Had I but wings like thine

Well, it’ll be back to the real world for me tomorrow and after two whole weeks off from work, I believe it might be a little difficult. Especially when so many others have the day off.

So rather than dwell upon the situation, I spent some time yesterday and early this morning getting things ready for my return. (My clothes are ready and so are my lunch choices). Today we had some company out for New Year’s and the weather was absolutely beautiful. In fact, the whole weekend was rather nice, weather-wise.

I shot some photos of the various birds at the feeders and have come to the conclusion that if we had an additional different seed, we’d get a bigger variety of birds. The only seed we provide here at the Casa de George is oiled sunflower but we do have several suet cakes, and these attract the woodpeckers and nuthatches.

I hope you’re paying attention because there’s going to be a test later.

 

You think I’m kidding, don’t you?

Common visitors to our feeders include the tufted titmouse above. They can be quite loud, especially when warning others about possible predators (me, I assume).

 

Another tufted titmouse on the wing.

 

The black-capped chickadee is a curious little bird who’s not the least bit shy.

 

This one’s sitting at the extreme top of the tree on a piece of dead wood up there.

 

The cardinal, on the other hand, is quite shy.

This is such a beautiful bird, but this one was hiding in the brush and difficult to capture today.

 

This white-breasted nuthatch is after the big seeds in the suet.

The nuthatch got its name from their habit of jamming large nuts and acorns into the bark of trees and then whacking on it with their sharp bill to ‘hatch’ out the seed.

This is a little bird, but it’s a pretty vocal one.

 

These two little male house finches were enjoying today’s 50 degree temperature while sunning themselves at the top of the dogwood tree. Of all the birds that visit our feeders, I enjoy the song of the little finch the most.

 

Here’s another.

I love the lacy shapes of the dogwood branches in the background.

 

Had I but wings like thine,
Free bird of flight,
To scale the heights that only wings can reach,
Or steer my passage o'er yon seas of light,
Whose cloudy beach
Is ever shifting like the sands of time.

~ Martha Lavinia Hoffman (1865-1900)

I am loving my new camera and the new lens. Have a great week, all. I hope the New Year brings peace and happiness.