I’M CELEBRATING New Yr’s within the firm of a uncommon chicken and the flowers of the primary of the witch hazels, neither of which is meant to be right here proper now.
That’s the type of 12 months it has been, and I suppose can be once more in 2024.
‘Jelena’ (beneath) is all the time my first witch-hazel to bloom every year, however sometimes it begins a month or extra from now, someday in late January and even February. Odd, however no peril to the plant.—not like my avian customer.
Ever really feel like your life bought means off track? A male Wilson’s warbler (prime of web page) must be on the Gulf Coast or farther south, however he’s wintering right here (Hudson Valley of NY) the final couple of weeks, foraging beneath my feeders with all of the extra anticipated species, and ingesting from the opening within the ice within the adjoining water backyard.
That is fairly an unusual chicken right here even in milder months—they cross by briefly en route from their wintering areas to their Canadian breeding grounds—however winter?
Presumably throughout fall migration he bought blown off track, and occurred upon my yard, discovering it to be hospitable sufficient to take up momentary residence in. Wilson’s warblers are insectivores, often, however he’s consuming sunflower hearts (shelled sunflowers) from the bottom in the intervening time; make do with what you’ve bought, I suppose.
Final week it was 13F levels one evening and I feared I’d not see him once more; that it might do him in. However there he was hopping round and chowing down all morning. Apparently he’s decided to make one of the best of getting misplaced his means.
He units a great instance for all of us who’re feeling slightly befuddled by the goings-on outdoors in our backyards, and throughout the planet.