I do have a few more egg cups to show you, but I had a lovely little encounter yesterday that I want to share with you.
I was upstairs sometime during the middle of the afternoon and happened to look out our bedroom window. There was a large bird over by the shed, pecking away, searching for food. It was not a bird that I ever see around here. I went downstairs and looked more closely. I grabbed my long range lens and went outside, took lots of photos. The bird did not seem at all disturbed by my presence and when I walked even closer, it was unfazed. At this point, Don was watching from the kitchen door and the bird was changing direction and headed my way. I said ‘Come’ and it kept walking toward me.
I was standing by the funky patio and it walked in my direction, sort of like a pet bird or chicken would. It explored the patio, then headed toward the porch. (I was a wee bit worried that its wings might be injured.) It stopped at the edge of the porch, hopped up onto the porch and I followed. We walked around the porch, with me talking quietly. He/she was actually listening. When he got closer to the glider, he stopped, looked up at the seat cushion, flew up (wings not injured!) stood there a minute, then flew up to the railing, long enough for me to take a picture, and then flew off.
Of course, it was a pigeon, the kind of pigeon I see in the city all of the time, but never see here. Actually, it’s a Rock Dove. It wasn’t until I uploaded this photo that I noticed the red band around his leg. Another photo showed an orange and blue band around the other leg with the number 9 and “New.” Most likely New York.
A little blurry, but you can see the other band and the number 9.
I looked up information about banding. An owner might band a homing pigeon, or a racing pigeon. Ornithologists sometimes band birds to track their patterns.
But this little one was so gentle, so sweet, that I think it has an owner – it’s not at all afraid of human beings, whereas a city pigeon would have flown away as soon as I got close to it.
Right before it took off.
I worried that it might be lost, so I posted something on our town’s Facebook page, and one woman said the same bird had visited her yard yesterday and that it was very sweet and not afraid of them at all.
It looks as if the Rock Dove was having some adventures yesterday! It didn’t seem panicked. More like a tourist.
It was so lovely. We were really communicating. To have an encounter with a sweet bird, an unhurried encounter, well, that is a blessing and I have carried that feeling into today. Don and I feel very lucky that this beauty decided to visit our property.
I needed that.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
“i needed that.”
glad you got it! and told us about the sweet encounter and shared photos of that very pretty dove. thank you.
hope you and don and everyone else have a nice day ahead.
kathy
Thank you, Kathy.
Stay safe.
What a nice bird encounter… very intriguing with the bands. Interesting that it had multiple ones…
Thank you, Barrie.
Stay safe.
Pigeons In The News!
(Did you ever watch Sesame Street? My kids and I loved it, especially Ernie and Bert. That was the name of Bert’s favorite newspaper.)
I can’t identify with anyone who doesn’t smile at seeing one walk along with that hilarious head-bobbing walk. One of the most entertaining birds.
Never really watched it!
You’re so right about the head-bobbing walk. Adorable.
Stay safe, Shanna.
Nature can be such a comfort to us these days. Glad you enjoyed your visit with this sweet bird.
I did.
Thank you, Ellen.
Stay safe.
Claudia, what a lovely guest! Nature is incredibly good for us. We have a few wild rock doves that visit our yard and their colors are beautiful. Hope this sweet bird makes it wherever it should be. Glad you and Don had a peaceful day.
I hope he was tucked in for the night.
Thank you, Verna.
Stay safe.
Hi dear Claudia,
Oh, wait, I’ll get some orange juice first. A rainy kind of Monday. Just a little rain of course. My typing skills are very low because I haven’t written my journal in a couple months. This has never happened, the fact that I’m out of time so to speak. Each time I grab my laptop from the shelf behind the antique desk, a few papers with scribbled notes fall out. Maybe it’s time that I wrote something again.
Mike’s kidney surgery went well. The day was really long, also for the woman who was also there at 7 a.m. for a procedure on her knee. Finally she insisted that I go downstairs to the cafeteria and have some soup or something to calm myself. I met Michael upstairs afterwards. The next day Mike looked quite a site, sweating, and asking for more and more pain relief (he hardly uses tylenol). A couple drs and a few nurses all rushed in and they threw his bag on the bed and had Mike straight to ICU, where he ‘lived’ for three long days. A lung (maybe both?) collapsed and Michael was really sick. I wish he had mentioned his double pneumonia he had at three years to somebody. So a two day stay in the hospital turned into eight days. The hospital was dismal and strangely laid out. Mike’s best day was his brother who visited from a nearby small town, and my surprise visit one snowy evening from my dear close friend Liza. I hear her voice down the hallway. Wow!
We had the cheapest hotel that was close to the hospital, and I tried not to eat much to save money, but the week was Very expensive and it’s basically the holiday we haven’t had in many years. Crap. I took a nice walk on the Sunday around a lake and got lost. Had to pay for our friends’ hotel room and food, our neighbor who brought Mike home, and and also the dog sitter. I came home from Calgary a couple days early.
My husband is at home resting and healing. He has six stapled areas on his belly. I think after a few days Mike will go stir crazy and ask City Hall if he can’t please come back to work.
I haven’t been painting at all. Well, but I did paint an old table a rusty color. It’s okay I guess.
I’m struggling. I was in the shower at 2:30 in the morning Sat night, crying a little and moaning while trying to take a cold, cold shower because I’d already used both cold packs. I thought to drive to the hospital to see if they had something for severe pain. I don’t really have a doctor anymore, but the specialist has referred me to another specialist. I can manage somehow. I don’t want to get into the details. During the day I feel better but get really tired.
I met a nice new woman at church and with 15 minutes to get ready for the day I’d smeared makeup all over my chin. Oops! Dad came over for a visit last night and we had lots of chocolate cake. Well, I did eat my share.
My shepherd friend should be lambing about now. Those little lambs are the cutest things ever.
This is super, super wordy. I do so need to journal/diary. Sorry.
Thinking of your friend. Such a time.
I’m really happy to hear that Mike’s surgery was successful, but sorry to hear of the complications. In the end, this must be a huge relief for you both. Remember to take care of yourself, Irene.
Stay safe.
wow … that’s a lot, irene. may the cold packs be available but not needed, may the healings be quick and complete, and the time to relax and celebrate be now and always. agreeing with claudia … take good care of yourself too.
sending hugs (if okay) and will keep you all in prayers.
kathy
I’m really sorry for that Long, Long entry. It’s fine, don’t read it. Ouch
xo
What a lovely visit! I think he looks quite clean for a city bird and like you said, probably has an owner.
He won’t be lost, these types of birds have nature’s inner tracking devices. He might be on a long distance flight and stopped to rest for a couple of days!
Weather has turned cool and rainy again, it’s a Bank Holiday so nothing unusual there.
Happy Monday
Well, I don’t think this Rock Dove is a city bird. I think it’s a country bird. I see city pigeons when I’m in NYC, but this little one has a nice home somewhere.
Enjoy your Bank Holiday, Dee Dee.
Stay safe.
When we arrived home from what we didn’t know was the last time we would see my mother in law there was a pigeon on our bedroom windowsill. I have lived here for 30 years and my neighbors or I have never seen a pigeon here. The next morning we got the news of my mother in laws passing. The pigeon stayed up until we came home from the funeral. The whole thing was odd but the weirdest part was that it was a white pigeon and we have never seen it before or since. My sister in law informed me that her dad (who had passed earlier) always fed the birds and had a white dove always visit him. Thoughts? When we had to put down our Coton de Turlear (Coton) there was a white fluffy dog cloud in the parking lot of the veterinary hospital. My mom’s favorite song was Lift you up on eagles wings which we played at her funeral. A few hours later riding home I asked my husband and daughter what was in the sky. I didn’t want to say, “look at the eagle cloud” and persuade their answer. They both answered an eagle cloud. All of these were comforting to me.
Well, I believe we received messages from our loved ones who have passed on. I have received them. And sometimes they come via an animal or a butterfly or a bird.
Thanks, Carlotta.
Stay safe.
my thoughts? beautiful (the messages being both sent and received). also, so many experiences here that leave me happy, grateful and in complete agreement.
sending hugs (if okay) and praying for you and your loves.
kathy
How lovely! You may enjoy reading The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkel .xo
I have in on my stack. My cousin sent it to me.
Thanks, Annette.
Stay safe.
What a lovely encounter! Thanks for sharing. I am of the belief that Mother Nature has a way of reaching out to us, at just the right time to show us what we need in that moment in this life. As you said, “I needed that”. The calmness you are carrying into today is a gift. Enjoy your day! ;)
I agree with you, Donnamae.
Stay safe.
That sounds like a magical encounter. I hope it returns. Perhaps it carried a message of love from your friend Jan. I think sometimes birds do. At least I’d like to believe that.
Thank you, Jeanie.
I often find myself thinking of that sweet bird.
Stay safe.
That was magical. Hugs, Elaine
Thank you, Elaine.
Stay safe.
Such a pretty colored little bird. And what a lovely encounter you had with it. I enjoyed reading about it.
I think animals and nature can be so healing, comforting in these days and times.
I agree.
Thanks, Lily.
Stay safe.