Sunday, May 04, 2008

A Perfect Day

Sunday was one of those days. Warm sun, cool in the shade, steady breezes. I hadn't been to my Hasty Brook since the middle of last October. To say I was happy to be there would be a huge understatement. The creek was running higher and faster than we've ever seen it.
Look who welcomed me! This shot is without zoom. A pair of them hung in the sky over me like kites on the wind, they dipped down below the tree tops, over our campsite. They seemed curious. And intelligent.
The creek is well above the banks. Recent heavy rains and the long, snowy winter brought the water level up.
This was the first winter that we left the camper up there. I had been nervous about vandalism but everything appeared to have survived safe and sound. Here's my husband Art soaking up some sun, fresh air and birdsong.
The only warblers around were Yellow-rumped Warblers and here's the way they looked to me 99.99% of the time! I did actually get a few pretty decent photos of these YRW's but I'll post them another day.
This tired looking Junco rested nearby all afternoon. The winds were from the northwest and quite steady so I wonder if this little fellow was waiting for better travelling weather. As soon as we arrived I filled all of the feeders and scattered lots of seed around on the ground.

We were welcomed by noisy screeching moving through the woods all around us. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were making such a ruckus! there were two pairs of them zooming around the trees, the truck and they even zipped around us as we stood. I don't know if they were male-female pairs or if they were males chasing each other. The vocalizations and drumming and flight behaviors seemed very territorial. There was one particular tall aspen that seemed to be a favorite for drumming. The drumming on that tree sounded different even to my ears.
The first photo is of a female and since all of my pix are taken over my head you can see the yellow bellies! The red throat on this male is striking.
And then they're off again!

Hermit Thrushes are one of my favorite birds at Hasty Brook. The first summer we were up there, I heard their songs long before I figured out what they were. In fact they were so hard for me to see, I id'd them by searching through forest bird songs until I found the match.
I find them easier to see in spring before things leaf out. I found these two by sitting quietly, and listening for them scratching along on the forest floor. These are my first pictures and I'm excited to have them. The most beautiful bird songs that I've ever heard belong to the Hermit Thrush and Veery. They are both nest at Hasty Brook and sing in the late afternoons and even into the evenings. It is the finest music. A lovey Purple Finch was the first to visit the filled feeders. Could he be any prettier sitting in the afternoon sun, in a budding maple?
It really was a perfect day.




23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, it sounds like the perfect place to relax. I'm glad you had a nice relaxing time. Really nice pictures.

NCmountainwoman said...

It sounds like a perfect day. Thanks for sharing it.

dguzman said...

Yay! Back to Hasty Brook. So glad you had a good time and that the trailer was all right. Great pictures! I'm sure the birds were very happy to see you. I had some white-crowned sparrows at the feeders, so I made sure to give them plenty of food for their upcoming flight north.

Marsha said...

How wonderful that you had a perfect day too! I should have read all the blogs before I posted that title too, but I was in a rush out the door.

I think your campsite is gorgeous...water, woods & birds...sounds like a perfect campsite & day! I look forward to more posts from Hasty Brook.

Anonymous said...

Looks like a nice day trip.

NatureWoman said...

Wow, Lynne! Looks like a fantastic, relaxing time! Glad you and your family enjoyed it.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Linda- It was SOO relaxing!

ncmountainwoman- Thanks, it really seemed perfect.

Delia- I'd like to think the birds were glad. :) My FOY White Crowned Sparrow just showed up today.

Marsha- It just must have been a perfect Minnesota day!

scienceguy288- It was a terrific day trip. Wish we could have stayed.

Pam- Nature really is good for the soul.

Deb said...

Wow- you saw hermit thrushes, AND photographed them! I have not seen nor heard them yet here, but maybe I'm just not looking hard enough. Everything else looks on par with what I have here.

Mary said...

Oh, Linne. Can I come next time? To sit, relax, listen...

The Hermit Thrush is beautiful. Oooo...I'd love to see one. And a TV greeted you! Life can't get any better, can it?

Hugs,
May

RuthieJ said...

Even before I started reading, I saw that first picture and thought to myself, "hey, I recognize that bridge!"
What a great day for you Lynne. Thanks for sharing it with us. That picture of Art 'catching some rays' is priceless (I can almost hear him saying, "ah, the good life")

Anonymous said...

Now if that wasn't the most perfect weekend! Love your photos as always!

Susan Gets Native said...

God love ya, Lynny-Loo.
You went out and soaked up some good stuff.

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad you got some much needed relaxation -- Hasty Brook style! Your birds are amazing! Glad all was well with your camper.

Jayne said...

So happy to see all your "friends" came out to greet you Lynne! Love all these shots, esp. the sapsuckers! Have a glorious time and take LOTS of photos to share with us, ok? Love and hugs to you.

Eve said...

Hi Lynne!
I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time at Hasty Brook and saw so many wonderful birds. I think I agree...I love to hear the Thrush. I get the wood thrush come through my property and LOVE to hear them sing!! It's one of the best songs out there!
Keep enjoying your spingtime...it's over before you know it!

Larry said...

I love the purple Finch photo! I'm glad you were able to get back to your favorite place. When I see the words you write about Hasty Brook I can totally relate.That is the feeling I'm hoping to find each time I'm out in the woods.

MojoMan said...

Fantastic photos! You're getting pretty good at that. I'm so glad you had a good day. You certainly deserve it.

I hope to hear the hermit thrush here. I see them migrating through, but I'm not sure how much singing they do in eastern Massachusetts. The wood thrush song may be my favorite but I feel sure I'd love the hermit thrush song, too.

nina at Nature Remains. said...

Lynne,
It looks like a wonderful season for a visit to Hasty Brook. I'm glad you were able to take in all the spring happenings!

Thrushes are special to me, too. I spent a good part of last summer trying to pinpoint his voice in dim mornings and dusky evenings, and it nearly drove me crazy!
Ours is a wood thrush--but their songs are ethereal. Like chimes ringing in the woods!

Be well.

Q said...

Dear Lynne,
I have never seen a Hermit Thrush...They are beautiful.
Your Sapsuckers sounded fun to watch.
Lots of wonderful bird songs to fill you with joy.
It does sound like a perfect weekend!
Sherry

Carolyn H said...

Great photos! And I hope you were as relaxed as hubby looks in his photo. It sounds like a great weekend!

Carolyn H.

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Deb- Not sure why, but I didn't expect things to be budded out as far as they were.

May- I don't really believe in omens, but the TV? There were many gifts that day!

Ruthie- Art didn't even know I snuck that picture! Driving home late that night we both said it was one of the best days ever.

Mon@rch- I hope my photos are getting better. There's LOTS of room for improvement!

Susan- I soaked up so much I nearly popped!

Liza- We were really worried about the condition of the camper. Luckily, evidence of only a few mice!

Jayne- I really was like being with friends.

Eve- The thrush songs are pure magic.

Larry- I liked the purple finch phot too.

Mojoman- Thanks! Those thrush sing like fairies.

Nina- They sure like to sing in dim light. A challenge to find for me too.

Sherri- The Sapsuckers were nuts! They were zooming all around us.

Carolyn- Art and I both needed to get away from troubles. It was very relaxing.

Susan said...

A hermit thrush would be a lifer for me. I've heard wood thrushes around here, but have never seen one. Glad you had a great day!

Mel said...

What a nice day! and you have pictures to prove it ;)
Everytime you write about it I want to go there even more and more and more...