Tag: Cardinal

IMAGES OF SMALL THINGS FROM THE BIGGEST COUNTY IN TEXAS #644 – MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

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Christmas reminds us we are not alone.  We are not unrelated atoms, jouncing and ricocheting amid aliens, but are a part of something, which holds and sustains us.  As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December’s bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same.  Christmas shows us the ties that bind us together, threads of love and caring, woven in the simplest and strongest way within the family. Donald E. Westlake

Enjoy your blessings, keep an eye out for your brightest star and follow that sucker……..en theos….jim

Photo of Da day @ Da Pine #218

Ode To A Cardinal

A Poem by Beautifully Tragic xPoetry Queen

To the cardinal that lives in my backyard.

So handsome,

Admirably dressed from head to toe

In your crimson red jewels.

Prancing around in the trees,

As you and your love builds a strong home

To soon host little ones and watch them grow

Into the mirror image of their glorious father..

or the mystic beauty of golden brown

While being drowned in a mother’s love.

Spring has sprung,

And you’re both busy as ever

In the circle of life.

Put on a little color on your journey†††nada te turbe†††jim

Photo of Da day @ Da Pine #181

Birds never seem to have to follow all the human social rules. This “Silver Cardinal” (Pyrrhuloxia) also known as the “Desert Cardinal” for sure was never taught to eat with her beak closed. She is decked out in a lovely light olive or khaki color with red highlights and beak. We are blessed to have a couple of them that feed regularly in our back yard.

Show your true colors on your journey†††nada te turbe†††††jim

Photo of Da day @ Da Pine #171

We whiled away the day once again at Sam Nail’s old homestead in Big Bend National Park. It was very windy day and we wanted a nice quiet place out of the breeze. The birds were once again plentiful there, one of the few places in the park we found many birds this trip.

This Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalas) male was a handsome scarlet specimen. I was a little surprised when he like really freaked out when a bee invaded his drinking space. I started to share my insect repellant with him. But we are not supposed to interfere with the wildlife, plus the spray would have probably freaked him out too.

Don’t freak out on your journey††nada te turbe††jim

Photo of Da day @ Da Pine #120

We found this guy at Rio Grande Campground in Big Bend. I never knew there was more than one kind a Cardinal, red ones. Turns out there is this breed that is known as a Silver Cardinal (Pyrrhuloxia). They really are painted a slate like silver which makes their scarlet dusting show even more brilliant. The bill is parrot like and cast in a yellow-gold finish. They were very aggressive in their ground feeding and focused on the search for food. I was allowed to slowly approach and get fairly close before this bold one perched and posed very beautifully.

“You won’t catch a Cardinal,

Committing a Cardinal sin.

Nope! No matter,

What kind of snit it’s in.

They may swoop in,

And brush another away,

But then it’s a seed or two,

And they’re all ready to play.

I can’t say for sure,

That a Cardinal won’t lust,

But most seem to be,

The kind of bird I would trust”…Mickey Dee

Find some red on your journey…nade te turbe†††jim