My guess is that these little flyers’ (below), first flights happened this very morning, and probably not more than an hour or two before these photographs were made.
I’ve noticed an increase in birds, bees, butterflies, worms, etc in my gardens in the last few years. Since our community started “no mow May”, (which has been revised a bit but the concept remains), it gives more time in the spring to give bees and insects a start. And I’ve made a deliberate attempt to go natural and keep their habitat clean. Your explanation of the birds diet rang true!
I gasped, grabbed my heart, and said a prayer of gratitude for these beautiful words and images. The little puff ball with the with flies and your video are so precious. Bushtits and more visit my yard now that I've allowed the purple sprouting broccoli to grow to tree size.
I am delighted to say that I have been watching a couple of parent blue tits raid my garden for insect food and my aphid-laden roses have been the focus of their raids and long may it continue ....
I have just returned through dusky light from a quick visit to a nursery, a three baby owl nursery... I could hear them calling mom for their supper delivery with their baby owl voices, tchk-tchk-tchchchk, from the canopy of mingling ash and wild cherry leaves. But, alas, the dusk was too dusky and the leaves too lush and I watched, more than a little glumly, only one departing silhouette. Hitching up my disappointment, I walked back up the hill thinking maybe tomorrow I'll be lucky.
Then, with tea and cake as consolation for failed endeavours, I sit and read your exquisite feathered poems, am so delighted by the intimacy captured through your lens my disappointment is forgotten - I had just walked through the cutest nursery ever!
"Then, with tea and cake as consolation for failed endeavours, I sit and read..."
You are so good at setting the stage. I absolutely love this sentence... It seems a rather profound and friendly coda.
And the thought, dear Susie of adding some consolation in follow-up to a dance with increasing darkness, and owlets heard but not much seen...
Of course, I'd know nothing of any of this, but for your generous soul, who reports back on such things with kind words and encouragements. It is good to be friended by a poet at living, a storyteller, such as you.
Update from just last night. I was awakened by a Great Horned 🦉 Owl last night who flew in and stationed up just above those lady’s slippers. I kept quiet, but she had much to comment upon.
Your posts always leave me feeling complete. Thank you for sharing your wonder. Today I found a dead yellow rumped warbler and I was so sad. Thank you for offering life 🙏.
Goodness, I was on that journey with you while reading this and seeing your gorgeous photos! Thank you!
Totally in agreement with no bug spraying. My urban backyard is filled with native plants and those that attract our pollinators. It’s truly a blessing to sit and watch and listen. 🫶🏼
Delightful! Now, if only I could figure out a way to discourage starlings from hanging out and pooping on our patio. Raptor calls seem to diminish their sorties….
Beautiful little birds!
I’ve noticed an increase in birds, bees, butterflies, worms, etc in my gardens in the last few years. Since our community started “no mow May”, (which has been revised a bit but the concept remains), it gives more time in the spring to give bees and insects a start. And I’ve made a deliberate attempt to go natural and keep their habitat clean. Your explanation of the birds diet rang true!
I gasped, grabbed my heart, and said a prayer of gratitude for these beautiful words and images. The little puff ball with the with flies and your video are so precious. Bushtits and more visit my yard now that I've allowed the purple sprouting broccoli to grow to tree size.
Bless you, Mama Carole.
Absolutely, positively made my heart smile looking at these sweethearts. Thank you so much for sharing.
I am delighted to say that I have been watching a couple of parent blue tits raid my garden for insect food and my aphid-laden roses have been the focus of their raids and long may it continue ....
Here! Here!
I have just returned through dusky light from a quick visit to a nursery, a three baby owl nursery... I could hear them calling mom for their supper delivery with their baby owl voices, tchk-tchk-tchchchk, from the canopy of mingling ash and wild cherry leaves. But, alas, the dusk was too dusky and the leaves too lush and I watched, more than a little glumly, only one departing silhouette. Hitching up my disappointment, I walked back up the hill thinking maybe tomorrow I'll be lucky.
Then, with tea and cake as consolation for failed endeavours, I sit and read your exquisite feathered poems, am so delighted by the intimacy captured through your lens my disappointment is forgotten - I had just walked through the cutest nursery ever!
Namaste dear David - thank you
"Then, with tea and cake as consolation for failed endeavours, I sit and read..."
You are so good at setting the stage. I absolutely love this sentence... It seems a rather profound and friendly coda.
And the thought, dear Susie of adding some consolation in follow-up to a dance with increasing darkness, and owlets heard but not much seen...
Of course, I'd know nothing of any of this, but for your generous soul, who reports back on such things with kind words and encouragements. It is good to be friended by a poet at living, a storyteller, such as you.
I am most grateful.
Update from just last night. I was awakened by a Great Horned 🦉 Owl last night who flew in and stationed up just above those lady’s slippers. I kept quiet, but she had much to comment upon.
The 2025 editions of robin, towhee, and junco have appeared in the last few days here.
Your posts always leave me feeling complete. Thank you for sharing your wonder. Today I found a dead yellow rumped warbler and I was so sad. Thank you for offering life 🙏.
Gorgeous photos David. It amazes me that so many people still mindlessly spray their gardens - to control "weeds" and the "bad" insects.
Everything is connected! 💚💚💚
"Everything is connected!"
Amen!
Bush tits are adorable, and these babies are even more so. Thank you for sharing!
I'm chuckling. I needed to pinch myself when two goldfinches showed up at a marsh recently.
Wondrous beautiful lessons here. Thank you. Thank you. I am sharing.
To have our fretfulness washed clean by tiny fluffy poems, such joy David 💛
thanks, pal.
🙏
Another absolute delight! Thank you David. 🙏
I'm so pleased that this one found its target, my friend.
Goodness, I was on that journey with you while reading this and seeing your gorgeous photos! Thank you!
Totally in agreement with no bug spraying. My urban backyard is filled with native plants and those that attract our pollinators. It’s truly a blessing to sit and watch and listen. 🫶🏼
Thank you, Vickie, for accepting my invitation and coming along on this journey.
Delightful! Now, if only I could figure out a way to discourage starlings from hanging out and pooping on our patio. Raptor calls seem to diminish their sorties….
So far, the frequently played raptor calls seem to be discouraging them….
Starlings are indeed a complicated set of circumstances...
Perhaps you could bake them into a pie.
🤣
That means getting them first. No firearms at our place…
A laundry basket tilted up on one side with a stick and a piece of string, perhaps?
Four and twenty blackbirds…
Simply replace the blackbirds with Starlings in your recipe.