Barred Owl swooping over deck

Last Sunday evening, the barred owl just after dark swooped over the deck.  Quite a sight and somewhat disconcerting!

A week for wildlife and lots of nature oddities

I have seen a Barred owl in front of my house last week, early in the morning.  It took flight and flew behind the house.   A few days prior I heard its call off in the distance.   Also on Aug 3rd saw a rainbow in the early morning and late afternoon.  They say that is a good omen, I hope so.  We have adequate rain this summer, all is growing well.

Humidity and mid summer

It has been hot and very humid with some thunderstorms almost daily.   A few mornings ago
I heard a hoot owl in the damp woods across from my house.   Nice

Owl in twilight

Last night out my front door was a hoot owl, as I call them, hunting rabbits
they are in abundance this year.  This owl was on the ground across the way and regrettably
flew up when I stepped outside.

Bitter cold and feeding the birds

My feeders are full and I hope the birds and the squirrels will survive.

A New Year, a time of renewal and contemplation

With the passing of another year, I reflect on Merton's thoughts in both his Asian Journal and
Contemplative prayer............I am a man in need of much work! on my soul and my actions with others I am quite frankly a spirtual mess!

Deer in the early morning mist

I woke around dawn and looked out into the deep woods and saw 2 young does eating in the near woods.  They were quiet as mice and I too was silent.

Squirrels and scavenger activity around bird feeders and bird seed

I store my bird seed in a container, apparently it needs to be metal, since the squirrels have gnawed through and are eating up my bird seed!   Next trip to the store I must find a metal trash can, of olden times design to keep out the damn squirrels!

Late Fall and the Bird Feeders are out!

It is a sharp, cold morning, I have my feeders out since Nov 1st.  I have been visited by 3 distinct types of Woodpeckers,  Downy, yellow bellied sapsucker and a 3rd as yet untyped bird...

I have black sunflower, cracked corn and specific woodpecker feed at my feeders

Warm and now wet summer

The last 2 weeks have been wet and warm with high tempretures in the 80's
Looking forward to a dry time to dry out.

Warm sunshine

We are now out of spring and going straight into summer.   High temps today in the upper 80's
but no humidity so far.

Blackberry Winter

We have been experiencing a cool rainy period here the last few days.....What old timers call "Blackberry Winter."

Proper identification of Woodpecker has occured

After over a week of diligent observation.  My identification of a black backed three toed woodpecker
has been amended.....turns out it is a large Downy Woodpecker.   My intial observations were from greater distances and my mistake was the rapid hammering sound of both species does sound similar.
It would have been a tremendous sighting if it had been a Black Backed three toed since Tennessee is very far south for that species...... I am glad to update my identification and certainly am glad I did not contact my friends at Cornell Lab of Ornothology with a wrong identification.

late winter storms-spring- Black back three toed woodpecker?

We had many late winter storms, ice and snow until late march.  Than it became warmer.
Now, it is april the trees are budding and life renews.  Yesterday April 3rd,  I saw and heard what might be a black back three toed woodpecker...however it also may be a  Hairy woodpecker they
have make the same hammering sound on dead trees.    I will search more with my good binoculars tomorrow.... it is now dark.

Now late February- the birds at my feeder

 I sit now in late twilight before dark and watch those last chickadees, cardinals, sparrows and an occasional woodpecker, some say the tufted maybe the downy, alight on my birdfeeders seeking their last evening meal before dark closes them in their roosts.

Woodpeckers and snow

Today, early just after sunrise the downy woodpecker was at his favorite tree.....tonite the snow will fall.

Nyjer seed unappetizing?

I bought some Nyjer seed this fall to feed the song birds, and frankly it appears unappetizing to the birds.  I also feed black oil sunflower seed and that is like always being consumed with reckless abandonment.   The small Nyjer seed is just not being eaten.......

Homemade oil lamp and paraffin lamp oil

I made an oil lamp out of a pottery cup, using a ceramic wick holder and synthetic wick.  Cannot wait to try it out tonite.

Cold artic blast-bird feeders-unsheltered human travailers

Today is the beginning of "true winter", if any such thing can happen in the south.  This morning it is in the 20's dropping throughout the day to the low single digits tonite.   I recall living north of here in the not to distant past, lows of 20-30 below zero during winter.  

I have filled and refilled my bird feeders to supplement my dear friends who must make it through the cold!!!!!
Stay warm my feathered friends
Stay warm those unsheltered human fellow travailers on this orbs journey into cold night.

Fall rain and chance of snow

The rain has fell all day,  I went outside and with hat and rain coat I walked around listening to the patter of the rain drops.  Tonite possible snow.