It is 26 degrees, and the crabapples have turned to sauce on the trees. There is a blanket of snow and a world locked in ice. It seems as if times are hard, yet the robin sings. He watches the rising sun, feeling the warmth of the first rays of light. His orange breast and eyes aglow.
I agree; we humans receive more than we give to the birds (and other animals) who deign to visit us and sometimes comune with us. I am in Toronto and it can get cold; one January morning it was minus 17°C, which is about 0°F.
I had to go shopping for food and I parked the car, I heard a symphony of song. About a dozen American sparrows were sitting on the roof, singing their hearts out in the midst of a mid-January deep freeze. It was so unexpected; so out of place.
I went back to the car and cried with tears of joy, it was so touching and beautiful.
Beautifully written and amazing encounters Bill. I like how you describe the humming of the robin. It's interesting seeing them spend the Winters here in Ottawa at my local conservation area. There are usually enough berries in the hedges and some open water so they stay year-round despite the temperatures being so cold.
I also like that photo of the Eastern Screech Owl catching some sunshine. Thanks for sharing.
This is so lovely! I had a similar moment once, with a hermit thrush. He was singing his heart out in the treetops, declaring his territory, while I was sitting down below, just enjoying that special fluting call. At one point, he came down to investigate me. As he descended from branch to branch, eyeing me and moving closer, I realized that he was still singing. Only very softly. Kind of inquisitively. Fluting barely above a whisper, and then looking at me to see what I would do. I still tear up remembering :)
And these portraits are so stunning, thank you for sharing!
This robin... your description..... the very best things I've seen so far today. What an absolutely beautiful post.
I love my robin friend who appears as if by magic every time I start to garden - his presence is reassuring and comforting - and if he isn't there, I do find myself wondering... until he of course appears.....
This was a joy to read, thank you! Here in the UK, I sometimes hear our little robin whistling a beautiful, almost imperceptible, low fluting song. I don’t know if it’s the same as your robin’s humming but it feels like the greatest privilege to listen to it.
Superb photos. It’s summer down here in Australia but you’ve shown me the joys of a wintry dawn in your part of the world. Bird song is extraordinary. I’m listening to all my loud avian neighbours as I write. I’ll have to listen for ‘humming’. It sounds so beautiful. A lovely piece. Thanks SO much.
We get robins year-round thanks to holly bushes all over the Pinelands, spiky-leafed thanks to deer browsing. I love their songs and their little three-step hops. A common bird but a lovely one.
I agree; we humans receive more than we give to the birds (and other animals) who deign to visit us and sometimes comune with us. I am in Toronto and it can get cold; one January morning it was minus 17°C, which is about 0°F.
I had to go shopping for food and I parked the car, I heard a symphony of song. About a dozen American sparrows were sitting on the roof, singing their hearts out in the midst of a mid-January deep freeze. It was so unexpected; so out of place.
I went back to the car and cried with tears of joy, it was so touching and beautiful.
I love the way you see. It makes me open my eyes wider.
Beautifully written and amazing encounters Bill. I like how you describe the humming of the robin. It's interesting seeing them spend the Winters here in Ottawa at my local conservation area. There are usually enough berries in the hedges and some open water so they stay year-round despite the temperatures being so cold.
I also like that photo of the Eastern Screech Owl catching some sunshine. Thanks for sharing.
This is so lovely! I had a similar moment once, with a hermit thrush. He was singing his heart out in the treetops, declaring his territory, while I was sitting down below, just enjoying that special fluting call. At one point, he came down to investigate me. As he descended from branch to branch, eyeing me and moving closer, I realized that he was still singing. Only very softly. Kind of inquisitively. Fluting barely above a whisper, and then looking at me to see what I would do. I still tear up remembering :)
And these portraits are so stunning, thank you for sharing!
Apple sauce and owl squints, awesome. I enjoyed them.
This just about made me cry. Thank you, Bill.
I love the word subsong, it’s technical I guess but feels poetic to me.
This robin... your description..... the very best things I've seen so far today. What an absolutely beautiful post.
I love my robin friend who appears as if by magic every time I start to garden - his presence is reassuring and comforting - and if he isn't there, I do find myself wondering... until he of course appears.....
This was a joy to read, thank you! Here in the UK, I sometimes hear our little robin whistling a beautiful, almost imperceptible, low fluting song. I don’t know if it’s the same as your robin’s humming but it feels like the greatest privilege to listen to it.
"February could be the month of the humming moon...Maybe the whole world is thrumming with contentment". Beautiful!
It's a poem...
Makes me think of Wendell Berry's poem, The Peace of Wild Things
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
He pulls me into his orbit of joy. Bill, I love this sentence!
After reading this, I cannot wait to walk tomorrow morning and listen for humming birds!
Thank you for your acute observations and beautiful, sensitive commentary on Flora, Fauna...🙏🏻🌌
Superb photos. It’s summer down here in Australia but you’ve shown me the joys of a wintry dawn in your part of the world. Bird song is extraordinary. I’m listening to all my loud avian neighbours as I write. I’ll have to listen for ‘humming’. It sounds so beautiful. A lovely piece. Thanks SO much.
“Awash in light amidst crabapple shadows”
Very different and wonderful
photograph.
We get robins year-round thanks to holly bushes all over the Pinelands, spiky-leafed thanks to deer browsing. I love their songs and their little three-step hops. A common bird but a lovely one.