On our way back to the car after a walk at Brumley North, Sally and I were delighted to encounter two male indigo buntings perched in a tree alongside our path. The one in the first and second pictures, taken from two different angles, was easier to spot. The one in the third picture was well hidden.
We heard several birds we hoped to see, like a white-eyed vireo and a catbird, but never managed to find them. We did see a few cardinals, white-throated sparrows, titmice, and Carolina wrens. Little did we know what surprise was waiting for us at the end of our walk. It was a lovely day with a cool breeze and lots of green on the trees.
Sometimes I think that the point of birdwatching is not the actual seeing of the birds, but the cultivation of patience. Of course, each time we set out, there’s a certain amount of expectation that we’ll see something, maybe even a species we’ve never seen before, and that it will fill us with light. But even if we don’t see anything remarkable — and sometimes that happens — we come home filled with light anyway.
~ Lynn Thomson
(Birding with Yeats: A Memoir)
It was good being outside again and while I enjoy taking and sharing pictures, to find the words to narrate the experience seems a little overwhelming. My grieving seems to have entered a new phase, where my brain is catching up with my body. (I was told it isn’t unusual to be in shock for six months after the death of a spouse.) It almost feels like anesthesia wearing off now. The fog clearing and numbness giving way to feelings of a deeper ache, a wound trying to heal. Understanding more clearly what has happened. That this is permanent. Thank goodness for friends and family listening to me and helping me through — I could never do this alone.
I’m glad you are getting outside to see the beauty of spring, Barbara. The support of friends and family is invaluable as you move through the healing process. Take care, be gentle with yourself as you heal this deep wound, my friend. 💜
Thank you so much, dearest Eliza! 💙 It’s so good to have friends, old and new, and my family helping me carry on.
💕
Lovely post with so many treats! Is this the kind of turtle you saw?: Report spiny softshell turtle sightings at: https://arcg.is/1fXOrG ? The NC Wildlife Commission wants reports. Hugs!
Thanks for the hugs and the link, Susan! I sent in my picture and the location – they made it so easy. I read the spiny softshell can be quite aggressive if disturbed so I’m kind of glad it was too far away to get a great shot. It was pretty big!
Well, it looks like Google ‘search by image’ should not be trusted! The NC Wildlife Commission got back to me and informed me that the turtle is not a spiny softshell but rather a yellow-bellied slider. I edited the caption.
You don’t have to do this alone, Barbara! There are lots of us online and in person who empathize with what you’re going through and will be happy to accompany you and help buoy your spirits. I love the indigo bunting and have never seen a live one! The cardinal and the goose, of course, are quite familiar around here. I love the beaver dam, but that vulture is a bit creepy.
Somehow, even as I took the picture, I had a feeling that you would find the vulture creepy! I found the softshell turtle to be ominous-looking and later learned that “while they lack a hard shell, they have strong, sharp, beak-like jaws that can easily break skin and sometimes cause severe injuries.” Yikes! Thank you so much, Debbie, for your friendship and your encouraging words of comfort and support.
I think you are doing well, all things considered, Barbara. You lost your partner, your soulmate of over 50 years. This is life-changing, but you are lucky to have people to bolster you up and start anew, whether it is family, fellow bloggers or special friends like Sally who enjoys your love of nature. Get out and enjoy nature as Mother Nature rolls out Spring because soon it will be hot and humid and unbearable as you know. I have never seen an Indigo Bunting – what a gorgeous bird. How fun to see a goose on a nest and remember a few years ago we both saw geese on a nest and wondered whose goose’s eggs would hatch first – it was your goose as I recall. I have never seen a Soft-shelled turtle either. You saw Spring flowers and a beautiful dragonfly. It was a good day as evidenced by your photos.
Thank you so much, Linda, your words of encouragement are much appreciated. This was my second indigo bunting sighting, the first was in Connecticut in June 2021, almost 5 years ago. Tim spotted it high up in a tree at Gillette Castle State Park. I never would have noticed it. It’s such a good memory and this sighting brought it back to me. I miss him so much. I fondly remember all your and my Canada goose pictures, waiting for those chicks to hatch. I doubt I will get back to see these little goslings when they arrive, the location is too remote to visit often enough to keep tabs on the nest. If you ever do see a spiny softshell turtle give it a wide berth as they can be aggressive if disturbed and have a dangerous bite. I was impressed by how large it was. But it was fun seeing all the birds, butterflies, dragonflies and flowers, especially the pretty blue dragonfly.
It’s good to look back Barbara, but I can definitely see how remembering the indigo bunting sighting in Connecticut in 2021 would bring back fond memories with Tim, but that flashback would also bring sadness, that jolt of reality surfacing once again. I’m glad you remembered out two Canada goose Mamas-to-be and waiting for the goslings to hatch. I’m hoping to get back to Heritage Park to see Mama’s darlings. That is good to know about the spiny softshell turtle. I am always mindful of snapping turtles, although I am usually far enough back from the marshy areas (and will be this year with the threat of ticks running rampant here). You saw the best Mother Nature has to offer that day!
Looking forward to seeing this year’s pictures of your Mama goose’s darlings. They’re such cute little puff balls for such a very short time. ♡ May they be safe from snapping turtles and ticks, too. 🙏
Yes, I’m hoping to get up there soon Barbara. My car’s been in the shop for a week tomorrow for an undetermined leak and I’m having some paint work done … it had a huge scrape/scratch and I don’t know what happened, but I saw it when I came out of the grocery store. I also had some small touch-ups on the front bumper caused by me pulling too close to the curb, so it should be done by Friday. It’s been raining every day off and on so I wouldn’t have gone this week anyway. I hope they are safe too. I worry about predators for them, just like my squirrels.
Lovely selection here, Barbara. Exciting to see an indigo!
Thank you, Teri! It was nice to hear a peep from you. 🙂 Hope all is well.
Thanks Barbara! I’ll try to share “peeps” a little more. Been a bit of a struggle here. 💙
Sorry to hear you’re struggling, Teri. I think of you often and am always happy to hear from you when you’re up to it. 💙
Thank you. Same, I think of you often.
Indigo buntings! How cool! I’d love to see one in person. I had an eastern bluebird in the yard yesterday, wasn’t quick enough to get a picture. This is a beautiful selection of photos. I’m glad you have friends and family near by to help carry you through.
Thank you, Karma. It was pretty exciting to see the indigo buntings! And I never get tired of seeing eastern bluebirds, and one bonus about living down here in NC is that I see them often in my yard. In CT I only saw them once in a while in the woods. Enjoy yours – I hope he comes back!