Johnny One-Note This is a Nuthatch [sp. Red-breasted]. It was Vicki’s grandmother’s favorite bird. Nanny called it “Johnny One-Note” because of its characteristic, repeated one-note nasally call. Every time we hear the species vocalizing we are reminded of this great lady. ~ Anecdote and Red-breasted Nuthatch capture, Johnny One-Note © Jerry L. Ferrara
Feisty One of numerous signs of spring! This feisty little dynamo, a Marsh Wren, gives voice from its reedy wetland home. According to Cornell’s Laboratory of Ornithology, males of this spirited species can be polygynous. They [both sexes] certainly are extremely territorial at nesting season. ~ Anecdote and Marsh Wren capture, Feisty © Jerry L. Ferrara
Sobriety Test Looks like this one certainly would be able to pass a sobriety test. Just sayin’! 😀 ~ Anecdote and Canada Goose capture, Sobriety Test © Jerry L. Ferrara
Through The Lea It was very late on a clammy afternoon. The coolness was finally replacing the humid heat from earlier hours and ‘creature activity’ was erupting in the meadow. A White-tailed Deer fawn found it to its liking to expend some pent-up energy as it scampered, bounded and streaked through the lea. ~ Anecdote and White-tailed Deer capture, Through The Lea © Jerry L. Ferrara
Robin Wars They’re back and as persistent as ever! Robin wars are on! 😀 Their penchant? To build their nests over the porch light housings. Not good for a variety of reasons. They’re sneaky about it, too, conducting their work in the wee hours of the morning. Here I’m getting ‘eye-balled’, probably to determine if I’m watching their clandestine construction activities. ~ Anecdote and American Robin capture, Robin Wars © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Perfect Complement As a still and placid morning broke over a secluded woodland pond, two pair of Wood Duck idled gently on a partially submerged log. Their impressions, reflections created by the specular properties of the mirror-like watery surface, were a perfect complement to the quietude of the moment. ~ Anecdote and Wood Duck capture, A Perfect Complement © Jerry L. Ferrara
Its Quavering Trill Atop a lofty sylvan crownFully dressed in royal gownA mighty king gives forth a callEchoes it through ‘mountain hall’Those who hear its quavering trillWill not forget the keening thrill ~ Poem and Bald Eagle capture, Its Quavering Trill © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Standoff Looking like a couple of welterweight boxers in a pre-fight arena, a Red-breasted Nuthatch [left] and a Dark-eyed Junco [right] aggressively confront one another by threat posturing. For the moment it seemed a standoff. ~ Anecdote and Red-breasted Nuthatch/Dark-eyed Junco capture, A Standoff © Jerry L. Ferrara
Watery Whispers Shadows grow long at the day’s end. It is a time to wait and watch. While some forest entities seek nighttime shelter, others prepare for crepuscular and nocturnal activities. The latter’s machinations are at times hidden from view. Nonetheless, if one patiently looks close there are signs that are extant in revealing the secret actors. For instance, on the marge of a woodland pond near our home, there are times that tranquil tremors mysteriously radiate from one point near the water’s edge. The concentric ‘watery whispers’ indicate an unseen presence. Eventually the perturbations’ author reveals itself and a Muskrat emerges from its bank burrow on its way to an eventide foraging venture. ~ Anecdote and Muskrat capture, Watery Whispers © Jerry L. Ferrara
Coming Soon Being absent during winter, the perky Savannah Sparrow will soon return to our local fields and pastures. ~ Anecdote and Savannah Sparrow capture, Coming Soon © Jerry L. Ferrara