I took this with the NovaBird camera at my mother's house. Any guesses on what it is? It will be identified at the bottom of this post.
This is one of my favorite birds, and they love to eat nuts of any sort in or out of the shell as well as mealworms, sunflower seeds, suet and pumpkin seeds.
I'm so tired, I feel like I just had a "lost weekend" with a bottle of 15 year old scotch but alas, it was just the trip and not alcohol related at all. Well, "Ivory" Bill Stiteler and I returned home last night at around 11:30pm. We actually made really good time and would have been home about 6pm but we made a side trip to Neil's Wednesday when we left for Indy our power was out so we stopped by their house while they were sleeping, made ourselves some tea, "borrowed" two travel mugs, filled the feeders and left a note that we had visited. So we had to return the mugs.
Bill and Neil geeked out over computer stuff for a bit while I unwound by taking in a gorgeous summer evening which I really needed after spending nine hours in the Saturn. I discovered that the chickadees had fledged from the bluebird box and bluebirds had started a nest with one egg already laid. It's nice when I give friends a particular bird house that the actual bird it is for nests inside it. Also the trees were full of singing red-eyed and yellow-throated vireos. I found two separate indigo bunting territories, heard a rose-breasted grosbeak singing in the distance as well as the song of a savannah sparrow in a nearby field. It was so far out you couldn't hear traffic and the humidity I had endured in Indianapolis was far away as a cool summer breeze carried the fragrance of honeysuckle. Even a few crickets were chirping, it was just the perfect evening...til I heard distant but distinct voice calling. I couldn't make out what they were saying exactly, but I'm sure it had something to do with dinner being on the table and they weren't waiting for me to get back. I knew if I didn't respond Bill would assume I had broken my leg so I let out a barred owl call thinking they would realize they don't have those around there and that they would know it was me. That didn't work, they still kept calling my name as I hurried up the road. So I started calling, "Marco" to which they gave the requisite "Polo" and understood that I was on my way. It was a tasty dinner of left over beer butt chicken and a salad made from the garden (except for the pesky daddy long legs that someone neglected to take out of the lettuce).
After dinner Bill and Neil geeked some more and I took a bath--I love visiting there, the home is full of good people, and the yard gets great birds, but what I love most is the giant whirlpool bath. The boys I think were sensing my tiredness and irritability and Neil suggested I use his bath and as I sat soaking in the tub I kept thinking how wonderful and decadent my life is when I can listen to fabulous bird songs and then relax in a hot tub--hmmm, it's the best! After a good soak I finally had to put my foot down and get Bill and I home because I had KARE 11 this morning. I still didn't get enough sleep and was so unfocused on the show this morning, I didn't talk about all the stuff I brought. Ah well, at least I was able to get my clothes to match.
So, now I have to fish through about 300 email messages (I'm on too many birding list servs) and catch up on some much needed sleep. I'm so excited, Friday I leave to go pelican banding again! Woo Hoo! Barf city here I come!
Bird in photo: Tufted-titmouse