I think the high was 27 degrees today. I don't know why I pulled on my big ole boots today... I didn't even go outside, except to go out a couple of times to fill the bird feeders..... and later this evening we walked about 200 steps ... probably less.... over to our daughter's house to check in... say hello.... see how they're doing and tell them we're still doing okay. It was slick walking.... just like walking on ice. Well... that's EXACTLY what it was!
So what if I have on 2 wool sweaters.... and wool socks... and jeans... and for a while had on a fleece vest as well? And all that's while I'm inside.... I need even more when I go out.
In yesterday's blog I mentioned my "juvenile" mourning doves. Truth is, I really questioned what the heck these guys were, but they just didn't fit either the Inca nor the Mourning dove. I am fortunate that I have a couple (I think more) expert birders who take the time to read my blog. They set me straight on the real identity of these guys. (Wonder if it helped that they are both native Texans?)
A Pair of Inca Doves
(kind of blurry... taken from a window)
(kind of blurry... taken from a window)
Maybe we all need to take a lesson from these guys...
Stick together.... stay close.... huddle up....
It's COLD here... But these guys know how to stay warm!
Yeah... stay close to the one you love.... and you know... it doesn't even matter what the temperature outside is... it sure makes life a lot better!
After my last mistaken bird, I'll try again with this guy...
A Fox Sparrow?
He's a lot bigger than the little chipping sparrows here.... but why the heck is he by himself? The only one that I've seen here. If I'm lucky, someone will tell me who he is....
We hear the blue jays all the time, but until the weather got icy and snowy, they turned up their noses (beaks?) at our feeders. But it's not pretty out there (Wrong! it IS pretty, just treacherous!) but the blue jays are visiting us now. I know... they can be bullies.... but... darn! aren't they pretty?
And speaking of bullies....
I'm still working on whether these guys are crows or ravens. I tend to think they're crows. Did you know that a whole bunch of crows is called a "murder of crows"? Yeah... it sure is..... I read a lot of mysteries... I know these things ;-)
You know what? The mailman hasn't been around since Thursday. Whatever happened to "Neither rain, nor snow, nor....."????
Sure doesn't apply to the USPS these days....
Maybe they just figure everyone does e-mail and Facebook and all that stuff.... but still.....
However... Saturday night....
Prairie Home Companion is on the radio...
You can count on Garrison to hang out in your home on Saturday evening... while you knit... or read... or have dinner.....
Doesn't matter....
The weather outside might be horrid, but here, in our motorhome,
All is Well....
That's All For Today!
I liked seeing your birds. I'm not sure on the identities either. I don't believe I have ever seen a Fox Sparrow. I think the black one might be a Crow. And of course, I do recognize the Blue Jay. We've had a few hanging around as well. It's 28 below zero here this morning. Brrrrr!! But we're looking on the bright side: It was down to -33 when we went to bed last night. lol
ReplyDeleteSounds much like our day COLD but at least the highways were ice free for a while.
ReplyDeleteMuch nice for us to have electricity when its this cold. But sunshine and warmer weather will soon be back, yippee!
Definitely a fox sparrow. They're not very common and often winter alone in brushy patches of woodlands. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is ironic isn't it--we have below zero temps and a foot of snow--our mailman comes and both the UPS and FedEx guys have been to our house every day. But ice is a different matter--I've lived in Arkansas and Texas--it's nasty stuff!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the midst of a bird revolt here. Since the feeders went up we've been inundated. But I didn't want to thread through the Christmas traffic to the expensive bird seed store in the next town, so I researched some kinds on the internet, found a decent one supposedly carried by ACE, and went to my lovely ACE hardware store, just up a couple of country roads. They only had ACE brand, so I came home with a bag. Now the pail is full to the top with it, as are the two big feeders, and NO BIRDS! Well, the flying pigs on the finch feeder. This afternoon all the ACE stuff will go into the woods for the deer and my grandson and I will shoulder his way through traffic to get the preferred brand. The little brats.
ReplyDeleteYou notice that postal saying doesn't include anything about ice. I'd much rather have three feet of snow than any ice. Love your birds. But it's just too cold even with my love to keep me warm.
ReplyDeleteI learned that if the tail is straight across, it's a crow. If it's rounded, it's a raven.
ReplyDeleteWe've haven't gotten above 30 for the last 2 days. I poured hot water on the RV steps so we could get in and out, they were frozen and slick!
Teri
markteri.blogspot.com
Look after yourselves and keep warm. We northerners tend to snicker at how southerners handle winter. Your conditions are not funny,but dangerous in many ways as you are not prepared for this weather.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Prairie Home Companion!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Judith, it is a Fox Sparrow.
ReplyDeleteI think there was a movie called "A Murder of Crows" as well. I love Prairie Home Companion but it seem I never listen to the radio unless I'm in the car.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking crow because ravens have a prominent Roman nose. Were there a lot of them or just one or two? Crows tend to travel in groups; ravens are more solitary.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice post...I felt all cozy and warm just reading it...
ReplyDeleteGreat info. Love learning about the birds...
ReplyDelete