I usually walk by a Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird, March 20, 2024. Happiness day.

I notice I walk by certain birds. 

I rarely pause to observe or photograph Northern Mockingbirds. Not today. Like a crow's caw cutting through my thoughts, this one sang many different melodies. I stopped as if invited to a personal concert. The songs were for another - probably a female nearby. 

From another view, they were also for me, just like any person we pass or flower we see is for our delight in this gift of the day we wake to.

Last stroll through WWS of 2023

Barred Owl, December 29, 2023

A new year begins. May it be rich and meaningful!

As you might know about personal loss, the two months since Terry died have been full of grief with a particular loneliness and longing to talk to him about this remarkable dying experience. John O'Donohue knew of this when he said, "Lonesome for all the conversations we never had," and more. Conversations spontaneously arise in my mind as I wonder what Terry would think. 

When a wave of grief arose, I'd step outside and start walking. To be with the birds and trees. With nature. 

Poet Rainer Marie Rilke's recommendation for when things get turbulent and troublesome: stay close to nature. I have. So here are some things I noticed and photographed. 

I'll begin with the lucky sighting of a Barred Owl two days ago, around 4 PM, across the pond from the butterfly garden in Pineneedle near my place. I've heard it multiple times very early (3 - 5 AM), and then yesterday, I heard caterwauling, so it looks like a pair might nest nearby.

Cormorants on the big pond. Many of them! 

Wood Storks resting. Edge of big pond.

A female Eastern Grey Squirrel. Notice her teats - nesting in a Laurel Oak.

Mourning Dove taking a bath in a puddle.

A pair of Limpkins, north Wildewood. A Limpkin hanging out with juvenile Wood Storks, big pond.

Anhinga catches a fish.

Red-bellied Woodpecker. See the red belly?

Tri-colored Heron, north Wildewood pond near Pickle Ball courts.

Bluejay and Northern Cardinal

So many ducks in the ponds. This is an American Widgeon.

Monarchs finding nectar in Orchid tree blooms. Woodland Village.

European Honey Bee hive, north Wildewood Drive in a wooded area.

The Dombeya tree is blooming, and the bees are delighted!

A bird of a different sort - took a helicopter ride with a granddaughter. What fun! Saw the gulf from a bird's-eye view.

Mockingbirds conversing in the neighborhood

Northern Mockingbird

Wildewood walks offer treats, every time.

So there were three Northern Mockingbirds having an early morning discussion. (Hmmm. That sounds like the beginning of a joke. It's not. Though you'll be amused, I think.) 

I thought I'd show you how our wildlife neighbors chat. 

All of a sudden, one did this. 

I even thought this gesture was meant to scare me. But then, I have a long lens and I wasn't on their immediate radar or disturbingly closeby. This lively discussion was between them.

THEN! One puffed up like this just before...

it did a determined march forward, or so I thought. What do you think?

Did you know that the Northern Mockingbird is Florida's State Bird? I wonder who makes these selections. (Now I know who chose Florida's state bird because I just googled it—the Florida Senate.)

When a topic or issue is raised, I expect multiple opinions. I wasn't surprised to read that some people don't think the Northern Mockingbird should be the State Bird for reasons such as this bird doesn't ring as a welcome-to-Florida type bird and that there are better choices, like the Spoonbill Roseate. 

Maybe. 

Okay okay. Back to the mockingbird.

I read that in the 19th century "people kept so many mockingbirds as cage birds that the birds nearly vanished from the East Coast." Why did they keep them in cages? to enjoy the songs they sing!  Mockingbirds "continually add new sounds to their repertoires throughout their lives." They sing all day and into the night, especially during a full spring moon. Those singers are usually unmated males (All About Birds). 

Longing to hear their melodious sounds? No need to cage a bird when we have files like THIS. OR, if you're in Florida—just walk out your door and listen. Such sweetness, especially when a sunset glows orange on birdie.

Yes, that is sunset light on its breast and neck. How orange was the sun that night? This orange. 

I was driving on Manatee Avenue from the Anna Maria. I pulled over to look out and up with this Blue Heron. The date is October 20, 2018—Halloween eve. I kid you not. You might faint when I tell you that this photo is not color enhanced. That is earth in all its outrageously orangeness.

Okay okay. Back to the mockingbird.

One more.

Here is a mocker I photographed while on Stout Island in the Florida Keys. Bird perched still and quiet. I watched for about twenty minutes. Not one song. So sweet and a bit confusing. I had to confirm its identity with a birding group.

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, I take these photographs. If you use them, please link with love and note my name, Susan Michael Barrett. xo