The mornings on the porch have been wonderful the last two days. I was greeted on New Year's Day by Goldfinches crowding all the feeders, including one I brought home from the Griffin gift exchange. Today I spent a lot of time chasing Woodpeckers around the property. Enjoy.
Happy New Year, Dan. Take a close look at this bird. Study it well. This is a sparrow. I know we don't get them at the office often, but last week we had a few.
Another surprise at the office last week was not one, but two Wrens on the seed feeder. A rare sight indeed.
The angle gives this bird some interesting proportions.
The Wren; loudest bird for the size.
Just as I mentioned Goldfinches at the house, they were crowding the feeders at the office this week as well. We have in this pic a male Lesser Goldfinch, a female Lesser, and a male American Goldfinch with his winter coat on.
In the summer all that tan is bright yellow, and he gets a little black cap. (Not like vireo!)
This is the feeder I, actually Jan, brought home from the family gift exchange. The Cardinal offered an interesting backdrop for the Sparrow.
One moment it was filled with Sparrows, and the next Goldfinches.
I elect this pose for my new blog signature shot.
There were six of these tree rodents in my feeders at one time. It is more fun to stomp my feet and watch them bail out.
In the silence you hear the tap-tap-tapping from the grove of oaks and pecans down by the creek. I was amazed at my variety today. This one is the Downy Woodpecker.
You probably think I'm joking, but this is a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. It is one of the few woodpeckers that has red on its throat as well as its head.
My apologies for the quality, but I was amused that I caught him in mid-hop. This is a Ladder-back Woodpecker, much more common in our neighborhood.
While stalking the woodpeckers, I camped out by a still place on the creek where birds might come for a drink. If you look closely, when the Mockingbird lifted his head, drops of water escaped his beak.
We'll close with a shot of a Sparrow and Goldfinch at the new feeder. I pray you will keep in mind this year that His eye is on YOU.
The Roost is one of those special family time places. It was different this year without the Papa Roadrunner, Dad. But his spirit was definitely alive and well at the gathering. In some ways even elevated!
All kinds of in-laws and out-laws were able to attend this year. It was great to have Mike Baughman's parents down from New Jersey, as well as Amber Adams' parents, Jay and Loraine Davis. As they say, the more, the merrier!
Mawmaw Sylvia with her son-in-law Tommy and her #10 Great-grand Thomas James Adams.
And here's a bird that has returned to the Roost. Johnny Smith was a foster child that was living with Mom and Dad the year they bought the Roost. He's proud to say he was the first one to play in the woods across the ravine. It was a special blessing to have him join our celebration.
Mike and Rachel Baughman put together the most wonderful book about the Roadrunner and the Roost. It is illustrated with all kinds of photos through the years of the family. Look for it in bookstores near you soon!
Jan saved rose petals from one of Dad's wreaths, and assembled them in an arrangement for Mawmaw.
The family always has a good time with the gift 'exchange'. Isn't that a nice word for stealing people's stuff? Jimmy was really proud of this apron and food steamer. I think he ended up with an IHOP gift card!
Proud mom and dad, Amber and John Adams, with baby Thomas. Since he was youngest, he got top ornament on Mawmaw's Christmas tree, illustrated on the shirt John is wearing.
I was blessed by my sister-in-law Bridgette, who quilted old family Christmas shirts as a gift to me. I was overwhelmed. Even my brother David helped do the quilting. Unbelievable!
And here's the flock of Roadrunners that made it to the Roost this year. I know those that missed, really missed. But you can count on the porch light being on next time.
