That was over 40 years ago!
Posted on 01/30/2017 5:42:01 AM PST by bert
As I sit here looking out over the back yard, I see at least 40 robins that are migrating north en masse. I suppose they are telling us something. It seems that the winter of 2017 will never happen. The robins are moving north in January to get an early start on spring.
Down the street on severely sloping ground, a neighbor years ago planted some crocus bulbs. The plant found it's desired habitat and has spread all over. There are hundreds and hundreds of the pale lavender flowers now. They began to bloom early last week and are now in full glory. It's January, not March.
In my yard, a weed, Pennsylvania bittercress is up and blooming. It's not early march yet. The Naturalist at the nearby State Park had photos of park wild flowers up and in bloom.
There is however a conflicting message. The buzzards came back last Thursday and Friday. Lots and lots and lots of the big birds circling overhead in the late afternoon are a sure sign of coming bad weather to the north.
Robins in the snow....... hmmm
It looks to flip in a week.
That’s weather for you! I expect at least one significant snow storm before May. It always happens no matter how warm the weather has been for a month or more...
I had a HUGE (Hyuge) murder of crows in the back yard yesterday. Reminded me of that old Black and White movie, “The Birds”. There had to be a couple of hundred or more.
SE Tennessee here. I haven’t noticed any robins yet, but my usual gang are hanging around the feeder every day - Cardinals, woodpeckers, mourning doves, Nuthatches, and mockingbirds. It was a little chilly this morning, but it’s sunny and bright out there.
See them here in the NE in Winter quite often.Not in the large flocks of the warmer seasons but there around. Especially in the wet land areas of my 32 acres.
One or two out there now and its 30 degrees
For interesting winter bird watching get yer self a Bird Bath Heater.
Mine sits in a plastic, very large flower pot tray on a stand and is under the shed overhang. Goes on and of at specific temp and shuts of if the level goes too low.
Had it for 15 plus years and its fun to see the Jays and other winter hangers on in there when its in the single digits.
Here in Raleigh, I have been hearing ‘spring’ birds for a couple of weeks now. But, we have also had an eagle flying around for weeks.
The eagles first showed up in a group of FIVE! I was so stupefied I kept dropping my phone trying to take pictures! Never did get a good picture.
Then all of a sudden one swooped down and grabbed a squirrel in my BACKYARD- which was very difficult as we have trees everywhere.
I’m thinking that the group of them may have been a family with juvies that were learning how to hunt-I’ve never seen a flock of eagles before.
Sadly, they got a squirrel that we called “homeless squirrel” because he was missing a lot of fur on his tale. He played all day with another squirrel, even running around on our deck together, teasing our dogs. Now there’s only one who just walks around on the deck only once a day, but he doesn’t have the same personality as “homeless squirrel; he used to give himself a bath, lounge around laying on his belly eating nuts,and would even scratch his ears at the same time..he was fun to watch- miss him :-(
The mildest January in twenty years I’ve lived in my town. The wintersweet usually blooms at Christmas, and the flowers are always killed by a deep freeze in early January, but they’re still going.
The first robin of spring used to be a big deal, and he was always a solitary customer, but for more than twenty years, flocks of them have been wintering in NJ, whether we had snow or not.
Bert...Buzzards circling overhead means there’s something nearby....
2-3 inches last night!
Bald eagles hang around the Lake of the Ozarks all winter. Water stays open, for the most part. Fishing is good.
Winter weather in TN can be anything it wants to be. It can be like Florida one day and like Minnesota the next.
Eagles are showing up here in Montana. Calving season begins mid February on some of the local ranches and the eagles are all over the after-birth protein.
Yep, look for February to be like the last 3 or 4, cold and snowy.
Moved to the Knoxville area last year to be close to family. Was awakened at 3 a.m. this morning by some strange howling. Understand we have coyotes in the area. Searched frantically for our small terrier and closed his doggy door. Couldn’t go back to sleep. Was not afraid of the alligators in SC - go figure;)
Maybe we should stop feeding the birds - it does encourage the squirrels and chipmunks. Nah! we have hundreds of beautiful birds...even enjoyed hundreds of starlings landing in the backyard. Can’t wait for the hummers!!!
That was over 40 years ago!
I live in Athens, my tulips have emerged and now the flower itself has peeked out. We also have lite dusting of snow. My neighbor’s peach tree is actually blooming!
We’re all lucky to be here in E. TN. I’m in west Knox County, with no local government other than the county. A thing for all of us to look for is the total solar eclipse that’s coming on Aug. 21 and can be observed and experienced at many locations all across the state, including Cookville. For a good location and times just go to the NASA website.
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