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The Sun has looked baleful these past few days and it was not a surprise to get an air quality alert yesterday.
We were hoping for a healthy downpour to clear it up but what we have today is dreary drizzle which is uninspiring and ineffective.
Never mind. It will pass.
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No other subject coming to mind…
A groundhog always makes me smile.
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How delightful it has been to see this family flourish.
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Of the four siblings, two are so closely bonded we call them the twins and they are quite gregarious.
Number One all but takes carrots from my hand. Number Two is gaining confidence slowly.
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Then a few days ago…
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Number Three suddenly popped out.
Number Four is doing well but is smaller and quite shy.
Annoyingly, as I took this video, a car pulled into the driveway interrupting.
My buddies don’t come to feed with me every day which makes it all the more special when they do.
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From the first time I saw a groundhog outside the kitchen window, I felt that they watch us though I have no way of knowing this to be true.
Still, we wave and talk to them.
Which pleases us, if not them.
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Sometimes a bunny joins the food line.
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Afternoon Red turns up late in the day for his snacks. He has quite a few siblings or cousins, but we haven’t seen the original Little Red for some time and wonder if she has gone back to the Tree of Life.
She certainly did her bit for her species, re-populating our trees.
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Sometimes even Zoomer the chipmunk grabs a piece of carrot, though peanuts are his preferred food.
How precious are all these creatures?
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Young grackles are maturing, gaining the wonderful iridescent shine that marks their species.
Though their eyes are also a real giveaway.
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Sparrows may be common but are equally loved.
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They keep the feeders spinning with whoever else is on board.
I love reading your comments about the creatures in your yard (and your cats too) and your great photos. Thank you.
-Gladys
The video was great. I liked how the ‘main muncher’ didn’t run away from the car, and the one on the right stopped eating carrot to get some corn or seed. A ‘balanced diet’, obviously. I love to see those Groundhogs!
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you, Carolyn, for the wonderful pictures of your friends It is always a great pleasure to see them so well looked after and happy!
Joanna
PS. You missed the post about Mozart’s Starling despite that it included more than just the book! Why?
I read your wonderful post and commented:
Thank you for re-posting this wonderful piece, Joanna. As I wrote earlier, I do not seek to understand the mysteries of our astonishing world but my gut tells me that birds have a connection to, I suppose you would call it the Divine, the Intelligence or the Power that drives all things natural and I have always believed that the great composers like Mozart got their inspiration through a spiritual connection. So it is no surprise to me that Mozart had a pet starling. As always, you have put together a wonderful collection of information, images, videos and such lovely music. It is such a treat to read your posts. And I could watch starling murmurations for hours. I have only ever seen them on film. In actuality I would be overwhelmed! In the best way.
I don’t know why but my comments don’t register on one other person’s blog posts either which is vexing. I would not miss your posts!
Thank you, Carolyn, for your wonderfully insightful comments! I have the same feeling about Mozart’s Divine, spiritual inspiration. In the Shawshank Redemption, one of the prisoners said after listening to Mozart’s aria from The Marriage of Figaro, this was written by an angel. I thought you would like everything about starlings, and I am elated that you read my post. Thank you!
Joanna
Wonderful commentary as always!
Ha, it’s funny to see how the groundhog sits down to eat – no longer in a hurry at all and very relaxed! What a privilege to be able to sit so close to them and watch them. I just went outside to give seeds to the birds in our garden and they don’t fly away anymore (especially the doves) – they just move a little further away and when I turn around, they almost encircle me to get to the food!