Sweet Cherries and Birds

Many years ago, Brad planted a pair of sweet cherry trees. They were two different varieties. Both of them have grown well but one of them gets beautiful red cherries. We used to try netting it so the birds would let US pick ripe cherries. We've given that up. It bloomed especially lovely this year, without being bothered by frost. There were a lot of bees busy pollinating. Bumblebees, not honeybees.

This week is cherry picking week for the birds. What a delight to watch them flying in and out of that tree. Everyone is looking for the perfect fruit. Cardinals, robins, blackbirds and mockingbirds  all noisily chasing the next bird away from the treasure.

Yesterday morning, Woodrow was perched in his cat-bird seat enjoying the show when he alerted me of something out of the ordinary. I stood up and looked out the window in time to see a bird I've waited for many years. A Cedar Waxwing was in the rhododendron. He stayed long enough for me to call Brad to see him. I'm waiting this morning with my camera nearby but so far he's a no show. They're like that I read. I guess that's how I got to be this old before I saw one. He was a beauty.

One more note about birds: last Sunday morning, I heard a Bob White - a quail.  When I was a kid we often heard them and also an occasional Whip-or-will. Now, hearing a quail in our neighborhood is rare. The last time I heard a Whip-or-will was in Bedford County, decades ago. I'm hearing the quail again this morning. Stay safe, Bob White.
Shortly after we moved here, one Sunday morning we observed Mr. and Mrs. Quail and their young hatchlings strolling through our yard. What a delight it was to see them.