Dreaming the World

We may have had a freeze overnight; this morning there was frost on the cars and field. Now the sun is glare brilliant and there are thin white clouds beginning to build at the horizon, ahead of this evening’s storm.

We still have good colour in the foliage that remains bordering our yard, and the past two days it has been filled with a large mixed flock of birds, including Yellow Shafted Flickers, one of my very favourite avians, and several nuthatches.

They have been devouring the berries on our eight foot tall Poke Berry plant (which seems unphased by the freeze). At this point there are many fewer than there were twenty-four hours ago.

Here’s an American Robin hiding in the foliage.

And a Blue Jay that is not hiding at all.

Last night, at twilight, there was a family of deer in the field, very near our stone fence. Eventually they came into our yard but it was too dark to see them.

This morning there was a doe, a calf, and a four or five point buck,. This may be the same group as last night, but in last evening’s twilight it appeared there were two yearlings playing tag, a doe leisurely standing guard, with a buck coming and going rather aggressively.

The buck moved much to fast to be photographed. But here’s the fawn from last evening.

During the summer our trees block much of the field so it is difficult to know how much the deer, foxes, and coyotes, are using it. Each day now our view opens more, and I am intrigued by the possibilities.

For now, I am feeling the joy of sharing our yard with so many others.