It is always amazing and encouraging to see how animals cope with an injury. A few weeks ago, I noticed a Mourning dove with a fluff of feathers sticking up on its back. I assumed it was just some ruffled feathers until I saw it up close on the kitchen window tray. It had definitely been attacked by another animal. A week later, the wound is healing well. Its ability to fly was never impacted. On the same tray, a female Cardinal was perched on one leg. I kept watching her, wondering if she had only one leg. It turned out that her left leg was there but under her horizontally. It must have been broken at the joint in the past. She, too, has managed to overcome this handicap and is doing well. Saw her again today.
The other morning a Raven flew over us. I don't see them very often so I willed it to speak just to be sure. Bless his heart, he did, confirming my ID.
Yesterday afternoon, I checked out Bloomery Rd. There was a mix of Buffleheads, Common Mergansers, Canada Geese and two Black ducks on the Shenandoah. In the area of the falls, a flock of over 100 Ring-billed gulls come flying from upriver. Farther up there must have been around 300 more on the water. That's the most gulls I've ever seen. Another, bigger and tan gull Ianded in their midst. Consulting my Sibley, it was a first year Herring gull.
The only new bird our snow brought in was a female Purple finch. The first year White-crowned Sparrow is still here. I thought the Fox sparrow had left, but he showed up Friday to be included in the Great Backyard Bird Count.
The Brown Creeper has been here this afternoon, and I finally saw him eating suet. He went right by the cages before, apparently finding enough food in the bark crevices.
I finally took my Christmas tree down. It looks good on the patio with some snow and Goldfinches and White-throated sparrows foraging for the seeds I'd tossed at it.
