I Spent the Weekend with Clark Gable
At least that’s what I’ve been calling the new male cardinal in our yard that doesn’t seem to be afraid of me, so much so that I wonder if he’s actually been showing off and posing. Listen HERE.
When you birdwatch every day for a couple of weeks (while recovering from surgery), you not only get to know all the birds in the neighborhood, you get to watch a second generation of them, like this tiny goldfinch.
The young birds seem far less timid than the adults. Or maybe I’m just blending in better. I also saw my first butterfly of the season and two hummingbirds (they’re too fast to photograph).
Even the thrashers have warmed up to me and will occasionally come up from their ground nests to check out the bird feeder. I learned that they look a lot like the elusive wood thrush but are bigger and have longer tails.
Virginia is not for lovers, as attested by the distance between this male and female cardinal.
I had just gotten off the phone with Joe (who was out of town teaching a self-care retreat) when I took the picture of the cardinals with their backs to each other. He told me about a contest to design a new logo for “Virginia is for Lovers.” Knowing I had been taking pictures of birds, he thought if I could capture a shot of a male and female cardinal together (the VA state bird), it could be a winner.
I think the reason they call girls “birds” in England is because birds catch your attention and turn your head. Flutter or flirt?
Yesterday, my friend who has been keeping up with my healing wanted to know if we should have tea and do some bird-watching together. I told her I had been obsessed with the birds all morning and that, “I might need to break up with them!” I went over her house and we bird-watched there.
This branch is the runway perch for close-ups. The Nuthatch walks it like a tightrope and sometimes hangs upside down.
The good news is that I’ve graduated from bird watching from my window to watching them on the porch, mine or a friend’s!
_____________Our World Tuesday
April 29th, 2018 4:40 pm
Absolutely stunning – gorgeous – flutteringly flit flirtatious!
Wonderful companions in recovery and sure to help healing! Great that you were also able to slip out and share a friend’s view and vista too.
April 29th, 2018 9:03 pm
Love bird watching! Great pics! Is the female Scarlett O’Hara and Clark saying , “I really don’t give a Dam.”
April 29th, 2018 9:32 pm
Good one, She!
April 30th, 2018 3:20 pm
Clark is a good looking bird! Hope you’re healing fast.
April 30th, 2018 3:45 pm
Porches are great places to recover especially in the company of birds and a good friend — and a cup of tea! Clark and Scarlett will get together eventually — keep your camera ready.
April 30th, 2018 3:45 pm
Wait a minute I mixed up my something or other there … Clark and Vivien? Rhett and Scarlett?
April 30th, 2018 4:09 pm
What a lovely post. Clark is so gorgeous!
Greetings from Sydney and have a great week ahead.
Shantana
April 30th, 2018 5:44 pm
Wow! You were in good company with our feathered friends and their songs ~ Lovely photo series!
Happy Week to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
May 1st, 2018 2:03 am
Ooo – your garden is lovely as is Clark Gable!
May 1st, 2018 1:23 pm
Wow! Not being familiar with the Nuthach, I had to Google it and there were SO many photos of upside-down nuthatches I couldn’t count them.
I do hope you are feeling better every day.
Meanwhile, thank you for sharing.
Kay
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
May 1st, 2018 8:20 pm
Looks like your yard is perfect for bird watching. – Margy
May 1st, 2018 9:25 pm
Birds and flowers, wonderful companions to help us heal. And, the camera. Can’t forget it. Cheers to you and a quick and easy recovery.
The View from the Top of the Ladder
January 20th, 2019 5:29 pm
The cardinal has a sweet sound. The Husband was disappointed that it was coming out of my computer and not outside.