. That was a real treat, because normally we have to drive to Shiloh, TN and see the nesting pair down there if we want to eagle watch. The Shiloh eagles have their nest right in the park, making it very easy to see them and take photos. They're used to people watching them, so it's an incredible opportunity to spend time with those amazing birds. We see owls sometimes, too, at Shiloh. So we make a trip down there at least once a week, two to three times a week during eagle nesting season.
The Barred Owl, One Of My Favorite Birds
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I have an owl I watch down in Pinson, so we drive down there quite a bit. She's usually in an accessible area in January and February. Which is another reason why January is one of my favorite months, because then it's time to see Ollie. Ollie is a Barred Owl, and is another bird who is very used to people. She gives me amazing photo opportunities. I've learned something interesting about her after five years of studying her. Ollie only likes to come to the accessible area in 40 degrees and under. At least during daytime hours. I'm sure she comes to the same area for hunting every day and night, but she comes out in daylight when it's under 40 outside. Over 40 degrees, and it's hit or miss whether I'll see her (usually miss).
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Being In The Nothingness
We've been to Shiloh a few days this month, maybe four so far. There's no eggs yet. No surprise there, as our female is one of the last in the area to lay eggs, it seems. The last day we were there, both eagles flew out of the park shortly after we arrived. The afternoon was filled with a solitary nothingness. No birds, no people, cold, gray, cloudy. I saw one deer, a nice looking buck. But nothing else.
My husband was bored, he can't stand the silence. The driving around and seeing nothing after nothing with every field, every tree, every bit of water we pass wears him out. I like it, I find it meditative, soothing. I don't mind sitting in the eagle field with nothing.
Of course, when you've driven so far and wish to take photos, this lack of activity is disappointing. It's not the same kind of disappointment you feel from people, however. It's not like a job loss, a break-up, or a disagreement with a friend. It's not the same kind of disappointment felt when someone in your life lets you down, and doesn't do what they say they will. It's different because it's not personal. It's not like the birds even know you're there and they're staying away on purpose, because they don't wish to be around those waiting. It's just that time of year right before egg laying, when the birds know their responsibility will soon be magnified 200% by eggs, then chicks, and days filled with defending the nest, feeding the young ones, and guarding them from accidents. If I were them, I'd stay out and enjoy the world as long as I could, too, before the big event.
So yes, it's disappointing, this lull. Yet it's also a time of peace, of quiet, before the crowds arrive to watch and document the birds' every move over the next few months. I like the lulls. A lull is a time of rejuvenation, a time to prepare, to rest before hauling heavy cameras back and forth to capture every little bit of excitement. This time is not a bad time, it's just a different time.
My husband was bored, he can't stand the silence. The driving around and seeing nothing after nothing with every field, every tree, every bit of water we pass wears him out. I like it, I find it meditative, soothing. I don't mind sitting in the eagle field with nothing.
Of course, when you've driven so far and wish to take photos, this lack of activity is disappointing. It's not the same kind of disappointment you feel from people, however. It's not like a job loss, a break-up, or a disagreement with a friend. It's not the same kind of disappointment felt when someone in your life lets you down, and doesn't do what they say they will. It's different because it's not personal. It's not like the birds even know you're there and they're staying away on purpose, because they don't wish to be around those waiting. It's just that time of year right before egg laying, when the birds know their responsibility will soon be magnified 200% by eggs, then chicks, and days filled with defending the nest, feeding the young ones, and guarding them from accidents. If I were them, I'd stay out and enjoy the world as long as I could, too, before the big event.
So yes, it's disappointing, this lull. Yet it's also a time of peace, of quiet, before the crowds arrive to watch and document the birds' every move over the next few months. I like the lulls. A lull is a time of rejuvenation, a time to prepare, to rest before hauling heavy cameras back and forth to capture every little bit of excitement. This time is not a bad time, it's just a different time.
Finches, Finches and More Finches
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After that quiet day, we decided to take a break and stay home for a few days. Pinson may be on the radar, for the owl, but there's plenty to entertain me in my bird garden in the meantime. The finches are coming religiously every day. There's such a flurry of activity from them, it's hard to know which ones to watch. I usually find a spot in the yard to keep my eye on, perhaps the bird bath, or the little tree next to the concrete water bowl. They love the little tree. Naked, thin branches stick straight up from that tree, and the finches fly in and grab hold of a branch, hanging on the side, as they look around before actually making the journey a few more feet to the feeder. The branches with the birds gripping them with their tiny feet make wonderful photos. I've probably taken 50-100 on those branches in the past three days. I'm not sure what I'll do with the photos. Perhaps I'll create a work of art featuring just one beautiful bird. Or maybe I'll do a series of branches and birds. I could even combine them together and create one image with many branches and birds. The creative opportunities are endless.
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Spider Snatching
Today I saw something interesting involving our little yard wren. She hangs out in the shadows, and skips across the barren ground looking for things. I had no idea what she might be finding, since it is winter and frequently quite cold. Today I watched her intently with 700mm as she hopped across the center of the yard. Finally I capture one thing she retrieved. I was shocked as she lifted - and subsequently swallowed - a spider. With it being so cold, I thought spiders would be non-existent for now. I hate spiders. One almost killed my daughter many years ago, and as far as I'm concerned, the wren can have them all...every last one of them.
Visiting The Bird Bath
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Soon after the spider snatching, a goldfinch captured my attention when he flew in and landed on the bird bath about 7 feet in front of me. His yellow feathers gleamed in the afternoon sunlight, and he dipped his beak in the water for a drink. He raised his head up and a tiny drop of water glistened from the tip of his beak. I started to raise the camera for a photo, and thought better of it, deciding to remain still and not disturb him while he took in some much needed hydration. Sometimes it's best just to sit and watch. He took another drink, and then flew off to join his flock. Ten minutes later, when I already had the camera up for something else, another flew in and landed. I did take a few photos of him. It was just too hard to resist. It didn't seem to bother him, as he took several more drinks before he, too, flew off to join the flock.
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Later, a muffler-less car sped down the cove beside my fence. Hundreds of birds left the yard. I put the camera down, because the birds wouldn't be back for a few minutes. The car made another trip up and down the cove before it finally left. So I had to wait longer for the return of my feathered friends. I will never buy another corner lot again. Even though we have it fenced now, the disturbances from the closeness of the road are just too great, making it a challenge when birding. And it's a challenge I'd rather not have in the future.
The Barking Robin
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Every day for a week now, this Robin wakes up barking, and barks constantly. It sounds like a shrill version of a dog bark. And it goes on all day long. At first I thought it was because of the hawks in the area. But the hawks aren't around all the time, and this one single bird continues to bark, sounding very upset. Last night, just before dark, I finally decided to walk down the street to see what's up with this crazy bird.
I had on my new shoes, and promptly stepped smack in the middle of a water puddle as I tried to position myself where I could get a photo of the noisemaker. The bird was on a leafless, small tree, between two bushes alongside a neighbor's driveway. As I observed him {or her?}, I didn't see anything which could be causing this bird to be so vocal. The other robins in the area had already gone silent for the evening. But this bird persisted with the constant barking. |
Finally the bird flew down onto the driveway, and it was then I noticed all of the debris from the tree. Still barking, he pecked around, skirting fast across the blacktop surface covered with wet remains of acorns, branches, and bits of leaves. Perhaps this is a food source for the bird, and he's barking at the other birds in the big tree, trying to keep them from getting any delicacies which may be found? I did see him chase a smaller bird off the driveway earlier in the day. All I know is I've never heard a Robin be this vocal and for this long, outside of nesting season. I may never know the answer as to why this bird is behaving this way, but it's fun trying to figure it out!
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News From Shiloh - We May Have An Egg!
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A friend from Shiloh dropped me a message last night. Another photographer had been at the park and noticed one eagle sitting in the nest and then saw the other adult change out with the sitting bird. Does this mean we finally have an egg? Although nest work has picked up over the past couple of weeks, I was convinced it would be the end of the month -- or even into February -- before an egg entered the picture. It's looking like January 24th an egg was laid and sitting began. I guess it could have been laid on the 23rd, at night. But let's calculate from the 24th...
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Hatching normally occurs at 35 days with this pair, although it can happen as early as day 30. But going on my past experiences, I'll stick with the 35. Which means, hatching will most likely occur on this date, if not before.
Sunday, February 28, 2021
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From now until then, our tiny group of photographers will be like expectant parents ourselves. Visiting, watching, and keeping an eye on everything. Not that we have any control over the birds - this is year 14 in the park for them, they obviously know what they're doing and don't need us to accomplish their task.
We're there mainly to document and run interference with the humans who have the stupidity virus. I've said all last year it's second in line to covid for a pandemic virus...it's amazing to me the amount of stupidity and just plain evil I've observed this past year. Just the other day, one of our photographers was visiting the nest area and she had to tell a man with a cell one not ONCE, but TWICE, to get out from inside the fence. The area around the nest tree is PLAINLY fenced off {as one of my photographer friends says "A fence is there to keep things in, or keep things out", plain and simple!}. There's even signs all around the fenced area - Eagle Nesting Area - DO NOT ENTER. Yet some idiot with a cell phone decided it was his privilege {a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group} to step OVER the fence to go closer to the nest tree to get photos with his cell phone. He was told twice to get OUT of the fenced area, and from what I understand, he was none to happy about it. TOUGH. This park has set up these boundaries for a reason, to protect these birds and give them the best opportunity possible, considering the location of the nest is so close to public access, and people need to respect their boundaries, PERIOD.
Of course this incident wasn't as bad as the lady from a year or so ago who decided to cross the fence, and lay down UNDER the nest tree, shooting upward, to get a photo of the birds on the branches above. She was told to get out as well, but it was during that time the government was shut down and she plainly said she could do whatever she wanted. She's been back to the nest a few times since then, and I hope I never run into her, especially if she's still the idiot she was then!
Oh well, enough of that. There will be idiots. Stupidity and disrespect is rampant in our world right now. We'll deal with it as it comes, with our main goal being the safety of these birds and a successful nesting season, free of human interference. I pray for a successful year for the adults and the eaglets. The past few years have been a bit rough, with accidents, chicks lost, and single births. I hope 2021 will be the year things turn back around for this pair!
We're there mainly to document and run interference with the humans who have the stupidity virus. I've said all last year it's second in line to covid for a pandemic virus...it's amazing to me the amount of stupidity and just plain evil I've observed this past year. Just the other day, one of our photographers was visiting the nest area and she had to tell a man with a cell one not ONCE, but TWICE, to get out from inside the fence. The area around the nest tree is PLAINLY fenced off {as one of my photographer friends says "A fence is there to keep things in, or keep things out", plain and simple!}. There's even signs all around the fenced area - Eagle Nesting Area - DO NOT ENTER. Yet some idiot with a cell phone decided it was his privilege {a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group} to step OVER the fence to go closer to the nest tree to get photos with his cell phone. He was told twice to get OUT of the fenced area, and from what I understand, he was none to happy about it. TOUGH. This park has set up these boundaries for a reason, to protect these birds and give them the best opportunity possible, considering the location of the nest is so close to public access, and people need to respect their boundaries, PERIOD.
Of course this incident wasn't as bad as the lady from a year or so ago who decided to cross the fence, and lay down UNDER the nest tree, shooting upward, to get a photo of the birds on the branches above. She was told to get out as well, but it was during that time the government was shut down and she plainly said she could do whatever she wanted. She's been back to the nest a few times since then, and I hope I never run into her, especially if she's still the idiot she was then!
Oh well, enough of that. There will be idiots. Stupidity and disrespect is rampant in our world right now. We'll deal with it as it comes, with our main goal being the safety of these birds and a successful nesting season, free of human interference. I pray for a successful year for the adults and the eaglets. The past few years have been a bit rough, with accidents, chicks lost, and single births. I hope 2021 will be the year things turn back around for this pair!
Hydration=Missed Shots
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One thing drilled into my head in 2019 when I was so sick from the tick bite is "stay hydrated". There's a delicate balance in staying hydrated while at the eagle nest. Hydration=bathroom visits. And the bathroom is on the other side of the park. Meaning, you have to get in your car and leave. And I can tell you what will happen as soon as you get halfway down the road....
It.Never.Fails. |
When you leave to go to the restroom, the bird will come in. Halfway down the road to the restroom yesterday, my phone whistled. I hate it when that happens...because I know what that means, especially since the ones who would be messaging me were all back at the nest. I didn't even want to look, but I did.
"Bird is here."
Sigh. There was nothing I could do about it then. I knew when I got back to the nest, it would all be over with. As we drove up, I saw my fellow photographers, cameras down, all heading back from the cannon oak to their cars. The cannon oak branches were empty. It was over - I missed it. Oh well!
Luckily, I had another opportunity later when Hiram brought some stalks into the nest. Julia, however, was not too happy. She yelled at him - I think she was hoping for a delectable fish meal or something a bit more exciting.
She didn't stay long...yelled a bit, preened just a minute, looked around, and calculated her exit. And then she was gone.
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It would be dark before she returned. Or almost dark. We decided to leave and drive around to see what other gems we could discover. I saw a flash of something cross the road. It was so quick, I wondered if I were seeing things. But I thought I saw wings. I got out of the car and told my husband to stay put as I crept up the road, camera poised, pointing it in the direction of where I saw movement. And then I spotted it, a Barred Owl perched on a fallen tree.
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I inched closer, two steps at a time. When the bird would look up at me, I'd stop. When it looked down, I'd take a couple more steps. I was trying to get at an angle where the branch was out of the way instead of covering his face.
I never did make it, he got nervous and flew back to the other side of the road. Perching on a tree branch, the later afternoon sunlight illuminated the side of his face. Beautiful! But a branch was still in my way. |
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Eventually he flew further down into the woods, and I framed him up in my photo between the two sides of a split tree trunk. We left then, to drive around some more, and I hoped to see him in the area when we passed by again. But alas, this was my last look at him yesterday.
Returning to the nest, I couldn't help but notice the glorious full moon over Cloud Field. I shot a few photos of the glowing white ball in the sky while waiting on Julia to return for the evening. She finally came in, and Hiram flew out of the nest to join her in the Cannon Oak for another mating. There's still only one egg in the nest - hopefully there will be two by today. We're hoping for two chicks, or better yet, maybe they'll go for three this year. After all, it IS 2021, and anything is possible! :)
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Here's a look at egg #1 from the camera yesterday. The lens is foggy - the camera most likely has moisture inside for some reason, and because they have laid an egg, no one can go up to the nest now. So this is what we'll have to deal with this year, but at least we can see a little bit! Word has it from another photographer egg #2 was spotted this morning!
Honey, Where Are You?
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It was in the 30's yesterday, but the sun emerged for a short while in the afternoon. I immediately thought of Ollie, and how much she loves to sit in the afternoon sun on a cold day. Sure enough, we found her quickly. Perched on a branch, she was deeply immersed in a nap. I proceeded to watch her sleep.
Now with this owl, you cannot let her "sleeping" fool you! She can come to life in an instant, and be flying onto the ground to snatch up a delightful treat you didn't even know existed in the blink of an eye! Today, she gave me a bit of warning when she called to her mate. He didn't answer. She called again. Still no answer. After a final unanswered call, she flew off into the woods to go find him {see video clip below}. |
I was tickled I got a photo of her hooting with no branch in the way. I love how she raises her head and puffs up her throat to 2-3 times it's normal size. A loud "whooooo" sound emerges. Sometimes she makes the "who cooks for you" sound, but today, it was simply a long "whooooo".
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Here's a short video clip of Ollie hooting and then flying off back into the woods. Don't blink, you'll miss it! :)
And to end this month...just in case you ever wondered what an owl tongue looks like. :)
