On a somewhat similar note, below is a photo of a "field-in-waiting", taken a few days ago, before the rains of today which have erased the last etchings of snow. You can see that the upper right corner of the field is a more solid brown color.......that's where the cow manure was spread last week. Corn grew in this field last year. And now, in early spring, the field waits quietly and patiently for the upcoming seasonal cycle of tilling, planting, growing, harvesting.......
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*********************Another photo of a blackbird really is not necessary, but I have a question about this fellow below, and I have seen others like him before. The colored markings on his wing are smaller and duller than on other red-wing blackbirds. Does anyone know why? Is this a different variety of blackbird? Or a younger one? The bird book I have doesn't show markings like this.
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Good-by, Ruby Tuesday.......who could put a name on you.......when you change with every new day.......still I'm gonna miss you........
My mom is Ruby and she's leaving today, Tuesday, for a trip to Europe. My prayers are with her and my stepdad for a safe flight and pleasant touring.
Truly, I'm not fooling about any of this........and happy April Fool's Day to you, too!!
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4 comments:
the land always looks fragile and vulnerable inthe spring until something starts to grow.
Yes, the farmers are biting at the bit to get going! A neighbor of mine has the planter hooked up and the rig is waiting on the edge of the field to go, go, go!!
Here is something I found about red-wing blackbirds from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
"Immature - Immature male similar to female, but may be mostly black with buffy edges to feathers, and epaulettes vary from brown to red. Much variation exists, and male may take three years to become entirely black. Immature female similar to adult, but has paler face and brown epaulettes."
I think this site also said the young birds do not fully mature for three years - could that be right??! My guess is that this is a young bird....
Jeannelle,
This looks like a male redwing blackbird to me, with his epaulets concealed. Oftentimes, they are concealed. Young blackbirds, and the female of the species are mottled brown in color and not black at all. The young males still have the red epaulets.
I like your pic of the redwing blackbird at the mailbox! Good catch. And I love your story about the banker and his hobby.
Have the breathe-right strips worked yet?
Mary,
Thanks for stopping by. Yes, the fields look rather forlorn this time of year.
Thanks for the info concerning the redwing, Russell and CountryGirl.
Russell, that's funny about your neighbor getting all geared up to plant. That's obvious with some farmers.....they get SO excited about planting. My husband is completely involved with the cows......fieldwork is a distraction for him, except for silo filling and hay baling. We've hired our corn planted and combined the last few years. Can't afford to buy and maintain those machines.
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