Posted on by Trail Walker

A joyful ending to 2016

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A little flock of Eastern bluebirds came by this week to help me finish off my backyard buffet posts for 2016. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I looked out the window and saw them because I have NEVER before seen a bluebird in our neighborhood. They aren’t uncommon in northeast Ohio, but they are usually seen in spring and summer. I did capture this one in November at Holden Arboretum,
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…but was completely taken by surprise to see a little flock in my backyard on Wednesday, dining with the sparrows, starlings, titmice, and other familiar year round birds. On Thursday, I was away from home from before sunrise until long after dark, so on Friday I kept an eager eye out the window, hoping they would return. They didn’t, and I began to wonder if they had just made a brief stop here on their way to a warmer climate and had already moved on. Imagine my joy this morning (Saturday) when they reappeared among the usual breakfast time visitors. I picked up my camera, which is always on the shelf below the window, held my breath, and began snapping away. Here is a little bluebird portrait gallery, some taken on Wednesday and some today.

Female bluebird
Another female
She flew down to the stump.
A male standing amid the mealworms.
The stump, a new addition to the bird buffet, is a popular spot.
Male on the new hopper feeder
Male and female searching the grass for seeds
This male found the motherlode.
A great view from on top of the hopper feeder
Surveying the backyard
Yum! He found a feast!

I’m excited to be able to share a “new” bird (new to my backyard buffet) on the last day of 2016. Every year has its ups and downs, and every day brings things for which I am thankful, but, as we come to the end of what has been a very unusual year for many of us,  it gives me joy to share these beautiful birds with you.

Happy New Year, Trail Walking Friends!
Let’s look forward to 2017 with hope, faith, joy, and love.
See you soon!
Trail Walker

17 Replies to “A joyful ending to 2016”

    1. Thank you, John. I had such fun photographing these little bluebirds. I wish they would stay in the area, but unfortunately I spotted a hawk sitting right on top of the brush pile a few hours ago. I wasn’t quick enough to get his picture, and his presence might frighten off the little birds.

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  8. It has been several decades now that here in MA there have been overwintering bluebirds. They feast on winterberries, rose hips and bittersweet. And in the spring, they get first choice of houses.
    Same with their cousins, the robins. Adaptations to a warming climate, it seems.
    I’m surprised that you don’t have any snow – I don’t see any in the photos!

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