I’ve been keeping track of the first sighting of Turkey Vultures and Red-Winged Blackbirds here in South Burlington, VT. Over the past ten years they both show up between March 3rd and 24th—this year on the 8th (TV) and the 6th (RWBB). The first Robin used to make my heart leap with joy but they are now here year-round. Now my heart leaps when I hear “conkaree” and see the TVs soaring. Your two TV pictures are awesome—even to the spark of light in the eye. Thank, Bryan.
As a gal who was born and grew up in Brooklyn, NY, I knew only a little about Nature. Then I married my husband of almost 54 years and came to see the Living Reality all around us. He carries within himself the archetype of the Divine Nature Child - more ‘at home’ in the woods - surrounded by Nature’s Mysteries.
Bryan, I suspect that you too carry the Divine Nature Child in your archetypal panoply. You’re writing draws me in; I can ‘see’ what you’re seeing - what you’re experiencing. What a gift! Thank you for sharing your wanderings and wonderings with us. They caste soft, radiant, reflective Light on a harsh, divisive world. Bless you!
31 minutes into Spring, 19 Turkey Vultures were circling over my house in Lancaster NH.
They roost in the woods across the street, at the edge of the cemetery. Pretty sure the cemetery is coincidental to their choice of a nighttime location. It is a bit eerie to see them peering down from the old pines on early morning bird walks among the tombstones.
I too have been on a ramble away from home in northern New England since late Feb, and reveling in adding these extra weeks to my favorite season, the six weeks or so of Spring Tinge. I can hardly believe it’ll just be ramping up once again when I get home in a week! Did you catch the maps in the news last week, showing how early the leafing-out was in the eastern US (from PA south, south of that snowy March we missed)? 20 days early in those first northern areas where it seems we were both kind of amazed to see the maple flowers aglow...
Thanks for this, Jim (and sorry about my belated reply). Yep, an odd winter, to be sure (more of those to come, no doubt). I'm now heading north, traveling back in time to red maples in bud and my "second spring" of 2023. Enjoy your own travels on the long, green path!
We see lots of vultures here in Central PA. I love them.
They love you as well (er, maybe!). :-)
I’ve been keeping track of the first sighting of Turkey Vultures and Red-Winged Blackbirds here in South Burlington, VT. Over the past ten years they both show up between March 3rd and 24th—this year on the 8th (TV) and the 6th (RWBB). The first Robin used to make my heart leap with joy but they are now here year-round. Now my heart leaps when I hear “conkaree” and see the TVs soaring. Your two TV pictures are awesome—even to the spark of light in the eye. Thank, Bryan.
Love it. Thanks, Judy. Great to hear from you. You and Thoreau -- phenologists!
As a gal who was born and grew up in Brooklyn, NY, I knew only a little about Nature. Then I married my husband of almost 54 years and came to see the Living Reality all around us. He carries within himself the archetype of the Divine Nature Child - more ‘at home’ in the woods - surrounded by Nature’s Mysteries.
Bryan, I suspect that you too carry the Divine Nature Child in your archetypal panoply. You’re writing draws me in; I can ‘see’ what you’re seeing - what you’re experiencing. What a gift! Thank you for sharing your wanderings and wonderings with us. They caste soft, radiant, reflective Light on a harsh, divisive world. Bless you!
Oh, my -- this is so very kind of you. Thanks, Ginny. (Boy explorer -- that's me! 😀) You've no doubt got the nature child in you as well!
Thank you, Bryan!
31 minutes into Spring, 19 Turkey Vultures were circling over my house in Lancaster NH.
They roost in the woods across the street, at the edge of the cemetery. Pretty sure the cemetery is coincidental to their choice of a nighttime location. It is a bit eerie to see them peering down from the old pines on early morning bird walks among the tombstones.
Love it. Thanks, Ann!
Varied thrush warming up. Nascent Robinings subtle, barely perceptible. Western Montana welcomes Spring. Turkey Vultures in the sky.
Ah, poetry. Thanks, Devakai!
I too have been on a ramble away from home in northern New England since late Feb, and reveling in adding these extra weeks to my favorite season, the six weeks or so of Spring Tinge. I can hardly believe it’ll just be ramping up once again when I get home in a week! Did you catch the maps in the news last week, showing how early the leafing-out was in the eastern US (from PA south, south of that snowy March we missed)? 20 days early in those first northern areas where it seems we were both kind of amazed to see the maple flowers aglow...
Thanks for this, Jim (and sorry about my belated reply). Yep, an odd winter, to be sure (more of those to come, no doubt). I'm now heading north, traveling back in time to red maples in bud and my "second spring" of 2023. Enjoy your own travels on the long, green path!
Eloquent description of what I found in the woods behind my home in north central Massachusetts. Thank you.
Honking geese, 15 robins rolling over the grass, first (of many) grackle at the feeders, and MUD!!!
I, too, like vultures. So I wrote a poem.
Naked Head
It’s best to have no feathers,
When you stick your head in guts,
That way you don’t go walkin’ round,
Your noggin dripping schmutz.