Birds in a Puddle :)

I was just commenting to someone the other day about the great number of birds this year. There are quite a few gold finches - which I have never seen here in the winter before. Lots of juncos, and house finches, of course and sparrows.
We just had a down pour and there was so much excitement outside - little bird bodies everywhere! Flying from trees and shrubs to feeders and in every puddle in the yard! It was delightful to watch!
Unfortunately, this photo had to be taken through my kitchen window :( I know, I know - but if I had opened a window or the door, well...you know the story ;)

First Snow

In the last couple of days, it seems that many parts of the country has had a "1st Snow" - and I was least of all expecting it this morning when I woke up. It is just a dusting, but it lifts my spirits to a level of excitement, expectation, wonder, and delight. That's the one thing that has never changed in my whole life - the love of my world lightly covered in snow. Have a wonderful Sunday!

I sing the mighty power of God, that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad, and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God’s command, and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord, who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word, and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed, where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread, or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flower below, but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be, Thou, God art present there.

One Year

(photo taken with iPhone a couple of mornings ago)

It was one year ago, today, I wrote my first posts on "My Bird Sanctuary Dream." I have only 142 posts, but I took lots of photos and I am amazed at how much I've learned this year! I can recognize many more species now. I can identify more songs than I knew before. I've learned some of their unique characteristics. I have really enjoyed them coming to my feeders and have fallen in love with many birds that I didn't take a passing glance at before; and, I've gotten a little better with the camera(s) at hand.
But, the greatest discovery of the year was getting to know all of you! From the encouraging and helpful comments you've left on my blog, to the window into your lives through reading your blogs - it all added up to finding a circle of friends that not only has birding in common, but also the struggles and joys of life in general.
I don't know where birding goes from here for me, but it will always be a part of my life to some degree. Because of my life, right now, bird news is scarce; I keep the feeders full, and there is lots of activity, but there's nothing "new" to share. However, I do love the nature that surrounds me and can't help sharing that with you sometimes.
I wanted to thank you for making this year a delight! Thank you for all that you've shared with me - and, in case I don't get to post between now and the end of the year, I want to wish you all beautiful, meaningful holiday moments and lots of birds at your feeders! God bless!

Happy Thanksgiving to all

May your Thanksgiving day be filled with
pleasant, warm moments
which will turn into
lasting memories...
treasures of your heart

Big Rain - Big River!

It was a gorgeous afternoon when we went into Walmart. Twenty minutes later, the sky had completely changed!

We've been having a lot of rain the last couple of weeks. A couple of nights ago, it poured with winds gusting up to 50 mph! When I was driving home from Walmart, I noticed the river was very high, so I dropped my daughter off at home and drove back to get pictures of the river before this next storm comes!

I barely got the last shot when it started to rain. By the time I ran back across the bridge to the van, it was pouring! I was drenched! --- but, so happy!

Feeders and Sunlight

One of the few things I did today (after recuperating from a night of battling a bug?), was to fill up the tray feeder. It seems the birds prefer that feeder and there's not as much waste. So...should I get another one?

Anyway, while I was out there, I heard a significant fluttering in the trees behind the garage. At first, I thought Tinkerbell was hunting; but she was only a few feet away from me. Then I saw lots of birds flying out of the trees in that area and a second later....a beautiful hawk or falcon! ! ! It took my breath away! I don't know how it got in and out from behind the garage, but the take-off was spectacular! I'm sorry to say - no camera and no identification - it all happened so fast. :(

Meanwhile, I have a flock of juncos right now, plenty of house finches still, a few gold finches and the rare sparrow - so I'm filling the feeders regularly. It's fun to see all the activity out there again.

I am thinking about moving the feeders across the driveway. If you look at past photos, you will see, that especially in the winter, the sun rarely hits the feeders. They are only 6 feet from the house on the north side. Across the drive, the sunlight is there almost all day. Does anyone have any thoughts on that? Initially, they were positioned to be part of a sanctuary I was planning - but my plans have changed and the dream won't be coming true - at least for now.

What IS that Masked Bandit???

Sorry for the poor quality photo - but I didn't want to scare it before getting a shot - and my hunch was right. I took the photo from in my kitchen - zoomed in with the Panasonic Lumix - not fancy. As soon as I got the first shot, he took off.
I've looked in two bird books and can't find it! I even looked under "racoon bird" --- you're laughing now, I know ;)
Can anyone identify this bird?
Have a wonderful Sunday!