"In order to see the birds, it is necessary to become part of the silence."  Robert Lynd

This is one of my favorite quotes. Once I decided to sit silently, to sit still, I began to see so many more birds. It does not matter so much to me to see a certain number of birds, but to get what I call a "soul-satisfying view." Then, if I'm prepared and fortunate, I am able to capture some of these moments to share.  It's so much easier to recall details when I've taken images of different species. One bird at a time, we learn. Some birds are more common than others. It's those that are less common that are harder to capture.

While I sit and listen, the songs of the birds tumble on top of each other, one ends on a note that starts another bird off. More coffee, please! For the last four mornings, I had been hearing a new arrival. I have barely gotten a glimpse of the bird, a Mourning Warbler. It is a skulker, it tends to stay hidden in cover while it forages.  And, boy, do we have places for it to hide in. I was able to get this photo of one in 2006 and that may have to do for a while yet.  

Mourning Warbler 5-21-06

Mourning Warbler song:  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Warbler/sounds

Now, this morning at 6:20 a.m. I've heard another song, seven times or more, of a Connecticut Warbler. It is rare. As yet, I haven't been able to see it walking through the poppies. Yes, it walks. I'll keep trying. It's windy and only 46 degrees, one of those days. But, the details of life are exquisite! We all yearn for rare glimpses of beauty. 

Connecticut Warbler song:  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Connecticut_Warbler/sounds

This is a Chestnut-sided Warbler from Tuesday, not so rare but still fine.

Chestnut-sided Warbler 5-10-16

I noticed a pair of Northern Cardinals spending a lot of time near one of the arbors with Coral Trumpet Honeysuckle growing up on it. They started a nest about two weeks ago.

Northern Cardinal Nest in Coral Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) 5-2-16

The very next day, the female began sitting in it. Yesterday, she was still entrenched. I have already seen another female Cardinal feeding a Brown-headed Cowbird nestling. I hope this couple fare better and will raise their own young.

Northern Cardinal on her Nest in Coral Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) 5-13-16

I found another fitting quote from 1923 by Robert Lynd about the nest. "There is nothing in which birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before."  

One of my big concerns has been the feral cat population, which has been rising in the neighborhood. I let this one know that it was not welcome to cross the property line by hissing and waving a large stick at it. It worked...this time.

Feral Cat at property line 5-11-16

Between the migrants working in the leaf litter and young chicks hopping about, outdoor cats pose a terrific threat to our native birds.  This research article estimates the number to be 500 million birds killed each year!

http://www.wildlifemanagementinstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&id=610:new-research-suggests-outdoor-cats-kill-more-wildlife-than-thought&catid=34:ONB+Articles&Itemid=54

The Carolina Wrens have their young out learning to forage and this parent found a spider to feed one, calling as it held its prey.

Carolina Wren with spider for chick 5-13-16

The proud papa was singing and for the day, life goes on.

Carolina Wren 5-13-16