Following Wednesday’s sudden decorative snow squall, we were graced with another brilliant day.
Washing dishes, I noticed the most rotund robin I have ever seen, sitting proudly in the sparrow hedge.
In my experience, birds flee at the sight of a camera.
This robin fixed me with its eye and thrust out its fine breast.
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While there are lots of these American robins about, we don’t often see them on our property and I don’t remember ever seeing one in the hedge.
Later that day, it came to pose for me in front of the office window, offering several angles like a runway model.
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Can I be sure it was the same bird?
Well no, but I like the notion.
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Particularly since, two days later, there it was again on the snow-covered wheelbarrow.
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“Now take this side.”
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With the smallest head tilt it seemed to engage me.
That feeling you get when you know someone is looking at you?
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In my view, everything about birds is special.
I feel there is something almost other-worldly about them. I can’t say why I think so, I just always have.
So I asked myself if this robin was a messenger.
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What message?
I don’t know and it doesn’t matter.
It’s like a kiss. You can’t hold it in your hand yet it means so much.
Just a good feeling.
Mrs Cardinal was back again as well.
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I’m awfully fond of her.
Perhaps you guessed.
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Birds have taken over the post today, obviously.
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Overnight a foot of snow arrived.
Brattish starlings descended on the suet feeders.
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???
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A cowbird and a redwing shared a hedge and practiced their mating rituals.
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“Oi! Who’re you flirting with?”
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“Well not you, that’s for sure!”
“You stick on your side o’ the hedge.”
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Ms Cowbird was safely chaperoned.
“Don’t worry Notso,”
“We’ll protect your virtue.”
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For a while I watched a squirrel tunnelling in the snow for nuts.
As a result I was in the right place at the right time for another treat…
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The northern flicker is another of those birds we don’t often see and I was astonished to see one land beside the squirrel.
Even more surprised that it did not immediately fly off, considering I was standing close to the sliding door.
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Snow turned to freezing rain, coating all surfaces in a sheath of ice which can be visually stunning, but alas so very damaging.
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This post, and your sweet pictures, made me smile today….🤗
I especially loved seeing your little robin friend, and Mrs. Cardinal!
The squirrels were having so much fun in the snow.
The northern Flickr is beautiful!
Thank you for sharing. So much fun to look at!
Catherine
The northern flicker looks like a clown who is half way through putting his makeup on and I reckon the squirrel was building a snowman!
All these animals are magnificent !
Great flicker pics!
Others are great too, but that last flicker is outstanding!
Robins are brave, and do not seem to fear people. The two ‘regulars’ in our garden always sit close to the house, and definitely stare at the kitchen window. I feel sure they are asking one of us to go out and put down some food.
The squirrel looks cute in the snow. Luckily, we have still had no snow at all.
Best wishes, Pete.
It seems to me that the robin really wanted you to take pictures of him, while Mrs Cardinal probably just came to make sure the robin wasn’t stealing her limelight. I enjoyed the squirrel’s antics, but how beautiful is the northern flicker. You were quite lucky with your bird sightings on this day!