Tuesday, May 19
The male grosbeaks are beautiful birds and fun to watch.
Look at the beautiful red feather pattern on his breast.
…and then there was this.
I took these pictures about an hour after watching the grosbeak – in the late afternoon.
Surprisingly this doesn’t leave a bad smell – maybe just a bit when they are spreading it.
This time of year it means they will probably soon be planting a summer crop.
My goodness what a gorgeous bird — the red breast pattern, and that wonderful face in the middle of the black feathers! It is still spring — is that a second crop being planted? And will there be time for a third later in the summer?
He fascinates me every time I watch him. The manure was being spread on the homestead fields. They recently harvested the rye and just planted corn (photos in the future). This will be a late summer or fall harvest, then a winter crop will be planted – maybe rye again or another winter grass to be harvested next spring.
Soybeans have already been planted in the field across the street from us. Last year was corn. They don’t do a winter crop.
the rose-breasted grosbeaks seem to have left our area and moved on. I saw them for a week or so earlier. They are amazing.
They planted corn here – at the homestead. The Amish across the road haven’t planted anything yet, but I expect that will soon be happening.