Flash!

It was a toss-up today...robin or cedar waxwing..dilemma.  I settled on this one because I like that you can see how beautifully colored the robin's underwings are, and I also like the overall sense of movement. 

American robins (the largest member of the N. American thrush family) are commonly found throughout N. America and well into C. America.  Their movements are poorly understood by scientists, in part because only some birds migrate while others stay "on territory" all year.  They are considered more nomadic than truly migratory, as they will move around in large flocks in the winter, searching for fruit and berries.  They can be found all months of the year throughout the continental United States, although most people associate them with spring when they are seen on lawns gobbling earth worms.

I love seeing them, love hearing their chatter in winter and their beautiful songs in spring and summer.  It's always fun watching the parents carry big mouths full of worms to their nestlings in summer, and to watch them gobbling berries in the spring and fall.  The male pictured here was trying to get a better position on the branch, which is covered with berries.  The female, seen here is paler and has more white on her throat and belly.  

As if often the case, the robins were in the company of cedar waxwings and they all converged on the bird bath at various time throughout the day.  Charlie was enthralled, his little pink nose glued to the window, chattering away, no doubt dreaming of robin fricassee.  

The day started with Hubs seeing a big pileated woodpecker working along the tree line in our yard while we were having breakfast this morning.  I wasn't fast enough with a camera (although I did manage to dribble cereal down my chin in my fruitless effort to get at the camera.)  Oh well, another day perhaps.  Lots of the usual winter birds at the feeders and water today ... cardinals, blue jays, downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, finches (house, purple and gold), titmice, sparrows and juncos.  

Tonight's dinner (thanks to Blue Apron) is Roasted cauliflower "steaks" with browned-butter grape sauce and farro.  It sounds delicious!  And I'm sure it will go beautifully with some savignon blanc from New Zealand...

Thanks for the kind comments and stars on my woodpecker yesterday.

Deb

PS:  And if you're feeling especially brave, I've posted 10 photos from the weekend in Cape May, starting HERE