The fields surrounding the levee were filled with chattering birds …
and adorned with vibrant spring wildflowers.
“Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke
It’s always interesting to see what birds we can spot as we drive around the lake and the Mississippi levee. Here are some of our most recent finds.
You’ll get mixed up,
of course, as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up with
many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great
tact and remember that
Life’s A Great Balancing Act.
~Dr. Seuss
In February we spotted an American robin foraging on the vibrant red berries of sumac shrubs which were growing in a colony along the roadside. The fruit of the sumac lasts throughout the winter and provides sustenance to our feathered friends that spend the winter here.
… Growing at field edges and in waste
places, most of us don’t notice the ruby glow.
Bluebirds, robins, and squirrels
know better, plucking at the jeweled lights
to keep their own fires burning.
~David K. Leff
Warmer weather has finally arrived. The landscape is becoming greener and new colorful blooms are appearing each day. It’s a smorgasbord of spring beauty and blessings.
The Spring came suddenly,
bursting upon the world as a
child bursts into a room with a
laugh and a shout and
hands full of flowers.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Recently, we experienced heavy rain followed shortly thereafter by a deep freeze. The ditches alongside our highway, which had been filled to the brim with water, quickly froze over.
As the temperatures warmed and the water receded, a frozen layer of ice remained at the high-water mark, clinging tightly to one side of the ditch while extending out over the lowering water level. For a time, the unsupported ice hung there frozen. Eventually it either cracked and collapsed under its own weight or slowly melted and joined the flowing water beneath it.
Seeing the ice suspended over the ditch made me think of the changes we face in life. We often grow accustomed to the way things are or to the way they have seemingly always been. As time inevitably moves forward and change comes, we can choose to remain frozen and unyielding, resisting new ideas and growth.
However, we can also choose to adapt, embracing the opportunity to move forward. Time never stands still, but change isn’t always a bad thing. It’s possible to cherish and honor the old while embracing the new.
Unfortunately, I failed to get photos of the ice on our busy highway. However, I noticed that a similar thing also occurred at the lake. As the water level dropped, it pulled away from the ice formations and left them suspended above it. Here are a few of those photos.
“The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” ~Socrates
“Change with the seasons of life. Don’t try to stretch a season into a lifetime.” ~Unknown
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” ~Alan Watts
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16
I enjoy bird watching while out in nature, especially during the winter months after the trees have shed their leaves and their branches are bare. The exposed landscape enhances visibility, allowing for a clearer view of the birds as well as the intricate designs formed by the branches, adding a unique beauty to the scenery.
“Winter perches like a bird. Wings tucked in so the soul is heard.” ~Angie Weiland-Crosby
At this time of year, the flooded fields along the Mississippi Flyway are teeming with a variety of ducks.
Mallards are seen most often,
but other types which winter in the area include Ruddy Ducks,
Northern Shovelers,
Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Gadwall and many others. What a joy to be able to see these ducks during the time that they spend here.
“Wild ducks and tomorrow both come without calling.” ~Russian Proverb
We are fortunate to have snow geese wintering in our area. They enjoy feeding on kernels of corn that have been left behind in harvested fields.
Snow geese in the fields …
taking to the air …
in the air …
and taking off in simultaneous flight.
“What captivated me was they sounded of wild places and the Arctic. That was probably the moment that got them into my soul.” ~Andy Bloomfield
A pair of Northern Mockingbirds can be seen almost year-round in our front yard. At this time of year, they are especially attracted to the bright red berries that cover our holly bushes. Mockingbirds find them to be a tasty treat. In addition, they are high in fat and nutrients, which keep them warm and help them make it through the winter.
“Holly berries shining red,
Mean a long winter, ’tis said.“
~The Old Farmer’s Almanac Book of Weather Lore
Meadowlarks are not a bird that I normally see, so I was excited to spot several out in a field near the Mississippi River. They were busily gathering grass seeds and grain. Their pop of yellow color livened up an otherwise dull landscape.
“The presence of a single bird can change everything for one who appreciates them.” ~Julie Zickefoose
walking on a country road 