A Fallen Flicker

 

This Northern Flicker just fell dead from the sky yesterday and landed right in the middle of the place where I sit in my  Adirondack chairs in the way back. I don't usually do post-mortem photography but I decided to take photos of this beautiful bird before moving him to a more out of the way spot. I turned him over to reveal the yellow flight feathers on these birds here in the east. Out west they are red. Click on the link to learn more about this woodpecker and listen to his call. I'd still like to know what happened to this poor Flicker.

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Wonderful Bird Bath

Someone is all set for spring and Easter. I love this old cast cement bird bath, don't you? It looks like one that will never spring a leak and can stay outside all year long. via

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Albino Peacock Showing Off

The white peacock (or white peafowl) is a color variety of the Indian Blue Peacock. photo by Silvain de Munck

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Are You An Early Bird?

If this doesn't signify spring, I don't know what does. I wonder if this determined robin fell over backwards when the worm finally let go? via Pinterest

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An Owl's Wingspan

I wish I could have seen this perfect two-point landing by this beautiful owl. via Animals and Birds 

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Angry Bird

I've never played the game Angry Birds, have you? This owl could be he poster child for it. He's probably not angry at all. His eyes look absolutely electric, don't they? Have a great weekend. via

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Bird of Many Colors

Coat of many Colors by Davidgois. I love this bird's choice of feather colors...simply gorgeous! via

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Rockin' Robin

I took this photo last year -- don't remember when. I have big fat robins hopping around all over my lawn but they won't pose for a picture. Spring must be right around the corner if these birds are back, right? Have a great weekend.

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While we are on the subject of SWANS

Will it fit? Don't you wish we knew why this swan needed to be driven somewhere? And on the passenger side too! via

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Audubon's Birds of America - One Page Per Day

   PHILADELPHIA (AP) – One of the world's rarest and most valuable books is out of the vault and on public view as part of an unusual daily ritual at the oldest natural history museum in the United States.

   Every weekday at 3:15 p.m., a white-gloved staff member of the Academy of Natural Sciences lifts the locked protective cover from 19th century naturalist John James Audubon's influential book, The Birds of America, and turns a double elephant folio linen-backed page to reveal the bird of the day. More than 180 years after Audubon created the life-size illustrations that now link his name with ornithology, their vibrant watercolors and fine details are still remarkable.
   Full article here. View the birds being unveiled day by day.

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Snowboarding Crow

I always knew crows were smart but I have to say this video really surprised and delighted me. A family with a good view of this steep rooftop recorded a crow repeatedly using a round plastic lid as a snowboard. I guess birds like to have fun too! Click here if you can't see the show below.

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Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds

click photo to enlarge

This iPhone photo snapped from my third floor window doesn't even begin to show the number of blackbirds flying into the woods. What a sight to behold at my cottage this afternoon. Blackbird pie is not on tonight's menu.

click photo to enlarge

This happy family appears to be thrilled to see such a pie on their dinner table. Here is another Randolph Caldecott drawing from one of my antiquarian books illustrating the nursery rhyme Sing A Song for Sixpence.

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Natural Materials...

At Story North, we are focusing on our products 

that are made of natural materials this season. 

And what is more beautiful and inspiring than wood in both its 

raw and crafted form?

Not much that I can think of....

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As you know, at Story North, we have hand 

picked home accessories that mean something to us and the collection 

of wooden pieces from different designers and makers is no exception;

1. Birds

2. Raw Candleabra

3. Dots

4. Dala Horse

Don't forget your Lovenordic discount code ;)

LN10

♥♥♥

l o v e n o r d i c 

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Cottage Time

For The Birds

Hurt no living thing, Ladybird nor butterfly, 

Nor moth with dusty wing, 

Nor cricket chirping cheerfully…’ 

Christina Rosetti

First thing in the Winter mornings, I can hear the chatter of the birds as they forage for their breakfast. 

Several varieties visit my garden through the winter - Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Mourning Dove, Cardinal, Blue Jay, House Finch, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker and Dark-eyed Junco. 

The birds have spent the night expending their energy to keep warm through the cold nights and they need a little extra help finding food in the winters.

This is why I let a lot of my plants go to seed; I allow the berry bushes to retain their berries and I let the crabapple tree keep its apples. They seem to be a favorite of the Blue Jays and the Cardinals.

Along with the birdseed, I like the kind that are primarily the black sunflower seed and dried fruits, that I add to the garden’s offerings, I like to make homemade suet feeders. 

I also like to place around my garden sliced oranges or apples coated with seed. These give the birds extra energy.

Clean water and keeping the bird feeder area cleaned and swept is good for the birds and also for my garden.

I count it a privilege to share my garden with God’s precious creatures. God has so graciously provided us with beauty and wonderful music through these birds, I feel it is an honor to work along side to care for them.

I hope you also enjoy the birds as much as I as well as give them aid during these cold winter months.

I am sharing this post with

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Wishing you a very Delightsome week,

images taken from Pinterest

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Snowy Owl in Flight over Snowy Landscape

Amazingly beautiful photo via

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Bird Feathers Designed by Mother Nature

via

via

Mother Nature really is the best graphic designer on the planet.

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Antique Bird Prints

I love this mixed media image I scanned from an old copy of Town and Country magazine. I have always admired these antiquarian prints from The Natural History of Birds, by Eleazar Albin, published between 1731 and 1738. These large scale hand-colored antique bird prints are favored by decoupage artist John Derian. When reproduced and laser printed they make wonderful trays. 

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Great Flocks of Black Birds in a Murmuration

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo. Watch....it's wonderful. via

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Silhouettes On The Shades, Or Windows, Or Fireplace . . . .

Last year, 'long about Halloween time,
I decorated our Parlor mantel.

With bats.

 Lots of bats.

  Even sleeping bats.

I found the bat silhouettes at Michaels, all cut out and ready to hang; how easy was that decorating?

This season, if you want to go

silhouette-happy at a bargain basement price,

check out Dollar Tree's Halloween offerings.

Yes, I went silhouette-happy.

Big time.

They are smaller silhouettes than the ones I got at Michael's,

but they are also way cheaper.

So I plan on sticking them -- literally -- everywhere.

In a couple of weeks, you won't be able to look in a mirror or out a window

at That Old House without this looking back at you:

Don't you think these cunning lil' rodents are just the thing

to scamper up and down the conservatory window frames?

Anyway -- just a heads-up because you know how fast the best stuff at Dollar Tree sells out.

Is it odd to use best stuff and Dollar Tree in the same sentence?

That cute little pumpkin with the "Give Thanks" is also a Dollar Tree buckaroo buy.

It is really cute and can stay out till Thanksgiving.   We like multi-tasking.

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Can you believe the North East is getting battered by rain today?

Other parts of the USA need rain but it's the last thing we need right now.

We are not out from under the last storm; there are people in New Jersey still without power,

and many without homes at this point; their flood-damaged places have been condemned or need rebuilding.

Every county in the state has been declared a disaster area (and no cracks about New Jersey and disaster areas!).

And . . . all this rain is bringing down the leaves.  Too soon!

Go away, rain and wind.  Come back in 4 weeks, please.

Leaves on the sunroom roof.  Blargh!

Now I'm putting away my cheapo silhouettes in a safe place . . .

meaning I will look for them in October and not find them until Groundhog Day.

I hope I still have the ones I used last year!

Link Parties!

Marty at A Stroll Through Life hosts Tabletop Tuesday.  Click here!

At Coastal Charm, it's Linda's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday.  Click here!

I'm crazy late with this post -- almost didn't bother but I did want to share the Dollar Tree silhouettes.

Tomorrow?  Tropical Storm Irene and our Beach House  -- Cass

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Boats at Versailles

When we came down the hill from the chateau at Versailles it was so beautiful, the water and the trees, so amazing and so vast.  I was really amazed by the size of the entire place and the gardens.  

They have an area where you can rent row boats, which was so fun (the girls were down with it) and a great picnic space.   Which I will do next time for sure!  

There were the most beautiful swans nesting right on the dock, which I have never seen them nest anywhere!  So so cool.. She was so proud and her nest was made of huge sticks which she kept adjusting.

If I was going to go again I would go outside and do the gardens first and then go back to the chateau and take the tour to avoid the crowds.  I loved it there it was so romantic and so different from anything here at home.

images by christina for greige

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