... Backyard drama

Double the drama and go LARGE

Well, actually, it wasn't very dramatic unless you count the resplendent display put on by one of the tom turkeys. Today, the hens (all 12 of 'em) showed up for a snack followed closely by two toms, one of who was practicing for the upcoming mating season by airing out his plumage. The hens were completely unimpressed, as you can see here. And, no one was in the least impressed when this neighborhood cat, in a fit of hopeless optimism, stalked the rafter of turkeys. I mean, c'mon, even the smallest turkey is double to triple the size of the cat! Once the daft cat realized that he was A) outnumbered and B) smaller than everyone else on the playing field, he slunk back into the woods.

By the way, it is a bit early for the turkeys to be breeding, and my birder friend told me that most likely this male was just practicing his moves.

A banner morning at the feeders when two Eastern bluebirds showed up for a drink, one of them staying around for a few extra minutes of camera time. They were quickly followed by a pair of Carolina Wrens, one of natures busiest little birds! I saw one of them checking out my nest box. Keep your fingers crossed. Then, because that and the turkeys weren't enough, when I went out to get the mail, a saw a mixed flock of several hundred starlings and American robins in the yard, and a group of cedar waxwings feeding in the cedar trees!! This is only the second time I've seen a cedar waxwing - they don't eat seeds or suet and have a large feeding range in the winter. They were eating the cedar berries high in the trees. It was quite magical to watch them as the snow came down in big lazy flakes. Not the best picture, but I was pretty far away and it was snowing heavily. But, you can see the tell-tale flash of yellow.

This stinking cold has me in its death grip, so I am going to succumb to the demands of my body and lie down for a bit. No lens yet, by the way, but it should be here sometime this afternoon... Tomorrow is supposed to be a nice day so hoping to take the new lens out for a test drive!

Thanks so much for all the lovely comments, hearts and stars on yesterday's finch - didn't expect him to be such a crowd pleaser. The finches are relatively plain little birds and I think that a lot of us over look them. In fact, they are lovely litle things with beautiful feather patterns.

It's Wednesday...