Thursday, January 16, 2014

What??? In the middle of January???

After having lived in SE Iowa for an extended... and I mean EXTENDED period of time (34 1/2 years), I thought I had "weather" figured out!

I mean, after having been raised in extreme North Central Iowa (25 miles or so south of Minnesota), Winter is Winter!  Starting earlier and lasting longer.




So yes, with an exception here and there, cold Winter weather usually begins after January down here.  However...


Just look at what I saw at 8:00 A.M. Monday morning!

An influx of robins and cedar waxwings!  And I have proof!!
Any worms residing here are deep under the icy ground!

See the chubby one at the top left of this next photo?  I believe that's our overwhelmed(!) "Mr. Resident."  Usually he guards the crab apples on this tree and chases everyone away...

By mid-afternoon, nearly all the robins and cedar waxwings had left to search other food sources... leaving "Mr. Resident" back in his domain... chasing the remaining few intruders away!
  

We have very little snow left... too bad.  I assume, given the fact that we're still in the middle of January, we'll receive more!  (I hope!  For several reasons!)

Have a great day!
SG

5 comments:

Beth said...

Hi, Loved seeing the robins and cedar waxwings. We often see robins all winter long (central Iowa). I haven't seen any lately though.

Beth said...

Saw your note regarding spammers. I rarely get any on my blog, and I don't use word verification. I also don't moderate comments (EXCEPT for comments older than 21 days). Here's how I was lucky enough to keep them at bay: I do not allow anonymous comments. Under Settings, Posts and Comments, select Registered User under Who Can Comment. Took care of it for me; now, if I could only keep the spammers out of my email!

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Beth! No Anonymous is a good trick...do they still get put in the Spam folder? Once-in-awhile I have a friend or relative visit who do not have an account.

Sorry you had to use word verification - but it seems to work very we'll.

You are right... Occasionally I see a Robin here or there over the course of a winter (not always), but "Mr. resident" has been in that tee nearly every day since late last Fall!

Thanks for your visit! You have had some cold, slippery weather lately!!

Shady Gardener said...

Hi Beth! No Anonymous is a good trick...do they still get put in the Spam folder? Once-in-awhile I have a friend or relative visit who do not have an account.

Sorry you had to use word verification - but it seems to work very we'll.

You are right... Occasionally I see a Robin here or there over the course of a winter (not always), but "Mr. resident" has been in that tee nearly every day since late last Fall!

Thanks for your visit! You have had some cold, slippery weather lately!!

Rose said...

This has been such an up and down winter--mostly cold, but a few warm days, it's no wonder the robins might be confused! Be careful what you wish for when it comes to snow:)