Winter Colors

A crystal clear sky today. The mountain is silhouetted against a brilliant blue backdrop. A light wind sends some dry leaves skittering cross the yard while a few still flutter forlornly on the trees. It’s been quiet around Hideaway Pond for the last couple of weeks.

Two weather fronts collided and had a mild argument in the wee hours a couple of nights ago. Eerily silent sheet lightning. Windless. The weather has been, in a word, unremarkable. Gray, moist skies with occasional blue haze and reluctant sun.

The seasons have fully changed and settled in. Mother Nature has donned her winter wardrobe of grays and browns. And the wind has blown piles of bright amber oak leaves against the ledge. They join the evergreens in colorful contrast to the neutrals of their surroundings.

A large flock of turkeys wandered from the woods a week ago. They slowly pecked their way around the pond, past the ledge and up the mountain. No doubt they’re relieved to know that Thanksgiving is behind them. They have little to fear. Thanks to their farm raised brothers and sisters, the ghostly visage of stuffing and cranberry sauce is long gone. To them, anyway.

Birds have been attracted to the feeder in large and lively numbers. Cardinals, nuthatches, chickadees, tufted titmice and their hardy winter friends fill its surrounding air. We’re pleased that a family of Carolina wrens has chosen to stay in our neighborhood. Though quiet in winter, they sing a loud and cheerful summer song. They don’t migrate, but a pair will choose to stay in a general area through several seasons.

A family of wrens hatched in one of our hanging baskets last summer. Carolina wrens are primarily bug eaters. During winter they turn to other alternatives such as seeds and suet. Food is scarce then. Birds use the feeder, especially the suet, to add a little fatty insulation under their feathers. We hang our feeders during the winter and bring them in at night. Bad news for bears.

Nonetheless, we’ve found the sad, dead remains of a couple of bird feeders strewn across the lawn and up the driveway on a couple occasions. Bruin burglary. In broad daylight. Feckless furry felon.

Rudy, a studly young four point buck has been a daily visitor. He has developed a strong preference for the delectable fare in our front yard. We have become familiar enough to him that he ignores us as he gorges on winter grass, He showed up with three does a few days ago. Not sure what that’s all about. But it’s none of our business, really.

What happens in Hideaway stays in Hideaway.

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