Looking back to March, just before transatlantic air travel became pretty impossible, we were lucky enough to get to Brazos Bend State Park. It was a delight to reacquaint with the subtle colour variations of the little blue heron. This heron is medium-sized, much smaller than the great blue, and more blue.
Little blue heron — I can’t believe it!
The spring song of a great tit
halted my winter walk;
the next day he was there again,
marking out his territory
so early in the year.
Then the incessant cooing of doves
on our rimy roof,
interrupting my morning ablutions.
Though it’s cold outside
and my heart is playing the blues
there are signs,
signs of something new,
much more than mere signs
of an early spring
which nature corresponds.
Something is stirring
Winter birds are singing spring
They sense what’s coming
Copyright Francis 2021
(Weekend Sky challenge)
Noisy Skies — One Woman’s Quest II
Rooks settle
squawking on willow,
blotches of black
against interminable grey.
Patches of snow remain,
dappling the manky grass,
where a lone sparrow
hops around, in hope.
The limp Union Flag
smothers St George
in the dank, freezing air,
a nation sleepwalking
in a bizarre masque.
Winter’s privation bites
deeper this year;
do the birds suspect —
do they know?
And where do we go?
Copyright Francis 2020
The combination of the colors black and white is considered elegant and classy, not only with regard to fashion, but also when it comes to feather arrangements, as many posts by fellow bird-loving bloggers attest. When I assembled my avian portraits a few months back, my only intention was to share a selection of Colorado’s […]
Black-and-White Birds — tanja britton
Cackle of magpie
Coarse caws of gathering crows
Feast of the Reaper
Copyright Francis Barker 2020
Skeins from far away
Where tundra has turned to snow
Welcome visitors
Copyright Francis Barker 2020
Rain seals the darkness
Roosting birds watch silently
Humans mourn the day
Copyright Francis Barker 2020
Meetings with animals wild and tame make me happy. And while birds touch my soul most profoundly, I’m always grateful for opportunities to observe and photograph other creatures. All of the following pictures were taken this summer, except for the last one. I had to chuckle when I came across these slightly uncommon pets: not […]
Animal Encounters — tanja britton
*Gerald Durrell’s books about animals in Corfu are fantastic.
Birds go where they wish
Terns can fly from pole to pole
Thoughts go anywhere
Probably Spalding‘s ‘hidden’ gem, Ayscoughfee Hall Museum and Gardens is a medieval gem, well maintained, with a fascinating south Lincolnshire regional museum.
Formerly also a private junior school, now located elsewhere in the town under the same name, the gardens are noted for their topiary, the rather notable Edwin Lutyens world war 1 memorial and a very nice aviary with many interesting species finches and other birds. Lutyens was one of the most famous and capable British architects of the 2oth century.
Although the town has been deeply affected by the crises of this year, it is still well worth a visit if you live nearby or are on holiday in the area.
And by the way, the locals pronounce it ‘Asscoffee’!
