Finding the Bluebirds

I grasp Annie's arm and stifle a giggle. We spot him at the exact same moment and two sets of binoculars pop up and lend us a nearly perfect view of the golden-crowned kinglet. She verbally describes the lores, the wings, the stripes on his crown. The description helps to confirm that what we're seeing is really the species we believe it is. We high-five and are eager to carry on down the path, but a tiny three year-old hand pulls on mine and I'm reminded we've been here quite awhile. I'm grateful she lasted this long.

We do the bird count as we meander back; "ruby-crowned, golden-crowned, horned lark, meadow lark..." It had been a successful hour of birding in our estimation. But, I wanted a bluebird, the sweet whistle-chirping beauty with the blazing cobalt feathers. Of course, I'd have to pick a dwindling species to be my favourite. Later that day I'd find him and even capture him with my camera--a little extra gift from God, I am certain. And while I am overjoyed in catching sight of new and returning flying creatures, I'm always on the lookout for my darling bluebirds.

Giddy For Spring

"Mommy, come see!"

They know how to get me up out of my chair. Admittedly, I can get lost in my reading or conversation with a friend and ignore my children's attempts to get my attention when I'm needing a break. However, they've got it figured out that pointing out a new bird or fresh evidence of spring makes me giddy and so they use that ploy. Sometimes it's real and sometimes it's devised, but I'll give them points just for trying. ;)  My children also know it doesn't take much to convince me that we should all pile into the truck, loaded with bikes and scooters and head to the woods or park. Schoolwork completed first, of course :)

 

Since spring is the long-awaited sigh of relief after a very cold, seemingly eternal winter, every sign of it is like one more blossom in our basket of spring hopefulness. Every still-cool day and every rainy one causes us to long even more for the predictably warm and balmy weeks ahead. Nevertheless, we've taken our chances and ventured to our favourite spots to gather more hope. 

When the snow was teasing us with its melting and then returned once more.

Mama watches with joy as her swing-set is being used once again.

Tufted titmouse at my mom's. LOVE seeing new birds (to us) when it seems we've exhausted all our learning about the regular visitors there.

Sliding into the creek at "Auntie" Sandee's and their new puppy trying to rescue him.

 Favourite pastime, if you hadn't noticed :)

What we tend to ignore all summer and fall is like a gem in the spring when you're anxiously looking for signs that winter is over.

Happy to wave at the caterpillar but doesn't want to touch. We'll train her soon enough :)

God's handiwork draws me to worship at every turn.

This killdeer fakes a broken wing to lure us away from his wife who stands over their nest of eggs.

First two eggs, the next day three, and a couple days later, we counted four!

We try not to bother them (too much).

 Night Heron. A couple of trees full of fourteen of them! A wow factor indeed, for all of us.

 My first brown creeper. LOVE that Emily pointed him out. She catches things quicker than anyone.

 LOVE the kind birdwatchers who came to find us just to show us this Eastern Screech Owl. Another first!

Cute little menace :)

 

I cannot express my giddiness over the exploratory adventures we will encounter in the coming days.

   Happy Spring! XO 

He Doesn't Belong

I felt my heart leap as I raised my lens to snap fifty or so photos of this wee feathery guy. My son's "Life Bird" was pecking the seeds just ten feet from us and we couldn't believe our eyes. You see, he's not supposed to be this far north. His tiny body craves the warmth of the south year round and we don't know how he lost his way--no one does. Not even the professional bird-watching photographers who stood in awe beside us--bazooka lenses mounted on tripods, covered in camouflage--could hazard a guess.

 

Oliver bent low and marked the occasion in his bird file folder while Meg lifted the camera from my neck to capture a cheery cardinal who seemed to show off just a little and command some of the attention himself. All of us shivered in the -8 degrees, biting air. It was worth it. We'd not only viewed a beautiful miracle of God, but were also gifted the time to photograph him. Since that day, many prayers have been whispered for his tiny self to survive the days to come until he can rest easy in the warm Spring breeze or decide to migrate home.

lovely Painted Bunting (God must have had fun with this one, especially) 

 

Thanks, Annie, for sharing the email that led us to the little park where he had been spotted.

(Like we always say, "Springies Forever!")