Field Pansies and Bluets

Today was the kind of day that makes you want to be a bird. Not just any bird, though. I am talking Hawk. Specifically, a Red-tailed Hawk, like the two I saw today, playing in spring air thermals rising from the sun-warmed Earth. I stood and watched for a while and tried to imagine how that kind of freedom must feel. As I stood on the hill the sun and strong breeze balanced each other perfectly - I felt neither too warm nor too cool. Just very alive.

I finally called to Daisy and Duke and headed downhill to Meetinghouse Creek. Butterflies were fluttering everywhere! Mourning Cloaks, a Zebra Swallowtail, Falcate Orangetips (male and female), Orange and Common Sulphurs, as well as Spring Azures, a Buckeye, and a Painted Lady all flew above the pipeline grasses.

I sat to check out the tiny flowers blooming near the creek and began hearing things: a Clearwing Dragonfly zoomed past me sounding like a miniature helicopter; fat bumblebees buzzed me while I drew. Grasshoppers moving about the grass made summery zzzzzzt! sounds the whole time I sat there. The creek gurgled and rippled, and last but not least, birds sang their little hearts out! My list:

Carolina Wren

Titmice

Carolina Chickadees

Pileated Woodpecker

Cardinals

White Breasted Nuthatch

Field Sparrows

Gold Finch

Kinglets

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Was that an Indigo Bunting I heard? Not sure about that one. Tomorrow I plan to go in search of the secretive Louisiana Waterthrush I saw beside this creek last year.

Spring! I am so happy it is here.