Word for the Year

Quite a few people I know are choosing a word for the year, to help drive their goals or resolutions. I find it difficult to choose just one word! Hubby has already chosen his: HOPE!

I like that a lot, and was near choosing it, myself. But I didn't want to jump on his bandwagon word, just because. Since he has HOPE and I am his partner, I decided to choose my own so we could "cover more ground" with our dreams and goals this year. Now the three that I have narrowed down are: 

BRAVE

INSPIRED

ABUNDANT

Surely their is not a thing wrong with having a trio of words now, is there? ;-)

I appreciate how these words encompass not only intentional, purposeful action, but deameanor, attitude, and emotion, as well.

What's your word for 2014?

Javamom

late winter birding

American Goldfinch

These babies came back to our yard about a month ago, just in time for the Great Backyard Bird Count. We have 6-8 of them coming in regularly to feed.

I truly wish I had offered more entries on birding over the last year, but I find it more and more difficult to blog. It is so much easier to post photos to facebook and get more responses there! :::sigh::: to the changing face of social networking...


More later. I really do wish to write and publish more backyard birding confessions and photos. Maybe now that things have settled down somewhat. Well, with the exception of our last child's May graduation from high school and leap into more responsibililty.

Did any of my readers participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count?

Sincerely,

Javamom

First Day of GBBC - Cedar Waxwings!

This has been the winter of Cedar Waxwings here at the cottage.

And this is the closest they have gotten to the house.

(all rights reserved. Photos by Javamom copyright 2012)


There was not better day for them to show up to be counted!

It is day one of The Great Backyard Bird Count.

And this was about 1/5th of the group that visited today. They drank together

and even seemed to wait 'patiently' in line for a second turn at the bird bath.

I don't mind that they left quite a mess behind. It will rain and wash it all away tomorrow.

We have enjoyed these interesting birds. I had no visual idea of how small they actually are. I thought they would be the size of a blue jay, but they are more the size of a female cardinal.


Are any of you participating in the GBBC this year??

Let me know!

Javamom

Northern Flicker

I have never noticed a Northern Flicker in our neighborhood or yard before.

This morning, I spotted a large bird moving about in the neighbor's yard, so I grabbed the telephoto lens to check it out. Imagine my surprise and joy upon seeing this Flicker!

More exciting is that the Annual Great Backyard Bird Count begins soon! Check it out and count the birds in your yard.

Javamom

Woodpeckers!

I promised to share a fun fact about Woodpeckers as soon as I got the chance to do so. Some of you may already know this. Woodpeckers like to tuck food away to save for later. I vaguely remember hearing about this once, but had not thought about it in a long time. That is, I had forgotten the random information until I saw it happening right in front of my camera lens!

This is a female red-bellied woodpecker. Females have grey on top of their heads, whereas their spouses have a completely red head.

Photos by Javamom, all Rights Reserved

She takes another seed to hide in a completely different tree on our property.

Do you feed and observe woodpeckers in your own yards? They like bugs, yes, but they will also enjoy black sunflower seeds and suet cakes.

Enjoy!

Javamom

"Our" Hawk, part two

This time, the hawk lingered

I think  it had already eaten...otherwise it would be going after the white-winged dove there in the tree.

As I close January, all I can say is that this has been a delightful month of birding and photography every day. Sometimes, it was all about capturing a particular bird, no matter the form of the photo. Hawks (and indeed other birds) being quick, one doesn't have much time to set up the best composition. Other shots captured this month were all about the bird behavior. Happily, I was able to set up and compose some really lovely shots this month, as well.

Have any of my readers enjoyed any special birds or made new birding observations this month?
Let me know!

Javamom

"Our" Hawk

The typical bird 'drop' to launch for flight

Watch out Mr. Finch! Do not move an inch - King Kong is behind you

Seriously...nobody move

And there he goes
(All photos by me, all rights reserved)

In Honor of "our" hawk, I'll share a poem by one of the poets we are studying this term, Alfred Noyes   Enjoy!

Javamom

The Island Hawk

Hushed are the whimpering winds on the hill,
Dumb is the shrinking plain,
And the songs that enchanted the woods are still
As I shoot to the skies again!
Does the blood grow black on my fierce bent beak,
Does the down still cling to my claw?
Who brightened these eyes for the prey they seek?
Life, I follow thy law!
For I am the hawk, the hawk, the hawk!
Who knoweth my pitiless breast?
Who watcheth me sway in the wild wind's way?
Flee – flee – for I quest, I quest.

As I glide and glide with my peering head,
Or swerve at a puff of smoke,
Who watcheth my wings on the wind outspread,
Here – gone – with an instant stroke?
Who toucheth the glory of life I feel
As I buffet this great glad gale,
Spire and spire to the cloud-world, wheel,
Loosen my wings and sail?
For I am the hawk, the island hawk,
Who knoweth my pitiless breast?
Who watcheth me sway in the sun's bright way?
Flee – flee – for I quest, I quest.

My mate in the nest on the high bright tree
Blazing with dawn and dew,
She knoweth the gleam of the world and the glee
As I drop like a bolt from the blue.
She knoweth the fire of the level flight
As I skim, close, close to the ground,
With the long grass lashing my breast and the bright
Dew-drops flashing around.
She watcheth the hawk, the hawk, the hawk
(Oh, the red-blotched eggs in the nest!)
Watcheth him sway in the sun's bright way.
Flee – flee – for I quest, I quest.

She builded her nest on the high bright wold,
She was taught in a world afar
The lore that is only an April old
Yet old as the evening star.
Life of a far off ancient day
In an hour unhooded her eyes.
In the time of the budding of one green spray
She was wise as the stars are wise.
An eyas in eyry, a yellow-eyed hawk,
On the old elm's burgeoning breast,
She watcheth me sway in the wild wind's way.
Flee – flee – for I quest, I quest.

She hath ridden on white Arabian steeds
Thro' the ringing English dells,
For the joy of a great queen, hunting in state,
To the music of golden bells.
A queen's fair fingers have drawn the hood
And tossed her aloft in the blue,
A white hand eager for needless blood.
I hunt for the needs of two.
A haggard in yarak, a hawk, a hawk!
Who knoweth my pitiless breast?
Who watcheth me sway in the sun's bright way?
Flee – flee – for I quest, I quest.

Who fashioned her wide and splendid eyes
That have stared in the eyes of kings?
With a silken twist she was looped to their wrist:
She has clawed at their jewelled rings!
Who flung her first thro' the crimson dawn
To pluck him a prey from the skies,
When the love-light shone upon lake and lawn
In the valleys of Paradise?
Who fashioned the hawk, the hawk, the hawk,
Bent beak and pitiless breast?
Who watcheth him sway in the wild wind's way?
Flee – flee – for I quest, I quest.

Is there ever a song in all the world
Shall say how the quest began
With the beak and the wings that have made us kings
And cruel – almost – as man?
The wild wind whimpers across the heath
Where the sad little tufts of blue
And the red-stained grey little feathers of death
Flutter! Who fashioned us? Who?
Who fashioned the scimitar wings of the hawk,
Bent beak and arrowy breast?
Who watcheth him sway in the sun's bright way?
Flee – flee – for I quest, I quest.

Alfred Noyes

Storm-a-Comin'!

...and the birds have been extra antsy today, snapping up seeds and suet with urgency, before the storm arrives. Even 18.5 yo college son, who loves sports and country music, noticed ;-).

I look forward to checking out my photos shot during their 'urgency' this afternoon.


Stay tuned! In the meantime, I will share something I had forgotten about woodpeckers (and one reason that led to why I forgot it).


Javamom

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

This is a new bird to our feeders this year. I am pretty sure we have two of these  little, plump, quick kinglets. One has a more distinctive, tiny dot of red on the top of his head, and the other doesn't seem to have one, at all. The only way I can tell, because they are so quick, is by photographing them and checking the details later.

It is a very windy day at the cottage, so it is hard for this little guy to hang on. I thought it rather funny, though slightly trecherous for him!

Hang on, little bird!

Tired bird finally gave up. Thank goodness the suet contains high protein to help sustain his extra efforts at flying and hanging on today.

Javamom

Hawk Stalking

January 8th Hawk Stalking results:

It was competely overcast and chilly, but no wind.

adorable American Kestrel

Red-tail hawk? not sure b/c of the strips.

This is Henry the hawk, one at the edge of our neighborhood that we've watched from afar for years, now. He did not like me getting "close" to take his photo, so I had to be more sneaky, hide behind the car door and shoot from there. My longest lens is a 200-400. Yes, a better one (1200) is on my wishlist!

Later, after observing other hawks down the road, he came back around. My strategy to stay behind the car door worked pretty well, as he didn't scare off so quickly. Not bad for my first time out trying to capture him.

coming in for another landing

The backside of Henry

Henry the hawk (red-tail-pretty sure anyway)

Two red-tail hawks

the hawk on the right

the hawk on the left

so beautiful

 The above hawks keep their distance from our neighborhood.

We have a hawk (Coopers or Sharp-shinned...probably a Coopers hawk, as he is larger) and a falcon that regularly visit our backyard to look for "lunch." I am almost always trying to keep my camera ready for them, but it is not easy. They like to do the hunting and not be 'the hunted.'

We are planning another outing soon!

Javamom

Mrs. Finch

Here is the female finch that I was writing about. See how she has pin feathers sticking out from her eye?

She also has a tumor or two above her left eye. I wonder what happened. She has been around the cottage for months, now, but I also wonder how long she will last, and if she can see out of her left eye. We have a lot of hawks in the area (which may not even bother with her, because she is so small) and American Kestrels (which do like small prey).

Another view of the feathers poking out of her eye.

She decides to try and wash them out ~

Poor girl, trying so hard to wash the irritants out of her eye, or so it seems.

Because here, she seems so weary and tired. The eye malady has burdened her for months that I've noticed her.

More to come, if we see here again. The temps dropped and I have not spotted her at the feeders for a couple of days :-(.

Javamom