Words On Birds by Steve Grinley
Looking Ahead After Winter Solstice
December 23, 2017
By Steve Grinley
We just passed the winter solstice and, though we are facing a New England winter ahead of us, we can at least look forward to the days getting progressively longer. It is, therefore, appropriate that once again I share a solstice day story written years ago by friend and fellow birder, Doug Chickering of Groveland:
“Lois Cooper and I birded our way into the Winter Solstice, another one of those quiet inevitable markers of our years. The pallid sun makes it’s lowest journey across the sky; seemingly always in our eyes, or spreading a glare across the ice and the waters of Plum Island. It was actually a beautiful, deep winter day. A hesitant wind drifted in from the Northwest; clean, dry and cold – not biting, but touched enough with its arctic origin as to slowly penetrate even the hearty winter coats; draining away the body’s warmth and eventually bringing on shivers. Extremely high, vapid clouds filtered the blue from the sky and the feeble heat from the sun. “There was enough energy in the sun to begin to melt the frost from the dirt road that stretches south from Hellcat, but not enough to soften the snow and ice that remained in the fields and at the roads edge. We came across no exceptional birds. The highlight of the day being a nice peregrine falcon perched on a crest of snow on the far side of the Pans. Its menacing presence keeping the large flock of nearby starlings annoyed and restless as they attempted to feed at the side of the road.
“I must admit that I cannot help but admire the birds of winter; especially the little guys. Even though I know that it is technically inaccurate to ascribe human qualities to them; that they are only reacting to their surroundings in an instinctive timeless manner, yet I cannot help but regard them as being nearly heroic. Their persistence, courage and luck in the face of the stark, uncompromising cruelty of deep winter is inspiring. There is something particularly noble of a tiny chickadee, a redpoll, or American tree sparrow puffed up against the crackling cold, foraging and calling to one another; obviously determined to prevail until the spring.
“Off Emerson Rocks we had a nice sampling of winter ducks: common eider, common goldeneye, oldsquaw [long-tailed ducks], black scoter, and white-winged scoter. Also, there were several common loons, a few horned grebes, and a pair of Bonaparte’s gulls flying in from off the sea. We had nothing noteworthy, other than the Peregrine, although on Saturday we saw the screech owl in it’s tree on Route 1A in Rowley, and Friday afternoon we did find the northern shrike in the treetops on the ocean side at the extreme south end of the Town Marker Field.
“Parts of the winter to come, I look forward to. I hope snowy owls will arrive at Plum Island again, along with other owls. We’ll be looking for alcids at Andrews Point, and maybe some more winter finches. New Years Day will renew the lists and there’s the Christmas Bird Count…that Lois and I enjoy immensely. There will also be winter times that will not be so welcome. Stormy days, bad driving, the inevitable winter spill on an icy sidewalk; shoveling snow and the pervasive, endless cold. Still, starting now, the days will be getting longer and we will be heading in the general direction of warblers.”
Doug will be glad to know that the snowy owls have already arrived on Plum Island this year with as many as six being seen in one day. Doug’s admiration of the survival of winter birds should serve as a reminder for us to keep our feeders filled during these coming months. Birds are flocking to feeders, so keeping food and open water available for them is important in helping them survival the winter ahead. During these colder days, birds are devouring our seed and suet, and Margo was thrilled to see three male bluebirds drinking from the heated bird bath on our deck.
We wish you a wonderful holiday season and a new year of colorful and fascinating birds!
Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift
Route 1 Traffic Circle
194 Route 1
Newburyport, MA 01950
BirdWSG@Comcast.net
978-462-0775
www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com
Celebrating 24 years of service to the birding community!
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