Ride 55 Was One for the Birds
Aug. 15th, 2011 10:53 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
judifilksign and the bees, and the butterflies, and the squirrel in the tree.
Since I am going to my mother's with Sparkle later today, I chose to ride this morning. I missed the last couple of days, due to being sick. As before, I noticed so many things with the morning sunlight at my back.
For one thing, there are many flowers that are not open in the evening. Trumpet vines of white, violet, and purple grew in profusion. There were blue-purple cornflowers, buttercups, daisies, and honeysuckle, and a red vine on trees with orange-red flowers. I saw hummingbirds at those! The bees buzzed all along the path sides, going from flower to flower.
Butterflies also fluttered amongst the flowers. There were little white ones, brown ones with yellow spots on the underside, bright blue on the tops, and several pairs of monarch butterflies all orange in the sunbeams.
The sparrows were everywhere in flocks. The cardinals shone brightly. Red breasted robins sought breakfast in the grass. Swallows dipped and swooped along the fields. I saw bright yellow goldfinches, flaring brightly in sunbeams as they flew through the trees.
After not seeing them for days and days, I saw my Indigo Buntings, too. That made me so happy!
Chugging up a small rise on my way to the bridge, I passed under a black walnut tree, and a nut fell as I went by. I heard a squirrel chittering above me.
The brook was very low. But it was cool outside, and a breeze was blowing, and birds chirping, and crickets cheeping. I kept going across the second road, and rode along the farmer fields.
I saw another Indigo Bunting, sitting on the fence line. I caught my breath as I got closer and closer. They'd always flown away before, but this one was sitting stock still. I got a very good, close look at it, and it didn't move at all! Then, almost below my wheels, I heard a whop! whop! flapping, and a HAWK burst from the weeds next to me and flew at right angles away, then curved around to pace me for a bit, then perched in a tree. I peeked behind me. The bunting had dropped to the path behind me, hiding behind tall weeds. Smart little bunting!
This incident made me so awestruck and happy, I passed the tractor crossing at which I usually turn around. I was at the horse farm, closing in on the towers. I figured I'd go to the end of the path, since I had come so far anyway. A number of morning doves cooed and fluttered away, and at the end of the path, I scared a flock of pigeons.
After I crossed back over the bridge, I noticed a green passenger truck coming down the path. It was a Park Ranger vehicle. It slowed so I could pass a bush with branches way out in the path. I waved my thanks, and they both waved back, grinning. I realized I had a big smile on my face - not one created for them, just one that I had because of how happy I was.
As I passed under the black walnut tree again, a walnut BANGED! off the top of my helmet, startling me. I heard that squirrel chitter again. I am pretty sure he threw that nut on purpose!
The brown birds, swallows, sparrows, buntings, robins, and cardinals were still out in full force. I saw another blue bird - a blue jay, white and blue and black, with his distinctive crest. He isn't so blue as the buntings are in sunlight, but still very pretty.
I have to see if my neighbors are home before I go off today, because as I rode up, the horses neighed, and galloped mightily across the field. They spun at the fence by the road, tails high and alert to the trees behind. I saw a shape that looked like a gray dog. I think it was a coyote. Their dogs inside the house were going ape, barking and flinging themselves at the window.
All in all though, it was a lovely ride. When I'm at my folks', I plan on walking with my dad and Sparkle on a daily basis. He likes to go across a dam and through woods. His favorite joke is that he's going on his dam walk again.
Since I am going to my mother's with Sparkle later today, I chose to ride this morning. I missed the last couple of days, due to being sick. As before, I noticed so many things with the morning sunlight at my back.
For one thing, there are many flowers that are not open in the evening. Trumpet vines of white, violet, and purple grew in profusion. There were blue-purple cornflowers, buttercups, daisies, and honeysuckle, and a red vine on trees with orange-red flowers. I saw hummingbirds at those! The bees buzzed all along the path sides, going from flower to flower.
Butterflies also fluttered amongst the flowers. There were little white ones, brown ones with yellow spots on the underside, bright blue on the tops, and several pairs of monarch butterflies all orange in the sunbeams.
The sparrows were everywhere in flocks. The cardinals shone brightly. Red breasted robins sought breakfast in the grass. Swallows dipped and swooped along the fields. I saw bright yellow goldfinches, flaring brightly in sunbeams as they flew through the trees.
After not seeing them for days and days, I saw my Indigo Buntings, too. That made me so happy!
Chugging up a small rise on my way to the bridge, I passed under a black walnut tree, and a nut fell as I went by. I heard a squirrel chittering above me.
The brook was very low. But it was cool outside, and a breeze was blowing, and birds chirping, and crickets cheeping. I kept going across the second road, and rode along the farmer fields.
I saw another Indigo Bunting, sitting on the fence line. I caught my breath as I got closer and closer. They'd always flown away before, but this one was sitting stock still. I got a very good, close look at it, and it didn't move at all! Then, almost below my wheels, I heard a whop! whop! flapping, and a HAWK burst from the weeds next to me and flew at right angles away, then curved around to pace me for a bit, then perched in a tree. I peeked behind me. The bunting had dropped to the path behind me, hiding behind tall weeds. Smart little bunting!
This incident made me so awestruck and happy, I passed the tractor crossing at which I usually turn around. I was at the horse farm, closing in on the towers. I figured I'd go to the end of the path, since I had come so far anyway. A number of morning doves cooed and fluttered away, and at the end of the path, I scared a flock of pigeons.
After I crossed back over the bridge, I noticed a green passenger truck coming down the path. It was a Park Ranger vehicle. It slowed so I could pass a bush with branches way out in the path. I waved my thanks, and they both waved back, grinning. I realized I had a big smile on my face - not one created for them, just one that I had because of how happy I was.
As I passed under the black walnut tree again, a walnut BANGED! off the top of my helmet, startling me. I heard that squirrel chitter again. I am pretty sure he threw that nut on purpose!
The brown birds, swallows, sparrows, buntings, robins, and cardinals were still out in full force. I saw another blue bird - a blue jay, white and blue and black, with his distinctive crest. He isn't so blue as the buntings are in sunlight, but still very pretty.
I have to see if my neighbors are home before I go off today, because as I rode up, the horses neighed, and galloped mightily across the field. They spun at the fence by the road, tails high and alert to the trees behind. I saw a shape that looked like a gray dog. I think it was a coyote. Their dogs inside the house were going ape, barking and flinging themselves at the window.
All in all though, it was a lovely ride. When I'm at my folks', I plan on walking with my dad and Sparkle on a daily basis. He likes to go across a dam and through woods. His favorite joke is that he's going on his dam walk again.
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no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 04:24 pm (UTC)I hope you enjoy your walks with your dad as much as I have enjoyed reading about your rides.
no subject
Date: 2011-08-16 12:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-16 06:31 am (UTC):)
Date: 2011-08-16 06:33 am (UTC)