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

It was an unusual slate colored junco–more commonly called “snow” birds. Usually you only see the white on their tail wings as they flick them but this particular bird had one side of its tail showing white all the time.  I noticed this particular bird for weeks.  It was about a week until spring and they migrate north so don’t know how much longer that bird will be around.  It seemed only a few weeks ago we had a large snow storm and slate colored juncos were all over the yard feeding on the birdseed I put out on the top of the snow.

Tags: bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, birds migrate, birdseed, Slate-colored Junco, snow birds, snow storm, white tail wings
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Before I know it the slate covered juncos will be gone. There is a reason they are, also, called “snow” birds. The snow will melt, the temperatures will rise and they they will migrate North and will not return till next year. I keep checking the ten day forecast and temperatures will hit the forties in a few days and gradually rise and spring will be here–now only three weeks away. Last I checked the daffodils were not poking their head out of the ground but I have not looked in a week. The blooming of the crocus and primrose are not far away and then I will have to make daily inspections for the next sign of spring. Spring is a time of rebirth.

Tags: birds, birds migrate, crocus, daffodils, primrose, slate covered juncos and their imminent migration, snow, snow birds, spring, Spring flowers, spring is three weeks away, spring rebirth
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Where do the slate-colored juncos go in the warm weather? It is still relatively cold and they still are in the yard feeding on the birdseed on the ground. There are less of them. I know they will disappear when it gets warmer and no more snow. I thought I read they migrate further north. I am really curious. I have to look it up in one of my bird books. It is usually the other way around. Some birds migrate when it become colder. Not those birds. They usually arrive when the first snow comes. It is a mystery to me.

Tags: bird books, bird-watching, birds, birdseed, migration, slate--colored juncos, snow and cold and juncos, snow birds
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I spotted my first slate-colored junco in the yard two days ago.  I guess winter and snow is on its way.  The bird’s flittering back white wings was unmistakable.  It vanished into the undergrowth of the gigantic bush.  I saw my second one today.  Last night we got a smattering of snow.  I have a friend who calls them “snow” birds so, maybe, the sighting was no accident.  They are often found in flocks so as we get more snow I may see more.  I never see them in the summer.  It is a mystery to me where they go then.

Tags: bird-watching, birds, Fall, first sighting of Slate-Colored Junco, first smattering of snow, it no longer feels like summer, Junco bird, Slate-colored Junco, snow birds, summer, winter
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The slate-covered juncos are here.  I saw several in the backyard.  Their flashing white tails were unmistakable.  I have a friend who calls them ‘snow birds’.  No snow yet but I have not seen one in the front of my yard.  Anyway, I figure it will be any day and they will feed on my bird seed now.  Maybe, it will take snow first to have them to feed on my seed.

Tags: bird feeding, bird seed, bird-watching, birds, slate covered juncos, snow, snow birds, white tails
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“501 Must Visit Natural Wonders Of The World,” is a book I have that has extraordinary accompanying photos on glossy paper.  I think this book was a Christmas present to my wife.  I am sure I bought it in the discount bin of a big book store.

Every once in a while I open it up and view one amazingly beautiful photo after another.  Travelling is not an option for me.  It is not that I would not mind.

If you can’t view the beauty right in front of you, a trip to one of these spots would be a waste of time and money.  I do not feel impoverished.  I am still thrilled every spring when life awakens.

For that matter, winter has its own beauty.  The Susquehanna River viewed from the top of the valley still takes my breath away.  Snowfalls isolate the street I live on and all the trees that are covered with white.  This only happens a few times a year.

I still love watching the birds come to and fro my feeders I view out side our large living room window.  It was not that long ago that the slate covered juncos came back.  I have a friend that calls them ‘snow birds’.

I have no need to go far to see beauty.  You first have to see what is in front of you before you travel at great expense to see the foreign and the exotic.  I will leaf through this book but I will not lust after these places depicted in glossy photographs.

I know there is much to see in my own backyard so I don’t have to go far to see beauty.  I just have to open my eyes and pay closer attention.  Wonders are all around.

Tags: beautiful photo, beauty right in front of you, bird feeding, bird-feeders, bird-watching, birds, Christmas present, foreign and exotic places, life awakens, my own backyard, my wife, natural wonders of the world, open my eyes, pay attention, see beauty, see what is in front of you, slate covered juncos, snow birds, snowfalls, spring, Susquehanna River, travelling, trees covered with white, winter, wonders are all around
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All I wanted to do was watch the birds and listen to music with the volume pumped up but not unbearably so.  My wife would be gone several hours.  I had just come back from shopping.

I had a dinner planned–a new recipe-macaroni and broccoli but I would not have to start it for several hours.  I was tickled pink to see a house sparrow briefly.  I had not seen one in awhile.

The snow birds (slate-covered juncos) were feeding on the ground around our large white pine tree in flocks.  I glanced out the back window:  the bare patches were getting bigger.  It was in the forties.

It felt great to be alive.  I just wanted to be, sit back, stand it does not matter.  It was my time.  I was listening to a fine anthology I put together by the Hollies.  It was much played over the years which is a good sign I did my job of mixing the tunes well.

Another anthology by Steeleye Span (an old British folk-rock band) was next.  I do not play that tape too often but I still like it.  And an old (all my music is old) Thin Lizzy album “Jailbreak” was next.

I had no concerns and will rest a little better when my wife get back from her appointments.  Meanwhile I will occasionally glance out my large living room window and see what birds come along.  Maybe even smoke a stogy while life passes me by.

Tags: "Jailbreak", bird feeding, bird-watching, birds, British folk-rock band, felt great to be alive, house sparrow, life, listen to music, music, music anthology, my time, my wife, record album, slate covered juncos, smoke a stogy, snow birds, Steeleye Span, the Hollies, Thin Lizzy, white pine tree
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There were lots of birds feeding in my yard in this storm.  I sprinkled some birdseed two and an half hours ago on the snow.  I counted about a dozen slate cover juncos feeding on the ground (my friend calls them appropriately snow birds).

I saw as many as three downy woodpeckers on the trunk of my large white pine tree at one time.  They do take turns feeding on the suet.  And of course there were the squirrels.  I did see “stumpy” a squirrel who is missing part of his tail.

A female cardinal made its appearance briefly.  And there was the occasional Carolina wren.  A little later I will toss a little more bird seed on the ground.  I do not want to waste any.

There still is some sunflower seeds on our porch not covered by snow.  The birds keep coming.  And I have my eyes open for any unusual visitors.

Tags: bird feeding, bird seed, bird-watching, birds, cardinal, Carolina wren, downy woodpecker, my yard, nature, slate covered junco, snow, snow birds, snow storm, squirrels, stumpy, suet, sunflower seeds, white pine tree
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