After planting a large number of pansies in various window boxes, planters and pots, the swing beckoned and I sucomned to its siren call. Am I glad I did! What a wonderful few minutes to enjoy the gentle flowing of the stream from the waterfall to the pond; the chatter of birds in the trees, the soft sighing of the wind on the air and most wonderful of all…the first hummingbirds of the season!
I had put out food a few days ago knowing that they were due to arrive any time! And I knew they would be very hungry! So they were! One made a dive bomb from a nearby tree straight for the feeder coming to a screeching halt a short distance from the feeder and then quickly changed direction to make a two point landing on the ring circling the feeder. He drank without taking a breath for about 30 seconds! Then he flew off to another tree. Soon his mate came racing to the feeder too. There were about 3 of them so I’m hoping to have quite a few this year. Time to hang the other two feeders to attract even more.
Love enjoying meals outside with the hummingbirds as they whiz by making such a racket for such a tiny bird. And the chatter when they are vying for food…good thing they aren’t bigger or we’d have to be afraid of them! LOL
Up in the nearby tree a goldfinch was singing his heart out. Chattering away at the top of his lungs. When I looked closer I noticed a female sitting nearby on the same branch completely ignoring the male. He hopped down to be closer, but he turned his back while he told her why she should choose in and not that upstart in another tree.
The male kept up a multinote song and chatter but the female although she sat and listened to him, didn’t seem that interested. After about 10 minutes she jumped down to a lower branch, the male followed still singing at the top of his voice. A few minutes went by and the female jumped to another lower branch. Again the male followed and stared straight into her face giving the full power of his song, but to no avail. After a few minutes, the female flew rapidly to a far away tree leaving the male singing, but not so strongly or loudly. He was heartbroken!
The turkeys are also being very busy with mating rituals. There are two toms with a flock of about 30 hens in a field at the edge of the Iron Mountain Inn’s property and sometimes I will see a hen running down the driveway looking for the rest of the flock. Turkeys certainly are awkward runners…..!
Last night was the first whip-poor-will. Started his call right on time…9:00 p.m.! But last night there were 3 of them calling to one another across the trees., It will be interesting to see if as time goes by we are down to one as last year. I’d love to see them, but since they only come out at night and are very small I doubt if I’ll ever be able to see one in person,
The trees are rustling just outside the door.,.It sounds like a car is coming up the gravel driveway, but I’m not expecting anyone and the cats aren’t on high alert so it’s just the trees waving at the sun and enjoying this beautiful warm sunny day.