The Sounds Of Spring

Howdy Friends,

Coffee Clutch this morning offered the first bird song chorus of the season. Yea I know Spring is officially with us yet, but the weather is. Spring peepers have been peeping the past few evenings, and afternoons too. I reckon they are so excited they’re putting in extra shows! 

I settled into my chair next to Kessy, poured my first cup and toasted the morning. The woods around the barn danced with melodies, solos and quartets. A true concert of majesty and talent.

A pileated woodpecker pounded out a rhythm almost too fast to follow, then let go his, “yak, yak, yak, yak” single note tune. Cardinals sang their duo from high in opposing trees. Mr. blue bird from his perch added a soft trill, almost blending with the more lively robin. Phoebes sang softly, “Phoebe ... phoebe,” chickadees their little shuffle of chatter sounding almost like a strumming washboard.

Truly a concert in the wild, what a perfect way to start the day! We hope yours is perfect too!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Birds, Fans and Coffee Clutch"

Howdy Folks,

We are surely stuck in a pattern of hot, humid and rain here in Appomattox, VA. Coffee Clutch started at 73 degrees and very still heavy air at 6:15 this morning. As I went about feeding the chickens, Saturday and Kessy the woods were alive with birdsong. I'd been missing that lately, a combination of birds not being very active and that doggone fan in the barn.

The Coffee Clutch bunch

Chores complete, I settled into my chair next to Kessy, and poured my first cup of Folgers from my thermos. The fan whirred. It's not too loud, but makes enough of a drone to muffle the bird song, darn it … I could faintly hear our busy little Wren chattering and singing, and thought I heard a Cardinal, and perhaps an Indigo Bunting too. I knew I heard the Scarlet Tanager. I tried hard to listen, but it was a muffled chorus, not a glorious symphony.

Kessy's barn is very open, only the north wall is closed, and that wall has widows. But nestled snugly in the trees as it is, when the summer humidity rolls in, and it's been exceptional this year, it gets very damp and heavy inside. So for most of the summer that fan hums, whirrs and moves air. And bother me. Kessy loves her fan and divides her time between the cool shade of the tall trees and standing in the breeze of her fan. The fan also help with flying pests. I have friends who have fans in their run-ins just for the purpose of keeping the biting flies out. And really, Kessy's bedroom is not much more than a run-in with a hay room, tack room, and storage room attached, and a twelve foot over hang running the 40 foot length. I always figured the big openings and long overhang would create plenty of natural ventilation, but not in this weather!

So as I sat sipping and trying to take in the morning birdsong I decided the fan must take a break. Switching it off instantly allowed the beautiful songs to drift inside, and I reveled in it. Kessy's munching added the perfect touch. Delightful.

We enjoyed the magical music show for exactly 2 minutes … Then the rain started again, heavy. All the chickens, and roosters, ran at warp speed for cover inside with us … The roosters lighted on the half wall, all 3 of them, and began to crow. And crow. Drowning out any hopes of listing to the Cardinal, Summer Tanager and the rest. I smiled to Kessy, switched the fan on again, and poured my second cup …

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Splendid Morning"

Howdy Folks,

Whippoorwills' calls drifted through our bedroom window rousing us even before the roosters began their morning crowing and cackling ritual. I chuckled when I surmised they'd decided to sleep in today but were awakened by competing Whippoorwills. From the bedroom window I can see the skyline begin to brighten behind tall trees, it hadn't yet.

Fumbling about I made coffee and got myself ready for Coffee Clutch with Kessy, the Whippoorwills encouraged me to get a move on, for a few more moments, then on cue, as the sky grew alive with color, they stopped. But the roosters were by then in full cadence. All 7 of them!

As I did my morning barn chores the Wrens who have nests in the chicken house accompanied me with a combination of scolding chatter and alternating flute like song.

Settled in my chair next to Kessy, Saturday at my feet, Tigger on my lap and Miss Kitty next to Saturday, I poured my first cup of steaming Folgers, gazed skyward and thanked God for a splendid morning. Something I do each morning, sun, rain, snow or wind. For isn't every morning splendid?

The Coffee Clutch Gang

 As Kessy munched the Wrens continued to sing, a hummingbird visited the feeder, and the Phoebes "chipped" as they darted here and there snaring insects to feed their nest bursting brood. Their nest is on a ledge in the rafters in Kessy's stall and those youngins are only days away from taking flight.

Doves and a Towhee joined the chickens at the scratch. A Yellow Warbler added his airy tune to the morning's glow. The woods around Kessy's barn are thick now with shining green leaves, giving a feeling of almost being swaddled in nature's beauty. Far distant in those thick woods a Wood Thrush's melody floated on crisp air, weaving between the thick leaves to surround the barn with the clearest notes of a most perfect background singer.

I hope you are having a splendid morning too!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Happy Monday"

Howdy Folks,

Last evening the Whippoorwills sang all around our house. Call after call floated through the blackness. Standing on the back porch it seemed we could almost feel the notes.

Our pink Dogwood is in full bloom and Ravishin' Robbie and I have seen hummers and butterflies checking out the pretty flowers. Beneath it, Robbie's Azalea bush is just beginning to open its red flowers.

 

Our Dogwood Tree

Yesterday while grooming Kessy and doing her pre-ride exercises we were "buzzed" several times by a male Hummingbird. We were not far from where the feeder hangs by the barn door, when it's up. We've not hung that one yet, just two on the porches. Do you suppose this little fellow was telling us to hang his feeder?

Mrs. Bluebird is sitting on 5 eggs, in her nest-box in the front yard. I had originally thought 4, but yesterday when Kessy and I were setting out for our afternoon ride I saw her fly out, so I rode over to the box and had a peek. Darling little nest ... The Phoebes have a complete nest in the barn; a Carolina Wren was checking the chicken house for a handy nook to build in, but no nest yet. During Coffee Clutch this morning a pair of Cardinals flitted about the treetops, clicking and chirping. They were sure silly making a big fuss as they went about searching for the perfect nesting site.

Plans are for Ravishin' Robbie and me to take our Spring Wildflower drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway on Wednesday. Can't wait for that. The mountain is simply a beautiful place to enjoy God's splendor. Last Spring we counted over twenty different varieties of wildflowers on our trip.

Sending wishes for everyone to have a Happy Monday and great week!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

"Bird Watching With Kessy- What a Ride!"

Howdy Folks,

We paused on the ridge. Far below a Great Blue Heron stood frozen, head cocked, watching the still water. Kessy stood quietly as I peered through the budding Mountain Laurel to watch the grand bird. Suddenly behind us the woods erupted with the "rat-tat-tat-tat" of a drumming woodpecker. The hammering sound seemed to cover the air above and behind us. I could almost feel it. Backing Kessy along the ridge with my eyes searching the tree tops I searched for the bird I was sure would prove to be a Hairy Woodpecker.

 

Great Blue Heron

Over and over the hammering sounded. I kept moving Kessy this way and that along the trail bank as I sought a glimpse of the busy bird. Finally high on a dead branch I spied him. To my surprise it was the much smaller Downy Woodpecker. All that noise from such a little bird!

Downy Woodpecker

Kessy has become quite the bird-watching-trail-horse. It took her quite a while to learn to stand quietly and move gently every which way, up and down banks, into brush, over logs, all while I'm leaning sideways and stretching back searching for my feathered treasure. But she's a champion at it now. I'm even convinced sometimes she searching too!

We set off up the trail in Kessy's beautiful barefoot running walk shuffle, Saturday trotting with us. The trails we ride wind through the woods, tree walls on each side, and in many places a closed canopy above. We had already seen several Yellow Swallow Tailed butterflies but I was not prepared for what we rode into next. As we rounded the bend we road into a blizzard of Yellow Tails, perhaps as many as fifty, floated ahead of us, filling the air with soft black stripped yellow wings. It was like riding into a magical forest. One even brushed my face as we rode among them.

Ovenbird

On both sides of the trail the woods were alive with birdsong. All along the trail we heard Indigo Buntings. They will be regulars for the next few months. Rufus Sided Towhees called, "Drink Your Tea," and Oven Birds called, "Teacher, Teacher, Teacher." With Kessy's deftness at sneaking into the woods we did manage to spot a Towhee, but the emphatic and elusive Ovenbird evaded our prying eyes.

Eastern or Rufus Sided Towhee

Back into the sunlight we gaited, then we stopped at large patch of tiny blue flowers appropriately named Bluetts. Scattered among them were the equally dainty pink Spring Beauties. I was still admiring the wild bouquet when a Common Yellowthroat Warbler shattered the silence with his excited "Witchity, witchity, witchity." They are usually fairly easy to spot, and Kessy did her best, but the sun was bright and while we heard more than one Common Yellowthroat, we never found one.

Common Yellowthroat Warbler

Time to move on again, I asked Kessy for a little speed, and away we sailed. I watched our shadow as she glided along, sure footed, never stumbling. Bird song filled the air above us and around us. The sun warmed my back. Saturday trotted alongside. Then a new songster joined in the concert. A familiar tune it was, but try as I might I could not place it.

Yellow Warbler

Following the sound I moved Kessy up the bank and scoured the trees. The song drifted out from a patch of wild Dogwood and we inched closer. One tiptoed step at a time through the brush. The Dogwoods were thick here, but their leaves still tiny green swatches, and white flowers just beginning to unfurl. I asked Kessy to back into the sun so it would be on our backs just as the tiny yellow bird flitted to a higher branch only a few feet away. He thrust his beak skyward and let go his melody, a sweet shrill, "Tsee-tsee-tsee-titi-weet." Over and over he called. The sun sparkled on his yellow feathers and rusty streaked breast. A Yellow Warbler! We were so close I could see his beak open and close with each note! What a sight! … What a horse!

Pileated Woodpecker

We were still to see two more birds on our way home. A Pileated woodpecker flew directly over us as we sat counting the Yellow Swallowtails on a blooming olive bush. Over 20! And a Black and White Warbler flew across the trail in front of us. What a perfect bird watching ride! What great bird watching partners are Saturday and Kessy!

 

Black-and-white Warbler

Kessy, Saturday and I hope you enjoyed this ride as much as we did!

Check out more birds and their songs here at Cornell Lab of Ornithology - http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/search -

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry