Solitude On My Deck. #2

Good morning and Happy Saturday to everyone! I am so glad to see you this morning and to have you join me on my deck with a cup of coffee. It is a bit chilly so a jacket is definitely necessary still. But the sun is shining so beautifully on all those new, bright green leaves. Only the black ash have not started to sprout leaves yet, but the leaves on the walnut trees are starting to come out now.

Walnut trees are not native to our area but my previous landlord had planted a couple about 50 years ago. One died but the one in the front yard produces buckets of walnuts each year. The squirrels, over the years, have buried many of the walnuts and some have grown and at least one is big enough now to also produce walnuts. They are a slow growing tree this far north. There are more birds singing this morning, I think they enjoy sunny mornings better too, just like me.

A robin is singing so beautifully about 3 houses down the street. Guess they are nesting in that area. That is why I do not get a chance to see them often here. Usually there are several robins singing around the area, but this year there is only the one. There are a dozen evening grosbeaks here this morning. They do not really have a song as such, but they do have a lively chirping that they do constantly. Some people do not like their chirping, but personally I think it sounds very cheerful.

Oh look, there is a male ruby-throated hummingbird at the feeder. I always enjoy having them around. There are 2 males, but I have only seen 1 female. The red alderberry bush is in full bloom right now. Oddly I have not seen any bees at it yet. The neighbor’s mock cherry tree is also in full bloom and I hope to get a photo of it today while the sun is shining.

Again, it is usually full of bees, but I have not seen any around it this year. Perhaps the long winter and very cold spring has hurt the bee population this year. That would be bad for the flowers. I have not seen any of our flower flies yet this year either. The sky is such a rich blue this morning, reminds me of the blue on our blue jays. There are at least 4 families of blue jays around now. Baxter, Betty and their 3 young ones are here nearly all day, the others just come and go throughout the day.

The black-capped chickadees and red-breasted nuthatches come and go throughout the day as well. It is always nice to see them. We have 2 pairs of chipping sparrows here this year, they are such cute and friendly little birds. A solitary vireo is singing from a tree next door and a chestnut-sided warbler is singing a little further away across the street.

That is one of my favorite summer bird songs. Look up there, 18 of our local Canada geese are flying overhead, probably going down to the river. With warmer, drier weather moving in starting on Monday, I hope to get more walks to the river. There is a pair of American goldfinches at the feeder now, there are 2 pairs this year. Usually, other years, there are 10 or more pairs around this time of year. Hmm, the wind is getting stronger, it is supposed to get calm this morning.

I guess the wind did not hear the forecast. Sitting here listening to and watching the different birds, that is true solitude. No squirrels or chipmunks this morning. If they were here that would just add to the beauty of solitude on my deck. Thank you all for joining me here this morning. Have a wonderful weekend, enjoy your own patch of solitude and God bless!

Steve and Muffin. (top featured image is a Harris’ sparrow)

©2022 Steve McLeod.