Roaring winds and little birds

[altivo]

How do they do it anyway? I mean, those little tiny birds flitting around out there when the wind is gusting to 45 mph and holding on at a steady 30 or 35? That's how it's been for much of today. At least it was sunny, but nowhere near as warm and pleasant as Wednesday, or even yesterday when it was rainy.

Spring birds are here. Finches gold and red, chipping sparrows, white throated sparrows, song sparrows, robins. Today I saw the first rose breasted grosbeak, but no orioles or hummers yet. All of them seem completely unconcerned by the winds that ought, by rights, to blow them into the next county or crash them into trees and buildings.

One bird didn't make it through the day, though. We haven't actually seen the fox since about Tuesday, but this afternoon I found a pile of chicken feathers in the middle of Tess' pasture. By color, they were from one of the Brits' chickens, but by location I'd say the chicken didn't get there under its own power. The fact that there were still a couple dozen feathers lying there in the grass that hadn't yet been blown away by these persistent winds says to me that the feathers were quite recently deposited. Like maybe in the last hour or two. So the fox is still hunting right around here, even if she and her kits have moved to a different location.

Tess was eager to get out, after being trapped inside by rain the last couple of days. Once we got into the woodlot, though, she wasn't exactly happy with the roaring wind. I had to work to keep her focused and under control, but we're getting so we understand each other better I think. She was very snorty by the time we got through the pasture gate, but she waited for me to take the lead off and step back before she took off kicking up her heels for a gallop. (Thank goodness.)

Glad I wasn't on her back just then. I've stuck on horses before who just ran like that, but it's not my cup of tea. I prefer a much more sedate pace. ;p

Comments

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Dear Rider.

I noticed that about the small birds, too. They seem to fly as though it was not windy at all. Heck, even I get buffed around quite a bit when it is windy. Kinda messes up my normally sedate pace. *wink*

I am up early. Bear woke to Rocky Top's incessant barking so I put his anti-bark collar on with a fresh battery and sent him back out. We heard two strange-sounding barks and no more. But then it was Soma doing the barking, which is rare so figure a 'coon or opossum or something.

RT has a very thick ruff and so I thought I might have to shave a small area on his throat for the contacts of the collar to make and give him the jolt but he has stopped the barking. Must be working. Have it set on high.

Last time I used it was a year or so ago and he had majorally curbed the barking but it has been growing more and more frequent so guess I should put the collar on him from time to time. It IS hard to get to sleep when he is barking just outside our bedrooms and Bear's is downstairs and closer (I have the classical music turned up so barely hear the barking).

Imperator not one to kick up his heels ('cept at incessant barking dogs)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

You may not kick up your heels much, but those loops and barrel rolls are sure challenging enough. XD

Barking dogs are a pain when they persist for no apparent reason, I agree. Sarah barks at cats, but ignores squirrels, chickens, and often, other dogs. She can detect a raccoon in the dark outside the house, though, and will make a terrible ruckus.

The Brit neighbors have two dogs. One is some kind of Labrador cross, I think, and sort of a bumbling idiot but he rarely barks which is nice, and he's not aggressive at all. The other is one of those yappy little Cairn terriers, and he's the one who keeps confronting the fox and poking around in her burrows. He's small enough (and stupid enough) to go right down the holes, though I think he isn't agile enough to turn around down there.

Neighbors on the other side have three very stupid and noisy dogs. One is some kind of Spitz mix with a curly tail and no brain. The other two are little things like Yorkshires or Papillons and all they do is bark. None of these dogs seem to have any obedience training at all. They don't come when called, they don't sit or stay or respect boundaries. The tiny ones are the worst, because they will actually try to bite your ankles. I have been sorely tempted to just step on one of them and squish it. The really irritating thing is that they all just let the dogs roam freely. It's amazing none of them have been run over on the road yet.

The Brit woman said to Gary one day "You must think we're the neighbors from hell." He denied it, but I probably would have said "As a matter of fact, yes, I do."

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oh, I meant to point out this picture to you if you haven't seen it:

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1246835/

Equine rider! It's Heather Bruton's rendition of Felder riding his RL horse Henry, and his mate the Squirl is along for the ride.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*waits with a net*

I think birds know how to ride the wind gusts like surfers do waves. My favourites are Swallows and Willy Wagtails