Siggy's Blurbs: Siggy's Edge of Country …

Within five seconds I saw a chipmunk climb a tree and a hummingbird.  Usually you see chipmunks scurry on the ground.  I know they can climb trees but it was an unusual place to see it.  The animal was attracted by the scattered birdseed on the ground–some of it dropped by the feeding birds.  I have only seen a chipmunk climb a tree several times and I am always surprised when I see one do that.  I do not see chipmunks too often in this area but I know they are around.  I always love watching its antics.

Tags: bird feeding, birds, birdseed, chipmunk, hummingbird, I saw a chipmunk and hummingbird at the same time, the chipmunk was climbing the tree, the dropped birdseed attracts the chipmunks
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New Orleans hit a cold and wet spell.  It appears I will not make it into his pool.  I am spending a week there.  When I got home the weather was hitting seventy practically every day–a little warmer than I left.  I am still waiting to spot my first hummingbird here.  I saw two in my friend’s yard.  I just saw my first one.  My living room window is in view from the keyboard I am using to write this.

Tags: hummingbird, I saw my first hummingbird in New Orleans, it was too cold to go into my friend's pool, New Orleans, New Orleans area was cold and wet
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I did spot the first hummingbird.  It was not in PA but in my friend’s yard.  I was visiting a friend in another state.  It briefly hovered over one of his two bushes of red flowers.  The bird immediately disappeared.  My wife did not see any hummingbirds in our yard. Usually by the end of April I see one. Today is the last day of the month. Still no hummingbird there.

Tags: April, bird-watching, birds, bushes of red flowers, first hummingbird of the season, friend's yard, hummingbird, my wife, PA, spring, the bright red flowers attracted the hummingbird
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My wife will see the first hummingbird of the season.  I am going away.  I am jealous.

Traditionally the hummingbird (???) have been spotted by the end of April.  I leave for a week in less than forty-eight hours so I am running out of time.

Tags: April, bird feeder, bird-watching, birds, first hummingbird of the season, hummingbird, my wife, spring
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The hummingbird hovered over its feeder but did not feed.  I thought, maybe, it was time to put out fresh nectar and clean the feeder.  I did that and minutes after I put back the feeder the hummingbird was feeding on the nectar I had just prepared.  I was really glad to see the bird come back.

Tags: bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, fresh nectar, hummingbird, hummingbird feeder
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It was April 27 and I still have not seen the first hummingbird of the season.  I had my feeder out for at least a week and I was running out of time.  In less than three days I would be going on a trip.  In the past the first hummingbird was always seen by the end of April.  I only had two and an half days to make my first sighting.  I love watching hummingbirds and wonder whether I will see one before I leave on my trip.  Maybe, my wife will have to report back to me when she sees the first one.

Tags: bird feeder, bird-watching, birds, end of April, hummingbird, hummingbird feeder, my wife
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Union Square In San Francisco is an oasis in a sea of concrete.  There are all kinds of plants, trees and bushes and flowers.  There are few trees or flowers around it.  I was at the Cafe there and was amazed when a hummingbird zoomed in and out some flowers nearby.  All kind of questions came up.  Does it live in that area.  And if it doesn’t, where did it come from?  There simply were not many flowers nearby.  To me it was a little miracle the hummingbird found Union Square–an oasis to it.  Life is full of little miracles.  And the appearance of the hummingbird was one.  Every day miracles occur.  We just have to open our eyes and be receptive.  Miracles are not always earth shattering.

Tags: a little miracle, be receptive, birds, bushes, every day miracles occur, flowers, hummingbird, life is full of little miracles, miracles, open our eyes, plants, San Francisco, trees, Union Square
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Everything is by grace.  Today is a good day to count my blessings.  I am not in dialysis.  My kidney function has stabilized (the last three years).  It is not good but it is livable.  My wife loves me.  And my two sisters and my brother-in-law (and a friend) sent me birthday cards (and one check).  There is so much to be grateful of–two well running cars and a roof over my shoulders.  There is no pressing financial needs.  And I am surrounded by animals I love (in fact, there are eleven in this house).  I love watching the birds out my window.  And now I am waiting for the first hummingbird to find the nectar I just put out.  My life is not perfect but it is good.  I am aware God does not owe anything.  Everything is by grace.  And He owns everything.

Tags: animals I love, be grateful, bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, birthday cards, birthday check, cats, count my blessings, dogs, everything-is-by-grace, God, God does not owe anything, God owns everything, grade, house, hummingbird, kidney function stable, my birthday, my brother-in-law, my friend, my life, my sisters, my wife, nectar, not in dialysis, pets, two cars
Posted in balance, beauty, birds, God, health, life, local, marriage, money, nature, pets, relationships, seasons, time, wisdom | No Comments »

I made my first definite sighting of a hummingbird since I put out new nectar a few days ago.  In fact, it did not feed on the nectar but was attracted to the pink fuchsia flowers from a plant hanging only several feet from my feeder.  I was thrilled one was still in the area.  I did not think any more were.  There were several times I thought I spotted one but this was the first time I was sure.  Let us see if it comes back.  Most have migrated.  It is a straggler.  It is already in the first week of September.  They have a long journey to make.

Tags: bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, Fall, flowers, hummingbird, long journey, migrate, nectar, pink fuchsia, plants, seasons, September
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They could have been swallows.  I saw dozens alight on that wire and swirl above.  I never saw swallows migrate before.  It was early morning and they were over a mile away from water.  If I had to guess, they were cliff swallows.  I spotted them going through the “back way” into town.  I was surprised to see them.  Now is the time I usually see flocks of small blackbirds come through.  I still saw a hummingbird feed on my nectar today.  At least one has not decided to migrate.  Temperatures have fallen–the seventies.  Summer does not end for another three weeks.  There is no doubt Autumn has come already.

Tags: autumn, bird feeder, bird-watching, birds, blackbirds, cliff swallow, early morning, flock of birds, flocks, hummingbird, migrate, nectar, seasons, summer, swallows, town, water
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The hummingbirds that come to my feeder never fail to amaze me.  There is a steady stream of them.  The other day I actually saw two feeding at the same time.  There is such diversity in nature.  Take birds for example.  There are all sizes and all are colored differently.  Woodpeckers and nuthatches hug the trunk of our large pine tree and seldom can be seen on the ground.  The cardinals feed very warily on the ground and come in pairs.  And occasionally there is a surprise like an indigo bunting or some other bird I usually don’t see.  I keep a bird journal and note unusual visitors.  All I do is make sure the feeders are always filled and from my large living room window watch the parade of birds come and go all day.

Tags: bird feeder, bird journal, bird-watching, birds, cardinal, diversity in nature, God, hummingbird, indigo bunting, large window, nuthatches, pine tree, watch the birds come and go, woodpecker
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The hummingbird was feisty.  Despite at least an half a dozen bees who were hovering over the feeder, it was determined to sip nectar.  Its rear feathers expanded fan-like in an aggressive motion in response to the “invaders” to its personal space.  It was determined to get its share of sugar water.  I watched this scene from my large living room window with a bit of fascination.  The hummingbird would not be deterred by the swarming bees.  It was going to get its drink anyway.

Tags: bees, bird feeder, bird feeding, birds, feathers, hummingbird, hummingbird was feisty, large window, nectar, sugar water, swarming bees, watched from my window
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