Monday, May 25, 2009

Gratitude Monday - Summer Guests Edition

A tree swallow checks out potential new digs.


Spring is a wonderful time of year. Many of the birds we see in spring and summer have arrived for the season. Trees are a-twitter, the morning sun gets a cheerful greeting, and the world is alive.
A pair of tree swallows has nested close by every year since we moved in to the house in 1995. In past years they've checked out the bird condo out front and beaked around the bird box on our back porch.
Their call is happy and perks me up. Their colouring is beautiful and glints in the sun.
For the past few days the swallow couple has been coming to the box quite frequently. They might move in this year. I hope so and I'd been pleased if they did. I'd love to have them even though it's only for a short while.

15 comments:

David Cranmer said...

I know what you mean. I watched, with enjoyment, to Yellow Finches chasing each other yesterday singing and a-hooting the whole way.

Crabby McSlacker said...

I shall try to learn from your gratitude! This time of year we get a lot of birds that like to wake up about 4am and start singing--loudly.

Love them during the day, not so much when I'm woken from a dead sleep.

But I miss them when they're gone! So I'll try to be more grateful while they're here.

the Bag Lady said...

I, too, love this time of year. The best part of the day is early morning when the birds wake up and start singing. Well, except, perhaps, for the woodpecker who is using the metal siding on the shop for telegraphing his message more loudly! At 4 am.
:)
Our cold spring weather has had a small bonus, at least, in that it has brought far more varieties of birds to our feeders this spring! So there is something to be grateful for in even the nasty weather!

Leah J. Utas said...

David, I love the finches, too. That sounds like a joy-filled sight.

Crabby, the birds are happy and saying so in the best way they know how. (Well, okay, there's some mating involved, too, I think.) Sometimes it's hard when the robin is expressing itself right out the bedroom window, but if they were silent, then it would be an awful world.

dfBag Lady, yup. Best part of the day. Ah, the woodpecker. They do like to announce themselves. I know what you mean about variety. We had brown-headed cowbirds at the feeder, and several varieties of sparrow.

Terrie Farley Moran said...

df Leah,

Wonderful picture and wonderful thoughts about spring and birds.

I am grateful that no matter which window I peak out, there is green, flowers and a few birds flying around. but I am not too crazy about the bees.

Terrie

Leah J. Utas said...

Thank you, df Terrie. It's great to see the renewal.

Redbush said...

I love the birds as well, Leah. We used to have wood swallows nesting in our birdhouse, but they haven't returned for the past few years because of starlings chasing them away.

Leah J. Utas said...

Starlings can be miserable critters, Redbush.
I hope your swallows find new accommodations close by.

Nancy said...

I am always happy to see the birds return. It's very comforting, I think, to know that some cycles are the same year after year. Enjoy.

Reb said...

Robins are back this year & I am very happy to see and hear them. Ravens on the other hand are so noisy! They are back too.

Leah J. Utas said...

Lover of Life, you're right. It is a comfort.

Reb, the crow family sure does makes its presence known.

Hilary said...

That bird is a beauty. Almost turquoise in colour, it seems.

I'm amused by how Crabby and Baggie are on different sides of that same bird-singing morning fence.

Leah J. Utas said...

Hilary, I've seen them reflect turquoise in some light. They are beauties.

Barbara Martin said...

Swallows eat mosquitos: one good reason to have them around. Another is an old wives tale: they bring good luck to those who live in proximity of their nest.

Leah J. Utas said...

Barbara, I didn't know that about swallows and luck. Thanks.