Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Tuesday’s Tails #1.
Good morning everyone and welcome back! It’s a cool, cloudy and damp type of morning here. A good morning for lots of coffee! I went out to feed the birds this morning, just after 6am, and it was quiet. It was an eerie type of quiet. Not a sound out there except for some cars driving by and a couple robins singing in the far distance. But here? Nothing. None of that wild chirping/singing that has been part of the morning here for some time now. Not a bird in sight. Even the crows and gulls were not around. I figured perhaps that little falcon was back again. It’s an American Kestrel, a small falcon, same family as the Peregrine falcon, quite beautifully colored too. I would like to get a pic of one but it’s hard to get close enough to these birds.
He has been around for a few days, I’m sure he has been picking up a bird or two. One day Baxter, the blue jay, was here and sounded the alarm so all the birds headed for the trees and bushes just as the kestrel flew through, not getting anything that time. Baxter did his job well again. It took half an hour after I put seeds out this morning before the first birds arrived. Everyone is here now but definitely less birds than were here yesterday. But that is to be expected, they will be spreading out to their breeding areas, though some always stay close each summer.
I had a talk with Jasper and Freddie. Jasper first. “I notice Sylvie doesn’t come around much.” Chip. “Oh, she’s getting the nursery ready at home. Loud chip. She wants to have a large family? How many babies do you want?” Chip…chip,chip. “Just one or two?” Loud chip. “But Sylvie wants 4. Well Jasper, here’s something you need to know. It’s normal for squirrels to have 4, sometimes even 5 babies.” Loud chip. “No, no, don’t faint here, I wouldn’t know how to revive you.” Chip. “Forget it, no mouth to mouth resuscitation.” Chip.
“I’ll rub your tummy instead.” Big sigh. “That’s the first time I’ve heard a squirrel sigh.” Chip. “Oh, you do it a lot lately. How’s it going with the other squirrels?” Loud chip. “Oh, not going so well. Freddie wants the whole territory. Maybe you could let him chase the other squirrels away, then you could chase him away.” Loud chip. “Hey now, don’t give up now.” Chip. “Oh, you gave up yesterday. That’s not the Jasper I know.” Chip. “No, you don’t need to introduce yourself.” Chip. “Okay, bye for now, here, take this big peanut.” Chip. “You’re welcome.” Well, I sure would hate to lose Jasper. Freddie is nice, but Jasper is special. Hmm, there’s a little bit of blue sky showing now and the sun is shining. It looks so nice. Perhaps I can get more pics today. Have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 
Good luck getting more pictures of your feathered friends
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Thanks Sheree! They certainly haven’t been cooperating today.😕📷
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Shame!
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Yes, and it was so busy too.
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Very Good Morning Steve. How is your morning ? yep read it just now. Jasper and Freddie are great talkers it seems lot of chips, how many chips did you ate while they were talking 😉? Best wishes for the photography, let’s hope we get more pictures 👏 Have a lovely day ✨🎉
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Good morning Simon!😃🌞 So far the birds haven’t been cooperating with pictures,😕📷 oh well, maybe later.😁 No chips for me today. hehehe.😂😹 Have a great night Simon!🌙😴
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Good night Uncle Steve ✨🥰
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Good night!🌙
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Actually there is no action here either…strange…loved your “ talk “ with Jasper ! Pics are all cute ! ☕️☕️😺🙄🤔🙂
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Well, things have picked up here, they did earlier actually so still a lot of bird activity, just an odd start for some reason. Jasper and I have some good conversations! Have a great day!😀😺☕☕🌞
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I liked that last picture! So bright and cheery those birds are!!😁😁
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Yep, they are, and their chirping is also nice and cheery, a great bird to have around.😃😺
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Did you have a sunny day today?
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the sun poked out now and then, mostly cloudy, a couple light showers, but warmer than yesterday, got up to 41.
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Hey.. that’s not too bad.. At least you got to see the sun.😁 how’s the leg?
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Well, kinda I guess, saw a lot of things today really. I didn’t have eggs today, I was going to but then I forgot, you’re supposed to remind me, or did you forget?🤔🙄
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I was busy thinki g for you and completely forgot to mention it! How about I remind you tonight to have scrambled eggs 🥚 tomorrow morning?😁😁😂😂
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I prefer poached eggs with bacon and toast. But without the toast.🙄🥚🥓🧇
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Are you sure you want the eggs to?🤔🤔 you need to tell me know so I can make sure you don’t get reminded tomorrow😁🤭🤭
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How can I have eggs if I don’t have eggs? That wouldn’t work too well, then I would only have bacon. I can’t have bacon and eggs without the eggs.🤔🙄
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Yes but you could have bacon! Bacon 🥓 and not eggs! That sounds yummy 😋
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I like eggs with my bacon, unless I’m having waffles or pancakes, then I don’t need eggs. But sometimes I still do anyway because eggs, pancakes and bacon go together nicely.🥚🥓🥞
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Okay.. all of the above in the morni g then! I hope you’re hungry! That’s a lot of food!
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Breakfast is important. Don’t forget the coffee too.
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Okay you’re right! Definitely need to have coffee or you might not be moving at all..😳
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Yep, I definitely need coffee or I might not be moving at all.😳☕
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Believe it or not… I have not had a single cup of coffee in over two months!! I’ve had tea… but no coffee. My insides are much happier with me now.😁😂😂
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Wow. I can’t imagine going that long without coffee. I could do it, but I can’t imagine it. On a side note, I have to call it quits early,😬 I didn’t get much sleep. Now my RLS is really acting up,😳 driving me crazy.🤯 Good night Dusty, chatter tomorrow.😁🌙😴
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Alrighty!! Thats miserable… been there.. rest ad well as you can. I’ll check in with you in the morning.😁😴😴
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I like reading about your heart to heart talks with Jasper!
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We get along well and he seems to enjoy them too. Thanks Jim!
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you should start sharing some of your concerns with Jasper, like bear and falcon concerns. Perhaps he could offer some advice… 🙂
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Knowing Jasper he would just say “RUN”!😂
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that wouldn’t surprise me!
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I told Jasper to stop running from Freddie, if he stood up to him then Freddie would run. But I don’t think he believed me.
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time will tell…
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Freddie won again this morning, they had quite a tumble and chase, but Jasper ran off with Freddie chasing him a long distance. Too bad.😕
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uh-oh; hopefully not a sign of things to come…
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So what happened to your leg ?
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My knee is aching, that’s all, likely arthritis from standing so much taking pics lately.
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Here in Massachusetts, the Audubon Sanctuaries have built special boxes to help attract kestrels, which have been diminishing. It’s such a great to see them!
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I have built these boxes and put them up around here too, but so far never any kestrels using them, though other birds have. We have lots of kestrels up this way, merlins too, but kestrels are more abundant. They are a beautiful bird, I would love to get a picture of one.
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Actually I’m about ready for some squirrel stew. Four furry fiends decided to tear down my feeder today. Not sure how they did it but they are persistant buggers when they get their mind to a task.. Ps Don’t run out of peanuts
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Laugh a while, See what happens
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Yes, squirrels are persistent critters. Much like my bear. Yes, I have been stocking up on peanuts this spring because it’s almost impossible to buy them in summer around here, so many people feed the squirrels and chipmunks, especially when the cottagers come back. It’s already hard and there are no cottagers yet.
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Lesson learned Squirrels still alive and the feeder will get fixed. I guess it’s a win
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On the plus side, squirrels can be very entertaining.
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And don’t forget tastey
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Oh my, I could never eat a squirrel, like eating a rat, they are close relatives after all.😳
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I’ve eaten rat too. It’s a Chianese delacasy. Squirreels are better in stew
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Have fun.
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