For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Good morning everyone! It’s a nice, cool, autumn day here in the north. It is partly sunny, windy and a temp of 46F (8C). Not bad for this time of the year. The blue jays are busy fighting over the peanuts right now. Well, I should say two of them fight over the peanuts, the rest are quite content to just grab theirs and fly off to open it, before coming back for a second. One of those blue jays is especially slow, takes him so long to decide what peanuts he wants to take, he always wants to take two at a time. He puts one smaller one in his throat pouch and another in his beak. It’s that second peanut that takes him so long to decide on.
Once again yesterday he had 6 peanuts lined up in a row and he kept picking them up one by one, trying to figure out which one is the heaviest and therefore the best one to take. But the other blue jays don’t like to wait, so one comes down to distract him and Blue Boss will chase him away. While he is distracted, another comes down and takes one of his peanuts. This kept on until his entire row of peanuts was gone and he was left there looking around trying to figure out what happened. This goes on every time now so most of the time he goes faster. And this last bag of peanuts only has big peanuts, so he can only take one anyway.
Yesterday we almost had a disaster. I always look outside before opening the door to put out more food, but yesterday morning there was a chipmunk right beside the house, so I couldn’t see him. It was Scooter, and as soon as the door was open, he came inside and ran into the bedroom. Muffin was sleeping on my new deacon’s bench (I’ll be talking about that one tomorrow). But when I started calling Scooter, she promptly woke up and starting looking down at the floor. She doesn’t get so interested when I call her name. Sigh. I tried standing in front of Muffin so she couldn’t see Scooter, but it didn’t work. Down on the floor she came and I had to keep pushing her back, which she was getting annoyed about.
I was trying to get Scooter interested in a nice big peanut but all he did was come out and sniff it and then run back under the bed. Finally after nearly 10 minutes, though it felt much longer, he came closer to the door, so I opened the door and he ran out. I sat down while Muffin went searching for Scooter who was no longer inside. Oh, the look Muffin gave me! We could have ended up with a dead chipmunk, or Muffin escaping outside. Both are not good outcomes. I have only seen 2 chipmunks so far this morning, Choco and Cheeky. There was 5 still yesterday afternoon, so I’m sure that more will show up this afternoon too, once it warms up a bit. The clouds have gone, the sun is shining brilliantly. Maybe I can get some pictures today. Have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
Β©2021 Steve McLeod.
Iβm surprised to learn that the chipmunk would flee into your house and not necessarily in pursuit of more peanuts.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m thinking he perhaps figured out the food comes from inside that door, so he wanted to find it! Just a guess though. But it sure was a tense time!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
π³π¬πΉ
LikeLike
At least you have birds! All ours disappeared about 5 or 6 weeks ago. I see a pair of house finches and a pair of sparrows and a pair (due to a third hatching on our porch light) of dove. So, what’s especially funny about this reflection of yours is the fact that we once had a pick-a-poo named Muffin, and my second oldest brother is Scooter! Bahahahaha… What a coinkidink!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey Kevin! That is an interesting coincidence for sure! I only have these few birds due to feeding regularly, but there’s only 4 species now, not counting crows which I don’t want around anyway. But once I get my feeder going again hopefully we will get more birds.
Have a great day!ππΊπ
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is new, u let the chipmunk go in your bedroomβΊοΈ, nice, I’m glad muffin was BKT thereπ or else THAT would’ve happenedπ³. Blue Jays are gathering their food, you should give them like sunflower seed instead of peanut π or they don’t like it π€ maybe, anyway, enjoy the beautiful day, Wish you an awesome Tuesday π₯³π₯³π₯³
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I didn’t let him go in my bedroom, he just did it!π³ I really didn’t want him inside at all, I told him he was bad for coming in,π€¨ then I gave him a peanut.π€ Yes, the blue jays like sunflower seeds, but I prefer to feed them peanuts instead so they will leave the sunflower seeds for the other birds.πΊ It was a beautiful sunny day and the high was 15C!πππΈ Enjoy your Wednesday!ππ
LikeLike
Wow ! Almost a catastrophe ! It must have been a fun thing to watch ! Not for you but for the readers ! Your heart must have been racing, esp. if Muffin got loose ! Have some more coffee ! βοΈβοΈπ²πΏπΌβοΈβοΈ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it was a tense time and since I was going shopping soon I had to get Scooter out quickly!π¬ And safely. I told him he was bad for coming in,π€¨ then gave him a peanut.π€ Didn’t have time for more coffee, sigh.π³πβ
LikeLike
close call with Scooter!
and I guess the saying is true, he who hesitates is lost, at elast when it comes to peanuts…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, too close! And too hard on the human involved too!π³
Yep, it has happened a few times now and that blue jay still hasn’t learned.π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sure the chipmunk in the house was stressful, but at least things worked out well.
Hopefully the blue jay learns quickly…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think Muffin was groaning because I let the chipmunk escape!
Somehow I have doubts that blue jay will ever learn. It is fun to watch though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure Muffin was licking her chops…
and gives new meaning to the phrase “bird-brain” π
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so true! For both!π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very inspiring story ,like fairytale , very interesting to read πππ»π
Lucky the Muffin never catch Chipmunk ππ·lovely bird , so cute.
mouth something keeping ππHave a nice day and good morning ππ·
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the blue jay has some pieces of peanuts in his mouth!ππΉ
Thank you so very much for such kind words!π I do hope you had a great day and that your Thursday will be even better! God bless!πππ»ββπΊπΉπΊ
LikeLike
Thank you for this lovely reply message ππΌβ€οΈπΉ actually the bird’s mouth peanut
Keeping photo fantastic ππ¦ September 4 Birthday my home !! 3 Birthday finished
28th one more my Son-in law’s Birthday πΉ now we are all can go inside state .
So now children coming, relatives coming to see, happy moments. Good morning πΉππΌπΉ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, that is fantastic!π₯³ 4 birthdays in one month, that’s good!ππΊ And it’s nice that you will have more people out now, happy moments indeed! Don’t forget to eat lots of cake on the 28th!ππ₯³π»ππΊπΉπ§
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for this lovely reply message πππ»π
Cake Iβll eat one piece only ,my granddaughters love cakes π
They have their own likes, so parents will buy their favourite
Cakes π I like cheese cake πgood night and sweet dreams π
LikeLike