Slight Detour: Thursday This, That; TBT

Bill said he just pulled up a lawn chair and sat for five minutes watching the cedar waxwings.

We now have about a dozen or so of the beautiful birds feeding off from the service berry bush.

And, they are fun to watch as they flit from branch to branch to grab the next berry bite.

That bush has enough berries this year that the waxwings may hang around for quite a while.

In the meantime, I'm planning to come to a conclusion later this morning when I take Foster for a walk.

Two days ago we could all kinds of squawking and gabbing in the lodgepole pasture, which is on the west end of our place.

There's already enough noise coming out of that area with the neighbors' emus. They talk a lot with their high-pitched sounds.

Well, when Foster and I arrived at the pasture Tuesday morning, I could almost see the big birds flying from tree to tree in the midst of their cacophony.

Limbs on trees between me and the birds made it difficult to get a good look.

I could see that they had white on their bellies, so my earlier assumption that they were stellar jays made me wonder if a bunch of regular blue jays had set up housing in the area which has a few snags.

This morning I'm having other ideas. Once again, while doing the chores, I could hear the squawking in the same area.

Later, when Bridie and I walked halfway across the hay field, which is next to the lodgepole pasture, I saw a bird fly from the noisy area. It looked to me like a magpie---black and white.

So, this morning, I'll take a little more time to get a better look at what sounds or looks like at least half a dozen birds.

What's neat is that we have never spotted magpies or (cowpies as Willie used to call them) on our place.

Whatever they are, I hope they stay because this appears to be a banner bird year at the Lovestead, with the crows dominating most of the woods and areas around the yard.

Add to that robins and songbirds AND those pesky starlings which should be leaving pretty soon.

It's a fun season with all the beauty and especially the entertainment from this year's bird species.

Bill's going after wood AND maybe some fish to catch and release today.

I have about half the lawn left to mow. My garden has been fairly well weeded. The horses are in a new pasture and loving it.

Overall, the dogs and I will have a pleasant day just enjoying life on the farm.

Happy Thursday.

Enjoy the photos and scroll with the music.