Around the Spinney

A Gentle Feast

  • Weaver, the Orchard Oriole

    Weaver, the Orchard Oriole

    Baltimore Oriole you’ve probably heard of before, but Orchard Oriole? Maybe not. The Orchard Oriole exchanges the beautiful orange of his Baltimore cousin with a chestnut brown. The females are very different from the males, wearing yellow and green feathers. Here is a video of what an Immature Male looks like, much more like the…

  • Goldy, the Baltimore Oriole

    Goldy, the Baltimore Oriole

    Now on to a bird that causes a lot of excitement in the Spring. Who is a cousin of Sally Sly the Brown-headed Cowbird, but who is a lot more popular: Goldy, the Baltimore Oriole. Baltimore Orioles are members of the Blackbird family, but they certainly contain more vibrant colors than others in their family.…

  • Sally Sly, the Brown-headed Cowbird

    Sally Sly, the Brown-headed Cowbird

    Spring Forward, a Pleasure to Hear Springing forward isn’t always the easiest or nicest of events on the calendar, but one thing I really enjoyed this morning is that I was able to hear the birds wake with the dawn and chorus their calls to each other again. I sat reading on the couch in…

  • The Great Backyard Bird Count

    The Great Backyard Bird Count

    This weekend is the 25th annual Great Backyard Bird Count and I couldn’t resist sharing some links for those who want to participate. To learn more about the event, you can check out a free live webinar tomorrow, February 16, 2022. It is designed for all ages and would be a great way to connect…

  • Redhead, the Red-headed Woodpecker

    Redhead, the Red-headed Woodpecker

    Our last Burgess Woodpecker is the Red-headed Woodpecker, a striking bird dressed in deep red, white and black. This is a good time to ask and answer the question, why do woodpeckers drum on wood? When I was growing up I believed that the reason was limited to their search for food, insects living in…

  • Downy and Hairy

    Downy and Hairy

    When we started The Burgess Bird Book, I just couldn’t wait to get to Chapter 11, Drummers and Carpenters. I knew that’s where Peter Rabbit would learn the difference between a Hairy Woodpecker and a Downy Woodpecker. I fought the temptation and was able to wait patiently for the day when we would read it…

  • Yellow Wing, the Northern Flicker

    Yellow Wing, the Northern Flicker

    What comes after Red Wing in The Burgess Bird Book? Yellow Wing of course! Yellow Wing is a Northern Flicker, an absolutely beautiful bird. Thornton W. Burgess describes him like this: The sides and throat were a soft reddish-tan and on each side at the beginning of the bill was a black patch. The top…

  • Redwing

    Growing up in Texas, I had no idea about Red-winged Blackbirds, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t there. It wasn’t until I moved to Illinois that I saw one for the first time. They are so prevalent around us and I have a few stories to tell about them because of their habits and characteristics.…

  • Teeter, The Spotted Sandpiper

    While reading The Burgess Bird Book, I realized very quickly that I have a soft spot for small birds with long legs. I could watch them for hours. When we lived in Dubai, my husband and I loved to spot Plovers, watching as they circled and diverted our attention, protecting their young. You may not…

  • The American Woodcock, Longbill

    The American Woodcock, Longbill

    Here we come to a beloved chapter in the Burgess Bird Book, chapter 9. We fell in love with Longbill, who’s Writing Page you can see above, very quickly and I’ll tell you why… You’ll have to tell me yourself if you can resist his irresistible moves when you see them here: This rocking back…