Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Happiness Bird



We had been greeted by the second snow of the season. It was soft and white and fell from the branches like big globs of cotton that had been pulled from some abandoned comforter in the sky. The snow was damp and clung to the tree bark, the dried leaves and then fell lumpy on the lawn as soon as the sun warmed the air. I dressed in my new Michelin-man coat that I had purchased half price at the outdoor store just the week before. It was a comfy warm just like the down of a bird because that was what was inside!

We decided that a walk was in order as the temperature had actually climbed to the tempting level of 37 F and the wind had died down.

Since we had not taken the walk to the cliffs and beach in months it was decided that would be perfect.  We were a just over a mile down this trail and as we rounded the corner path that followed the swamp we saw about twelve of these curious (they were not curious to us but we were curious to them) blue birds flying just over head.  They were nice enough to rest between dives and study us to allow a photo shoot.





There is something very inspiring and hopeful about seeing bluebirds in the middle of winter.  If such lovely delicate creatures can deal with this mess, so can I.




16 comments:

  1. Marvelous photos - such beautiful little birds. We have robins winter over here and they are a welcome sight after a storm though what they find to eat is a puzzle.

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  2. What gorgeous little birds indeed! Thanks for letting us go on your walk with you.

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  3. They're so sweet. I'm always amazed at some birds allowing us that close access for photos. It makes me feel so grateful for these tender little beings. Beautiful shots.

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  4. the birds remind up to still fly and frolick...enjoy the snow...we have freezing rain coming our way at the end of the week.

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  5. Aren't the Bluebirds just absolutely gorgeous, Tabor???? They certainly come to our feeders much more when the weather is BAD here.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  6. I saw a pair of bluebirds checking out their house - yesterday.
    They make me think of Spring.
    Beautiful images.

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  7. What beautiful closeup shots of these birds! I love the colors, especially the blue on its head in the second photo!

    I wonder what it would be like to walk over a mile in 37-degree weather. Brrr. I'm cold just thinking about it.

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  8. Bluebirds must know something we don't.
    Is somebody feeding them?

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  9. You're right, especially up north with the snow. But even down here I was admiring wading birds flying to to there roosts for the night. It was soothing to watch them fly in from all directions.

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  10. These are great photos of perfectly beautiful little birds. I never think of looking for them this time of year, but I wonder if they have been coming back and I just haven't noticed? We have had almost no snow here all winter, and the hummingbirds never even left.

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  11. Beautiful pictures. :)

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  12. I love my Blue Birds. I was lucky that, when I was wrecking poles for the phone company I would find the sections with woodpecker holes in them. The Blue Birds loved nesting in them. I would cut out those sections of the pole and bring them to my property and nail them up. I know that every year they will have their home waiting on them when they get here.

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  13. Those look like the bluebirds of happiness all right. We never see them here in the winter. They and your photos or them are beautiful.

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  14. Your last series of photos reminds me of my little corner of the world. Here in southern New Brunswick (Canada), we have recently been seeing more bluebirds. They always make me feel giddy.

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  15. I can imagine your delight! Your photos are such a treat, especially since I don't see those little beauties in or near our yard. We have boxes up, but only tree swallows and sparrows (who are promptly evicted) use them for nesting, and then go elsewhere to lay their eggs.
    Hopefully one of these days we'll see bluebirds here.
    My hubby has a new down jacket too and says it's very warm. Maybe I should get one.
    We have pouring rain today and melting snow. The 53º air outdoors this morning felt amazingly warm!

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  16. Consumed with bluebird envy, Tabor - know they'll never come to my city garden, but I'd just like to see some somewhere in real life! And to have them pose for you is too cool

    Annie at the Transplantable Rose

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Glad to hear from you once again. I really like these visits. Come sit on this log and tell me what you are thinking.