Yesterday was one of those rare times when the view beyond my kitchen window was drab.
After sliding around for a couple of days on receding snow, it was mud that nearly took my feet from under me.
Still, the sparrows were singing a merry tune and there was a trace of colour in the driveway.
.
Awake at 2am this morning, I rose and wandering past the patio door, I thought the moon seemed awfully bright. But the sky had been overcast...
Looking closer: “Oh. Snow.”
The oracle had failed to mention that possibility.
.
The sparrows are not best pleased at having their bush all clogged up again.
.
They will be looking for extra rations.
A sedate couple waited patiently.
.
“Starlings as well as snow?”
“They have no manners!”
.
“With a beak like this…
…we don’t need manners.”
.
They just move in and take over.
.
Someone else was surprised by snow…
.
“This doesn’t look right.”
.
“I’m sure I came this way yesterday.”
“Perhaps I’d better ask…”
.
“Excuse me, dear boy…”
.
“Oudda my way Puff-ball!”
“I’s in a hurry here!”
.
“Oh! The shock!”
“It’s frightful, the way some birds behave!”
.
“What did he call me?”
“Puff-ball?”
.
Poor little dove!
She dallied rather long on the path and I worried that a hawk might spot her in that vulnerable place.
So I stood up and went to the window.
She flew to safety.
.
Leaving the starlings to disport themselves.
“Hey you lot! There’s nuts under here!”
.
“So go get them!”
“Well, it might be a trick!”
.
“It’s alright! Reinforcements!”
“Now we’ll get them!”
.
“Oh, hello?”
“Where’d they go?”
.
“Well, see, they went in there half of an hour ago.”
“But they d’int come back!”
.
In the end they all went in.
.
And soon they were coming and going.
.
This snow is the heavy, wet sort, plastered against the north side of trees by vicious wind gusts.
The temperature is just above freezing but the wind chill makes it feel like 24F/-4C.
February is predicted to get off to a chilly start, though not as chilly as it once would have been.
.
This looks like my cue to serve those extra rations.
Thank you, Carolyn, for the wonderful photos of your visitors, the various birds! And their conversations are not bad either! It is heart warming to see how well you are looking after all of them! Thank you!
Joanna
I’ve just ordered in extra supplies!
Oh yes, the only thing that makes me feel better when it’s so cold, is to enjoy a hearty meal … I think I’m much the same as your birds Carolyn! Thank you for the funny dialogue between your feathered friends and lovely photos of the dove.
Why were you awake at 2am?
That black ice is so slippery. I really don’t like walking on it and I’ve realised in the last month that my trekking boots no longer have much tread, so it’s even worse.
Lovely photos. 🙂
Puffball is a good name for fluffy pigeons. As we seem to have escaped Winter in Beetley thus far, I supect it will arrive late, and possibly ruin March. It was up to 12C here today, and not set to drop to back to 0 until next week at the earliest. The warmer weather brought rain though. Better than snow, as far as I am concerned.
Best wishes, Pete.