Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Seeing Red All Over

Enjoying the winter scenery, and I am doing OK.

Last week I mentioned to my husband that I haven't noticed any Cardinals around the bird feeders. This is the time of year when so many birds visit us and our seed bill usually doubles. Then it snowed.

I took the picture on my header from inside my home with a zoom lens. When I saw all the bird activity outside, I quickly grabbed my camera and started clicking. I was not sure what I was taking as there was so much movement going on in the trees and around the feeders.  After transferring them to my computer, I was surprised and delighted to see all the beautiful Cardinals (counted 14 on the above picture).   Here are some other birds-eye views of my backyard on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.








A bird does not sing because it has an answer.  It sings because it has a song
Chinese Proverb



"I realized that if I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes"
Charles Lindbergh



The lady

Then there was this big guy sitting in the tree overlooking the feeding frenzy. Not as colorful as the regal Cardinal, but definitely worth a picture.



I leave you with my favorite Chinese proverbs about birds.

"You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair."

It is always a good day when you can wake up surrounded by the splendors of nature.




36 comments:

  1. They know who their true friends are.

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  2. Hello Arleen:
    The Cardinals are so very pretty and those flashes of red amongst the snowy landscape are very eye-catching.

    We love your favourite Chinese proverb. We shall adopt it as our own mantra if you will allow.

    Nature in all its glory is indeed without equal.

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    1. The Cardinals stand out so much more with some snow in the background, don't they?
      Glad you enjoyed the proverb. The Chinese have always been wise people.

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  3. What lovely birds, and I was also admiring your header picture which has a similar feel of red, black and white.

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  4. We don't have cardinals here in Nova Scotia and they've long been one of my favorite birds. They are so beautiful and their color so vibrant. How fortunate you are to look out your window and watch them.

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  5. Gorgeous birds...I can only imagine the noise when they all talk at once.. I love how it works. You gift the universe with a wee bit of seed and the universe gifts you with a tapestry of beauty.

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  6. It can get noisy out there at times, but it is a good noise.

    Your last line was beautiful. You have such a talent with words, Delores.

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  7. That's incredible! I've never seen more that one male cardinal, eating together like that. Maybe it's the small backyards here, but the male and female cardinal seem to have secured their turf and don't let any others in. Thanks for this, Arleen!

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  8. Great pictures of beautiful birds. Thanks for sharing pictures, and quotes.

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  9. Dear Arleen,
    What wonderful photographs--cardinals among branches and snow. Thank you. And thank you, too, for those two wise Chinese proverbs. Both made me stop and pause and then think about how they applied to my life. That happens a lot with your posting: they cause me to think.

    Peace.

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  10. Oh lovely! I haven't seen a single cardinal since coming back after the flood. They're just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing them.

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    1. They probably never made it up to Vermont. Hubby makes sure that the supply of food in my back yard could feed an entire species.

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  11. Those cardinals are absolutely beautiful, especially against the white background. Like an honest-to-goodness gift to you from nature. And as for that last Chinese proverb, I like it, but I gotta say, when a bird is flying over MY head, it isn't a nest I'm concerned about!

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    1. I know what you mean Susan, especially with the big birds you have down in the south. I was once blessed by a pelican.

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  12. I love the pictures! The starkness of the black and white with the flashes of red are stunning! I've been having so much fun watching the birds feed here, too. Sadly we have no snow, but the birds have still been busy!

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  13. I love this post and the pictures! I am a complete bird nerd and so enjoy watching them. It is exciting to see one cardinal...I can't believe you had 14 out there. I am coming to visit! :-)

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  14. Looks like ya got an abundance of Gods bright ornaments!!!

    Don't ya just love the way they decorate a tree? I have some Australian Pine and Blue Spruce that when the red birds fill them, it's just Christmas all over again!

    God bless and have a magnificent day sweetie!!!

    Wonderful pics!

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    1. Having Christmas once a year is enough for me. However, the birds can stay.

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  15. I love the top picture with all the cardinals among the branches. The last proverb is wonderful... I am thinking I need to post it in my cabinet at school to read often. Bonnie

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  16. What a beautiful gift to have so many of those wonderful bright red cardinals in your yard! We have one or two Cardinal families in ours and I love them. They live in our Camellia bushes.

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  17. wow.....what utterly gorgeous pictures.....inspiring!!

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  18. Arleen - your photos are pretty cool too.

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  19. How amazing! So many cardinals in one spot! They are my favorite song bird.

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