A Bestiary . . . Tales from a Wildlife Garden ~ Featuring Warblers

Time does have a way of falling away from us . . . and so it goes that for nearly two years now I have been writing about the beasts that abide in our wildlife habitat. 'A Bestiary . . . Tales from a Wildlife Garden' is now featuring songbirds with warblers being the focus of my cursor. Warblers are truly delightful birds and come and go with the changing seasons . . . leaving us each late summer and fall only to return every spring . . . their departures and arrivals help us mark time . . . beginnings and endings of growing seasons.

I would be honored if you clicked and scrolled over to Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens to see more images and learn a bit about these brilliantly marked birds. There are twenty-three installments in all but you can pick and choose which you might like to visit. Before the birds I did write about the mammals that roam around and about our twenty-one acres of forest, fields and gardens . . . not lions, tigers and bears but you can awaken bobcat, opossum and bears if you like. 

The labels below reveal the names of the six different warblers framed within this collage . . . perhaps you can match them up. Their little lives here at Flower Hill Farm so enrich my life and I do feel their absence both in the silence of songs and the stillness within the branches of trees and shrubberies. Revisiting our encounters through writing the Bestiary is a joyous way of recalling all of the remarkable wildlife I am so blessed to share this land with. There are more warblers, other songbirds then hummingbirds to write about before I move on to other beasties . . . like butterflies and bees.

Birds in Review Part XXIV 'A Bird Parade' Black-throated Green Warbler

We flew into the new year together with my first 'Birds In Review' post and I cannot believe we will be flying into spring together soon! Twenty four posts later and I am still finding birds, from my archives of the last two years, to share with you. The Flower Hill Farm 'Bird Parade' continues with a darling songbird aptly called the Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens). These images of a male donning his black bib are from late summer two years ago. The Viburnum has already formed its flower buds for the following years blooms. 

This is a very curious little bird. The day I captured these portraits the Black-throated Green Warbler was not content to eye me back from afar. He flew from the Viburnum, where he was perched in the first two photos, over into the Crabapple tree, to be closer, to where I was standing at my barn studio door. 

After observing me from that vantage point, the little fellow then flew or bolted over even closer!

The Black-throated Green Warbler landed right in front of me in a Lilac bush and peeked out from beneath a leaf.

Slowly he came out from under his cover . . .  closer . . . 

closer . . . 

and CLOSER!

Here he  is only a couple of feet away! The intrigued Black-throated Green Warbler may have wanted to know just who or what this creature (myself) with a big black eye was! Honestly my camera was no competition to his lovely black throat.

Last summer I captured this female ( I think) Black-throated Green Warbler, while she was gleaning for insects in a Crabapple tree. The sexes are very similar, but her throat is more white. Both male and female will have a white belly, two wing bars and have a yellow face with an olive green back.

She seemed a bit weary and more wary of my presence. It is very hard for me to determine the sex. 

Determining their voice is another matter all together and much easier! The Black-throated Green Warbler has a unique song that is describe as a "buzzy" "zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee" or  "zoo-zee-zoo-zoo-zee" (the latter version is more for his rivals!) Their voice is high pitched and rather insect like with the scratchy zoo zees! They are enthusiastic singers sharing their songs all through the breeding season. Imagine all of the warblers and other birds I am sharing being in the garden at the same time. It is so wonderful to have their colorful forms and fluid songs all about the gardens.

The Black-throated Green Warbler loves a coniferous forest and his kind breed all over the northeast and into Canada. I am fortunate to have a forest, open fields and shrubby gardens, which is a winning combination for a diverse variety of wildlife and just the sort of habitat many birds thrive in. These birds over-winter in Central and South America. Southern gardeners will be seeing them migrating through soon. 

This might be a young Black-throated Green Warbler, for so often immature birds are quite bold and enjoy freely exploring their new independence and worlds. I am always delighted for the opportunity to eye them closer too. I look forward to hearing their easy to recognize songs this spring!

Winter lingers on here, but graciously brings us warming temperatures, which can creates mysterious fog during some days. There has been a bit of a distraction outside the doors . . . my view from where I work . . .  while I have been writing, as well as, searching for and editing photographs.

As I have been working on this post, the Bohemian Waxwings have been all a chatter and flying about from the Black Cherry to the Crabapple in rather a frenzied manner. They have been creating quite a commotion . . .  swooshing in . . . then grabbing a few apples and flying away quickly back to the Cherry. More than sixty birds were filling the top of the remaining canopy of 'Michael's Tree' merrily murmuring to one another. They are adding a wonderful sound to the quiet winter landscape. It must be nearly spring, for they are so excited and perhaps will be moving on in a few days. It has been a joy to have such a large flock roosting in the large White Pine to the north of the barn and feeding in the Crabapple Orchard all winter.

Today as I finally finish this post, the fog is gone as are the Bohemian Waxwings. It is a bright sunny day and I hear the Bluebirds singing! 

There are very important celebrations going on all over the world, for it is the 100th Anniversary of International Woman's Day. 

You can help carry on the spirit of this important day by visiting and learning more about CARE. 

Their mission . . . in their own words . . . "CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. We place special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their lives."

September Garden Walkabout Part Two

We walked about in the north and middle gardens in my first 'September Garden Walkabout' post last Wednesday. If you missed it, you can catch up here. The Joe-Pye Weed and Hydrangeas were the stars even though their blooms are faded. 

Sedum flowers are still feeding beloved butterflies and bees. These two Monarchs are not feeding yet, they emerged in the morning but are not in a hurry to fly away. It has been a cool day. I took them out into the afternoon sunlight to encourage them along. After over a half hour of hanging out with them, I decided to place them in an apple tree to rest overnight. I will rise before the birds to stand guard, as the chill of the morning will leave them helpless. Butterflies can only fly, when the temperatures are above 50/60 degrees or so. Here in Western Massachusetts the temperatures are going into the 40's at night. 

The late afternoon sun casts shadow and light play along Walnut and Carey Hill and leaves the middle garden rather dull. So here is a true confession photo . . . the whole muddle of my middle garden . . . some call a meadow. No structure or design . . . these plantings simply began as cutting gardens. Now I add mostly native plants and shrubs and plan to build a pergola soon. A few choice pots and sculptures would greatly add to the interest of this part of the gardens. Edging is essential but this gardener has barely worked these gardens this summer. New natives were planted this spring and watered through the drought and that is about it. We are looking north east in this photograph. Native Black Cherry and two twin Oaks are the taller trees. A clustering of Linden topiary, Hawthorn, Smoke Bush and Japanese Maple stand along the edge of the garden. A row of Peonies is just to the right . . .  they will be cleaned up once all the Monarchs have flown away. More than once my weeding at this time of year has torn a chrysalis from a plant it had safely been fastened to. October and November can be great gardening months.

Turning more to the east . . . the peonies are now to the left of us. A very old Apple fills the space and is offering a bounty of gifts this year. Yearly pruning is keeping the branches from bending over to the ground. There are many apples on the grass and in my cold storage. The over turned watering can is quite appropriate, for how the gardener has participated this year. I place the Monarchs in the branches just in front of us. 

Now turning a bit more southeast looking down the hillside towards two other Apple trees, which act a bit like a gateway before a Gray Birch clump and the Blueberry field. Growing along the stone steps are grasses, Lilac topiaries, Stellata Magnolia, Daylilies, Iris, Artemisia and Hydrangea. Early spring begins with a parade of Iris reticulata running down along the edge of the flower border.

When I turn to the side, this is the view of the second terrace garden. Lilac topiaries, Miscanthus grasses and other Lilacs grow here. They are all doing amazing well considering the drought. 

Strolling into the terrace garden . . .  in the following early morning light . . .  and looking back, we are in what was once my herb garden. Orris Iris and Marjoram are planted beneath these grasses. Hundreds of lavender plants edged the plantings years back . . . those have all since died and I keep meaning to replace them. A Magnolia soulangeana is seen just beyond the grasses.

Looking up towards one of the three giant Rock Maples (Sugar Maples) . . . home to the wild Honeybees. 

Standing here we can see shrubberies of Honeysuckle and Lilacs. The Honeysuckles are filled with tiny red berries. 

Stepping underneath the canopies reveals the interesting bark. 

Colchicum 'Lilac Wonder' is breaking through the crusty soil stretching into the morning light.

Now we are walking back down towards the third terrace or lower garden. Passing a Stellata Magnolia and Apple tree. 

This bonsai like Apple grows atop an outcropping of rock at the end of this garden. 

It seems to be happy with all the pruning over the last two years. Its apples are delicious and a bit tart. 

Framed between the Stellata, Hydrangea and Weeping Cherry sits a comfy floating place in the lower garden. 

The lower garden is framed by four apples and the Weeping Cherry. My oldest Apple offers sweeter and larger apples. I mentioned earlier I had to get up with the birds this day to protect the Monarchs that are hanging from the Apple tree. I will harvest these perfectly plump red gifts, while keeping an eye on the Monarchs who cling to small branches nearby. 

There are many apples hanging low enough to pick without a ladder.

The Monarchs made it through the cool night and hang defenseless from hungry birds, squirrels or any other predators. I do not want these treasured gifts to become hanging fruits for any critters. 

My basket fills up with scrumptious apples of an unknown kind. I have seven varieties of apples and I do not know any of their names. I was lucky to inherit the trees and have worked hard for years keeping them pruned. I would like to learn organic practices to have a larger crop. Other than add a bit of composted manure around the base I do nothing more than prune. The tiny worms do not take up too much of the apple and many apples are perfect this year. If any of you know this variety, I would love to know. 

The fruit is soaking up the rays of light and warmth.

I find myself ambling over towards the Monarchs often to ward off other prying eyes . . . not that this Black-throated Green Warbler would bother them but a Chickadee might and the gang of Blue Jays most  certainly would. 

This little warbler is just a curious creature. He may be wary of the Monarchs patterns and colors . . . warning of the toxic milkweed running within it's veins. Alas, many birds have learned how to eat certain parts of the butterfly and discard the rest.

As I finish picking, the sun begins to fill the Apple tree and the Monarch's soak up the light and warmth too. I know they will be safe now for they are exercising their tiny muscles by opening and closing their wings. 

I take my heavy load of apples up the hill and look forward to a cup of tea. These Monarchs will soon begin their journey south towards Mexico. Every day more Monarchs are emerging. I now only have three chrysalises left. What a magical ritual raising Monarchs is. These glimpses end our walkabout for today. There is still the Blueberry field and the south field which is filled with asters . . . but that will be another walk . . . another day. 

Early Monday Morning Sun Rising Birds Migrating

It is a beautiful opening to a new day. I watch the sun create a fresh painting and eye the waning moon moving high in the blue sky. Our blazing orb rises, spreading fresh light over the gardens, while migrating flocks of birds get right to work harvesting insects in the crabapple orchard. I note while photographing the Black-throated Green Warblers and a Solitary Vireo (Blue-headed Vireo)... that they are as busy eyeing me, as I am observing them. They add a bit of color and song to the early morning garden but do not tarry long. If you have time to stay a minute or two be sure to click on the photos as there is so much more information when enlarged. Enjoy the day!