I wish you could come wander around my new neighborhood with me. We recently moved to an acre of land with all kinds of trees and shrub surrounding the edges. The backside of the yard has a few trails that only me, my dog and the deer seem to use. It leads to a small pond with overgrown brush that I sometimes crawl through to get a better view of the geese & ducks.
When I go outback I’m finding different birds than the ones that visit my feeders. The little hairy woodpeckers often come to the suet feeder. The red bellied woodpeckers are a little bigger with the red heads, so far, they seem to be happy finding food by the ponds.
There are so many dead trees with all these holes they create, it’s fun to find them working on a hole.
Last week I spotted some ducks I’ve never seen before! It was tough to get a good shot of these guys, they spook easy and stayed at the far end of the water with no trail access. Do any of you know the name of these beautiful black & white ones? I think they might be buffelheads?
I love seeing new species. (I’m new to Michigan and I have a feeling most locals have seen these ducks, but this is a first for me.) There is something primal that is evoked when I come upon something I’ve only seen an image of, or heard of. Seeing something in person for the first time always sends a chill up my spine. I’m lost in that universal state of awe and so happy to be reminded of how magical and diverse this wonderful world is.
P.S. I can’t get the Mr Rogers song out of my head…
“It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine?… It’s a neighborly day in this beauty wood, a neighborly day for a beauty. Would you be mine? Could you be mine?…
I’ve always wanted to have a neighbor just like you.
I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you.
So, let’s make the most of this beautiful day. Since we’re together we might as well say: Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won’t you be my neighbor? Won’t you please, Won’t you please? Please won’t you be my neighbor? Won’t You Be My Neighbor.”
Wouldn’t it be great if everyone you connected with on line lived right in your neighborhood!?
christine m young ✻ artist 
#1 by sarah on April 12, 2011 - 10:30 am
hey Christine,(I mean neighbor) here’s something more to ponder… if we humans went around banging our heads against trees, nasty hedaches detached retinas, and concussions could result. Hardly worth it for a mouthful of bugs. But woodpeckers are suited to the task, and doctors who study head trama are trying to learn how the birds avoid injury.
Kinda cool eh? Just one of many reasons bird watching is so INTERESTING. Tore this page out of national geographic mag.
#2 by Jillsy Girl on April 12, 2011 - 4:54 pm
It’s sounds and looks like you live in nature’s paradise! How exciting it must be to find all that wildlife on any given walk!
#3 by Lisa Albertson on April 12, 2011 - 6:04 pm
What a sweet post, “neighbor”! It really brightened my day.
#4 by Christine M Young on April 12, 2011 - 9:43 pm
Yeah ~ chatting with you on the phone brightened my day today :)))
#5 by Lisa Albertson on April 12, 2011 - 10:06 pm
Just hiking this evening and thought of you scrunching down to get the perfect shot … the nancy drew sleuth of capturing nature’s images.
#6 by Christine M Young on April 12, 2011 - 10:08 pm
My cousin just asked me if I lived in Sherwood Forest 🙂
#7 by Christine M Young on April 12, 2011 - 10:53 pm
I miss you ♥
#8 by Susan D on April 12, 2011 - 8:10 pm
I will be your neighbor! Will you be mine? It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood – the sun is shining, birds singing, flowers blooming…and neighbors posting their thoughts to share! I love you neighbor – thank you for sharing your neighborhood….maybe I will get the courage to share mine 🙂
#9 by elk on April 12, 2011 - 9:38 pm
i love this series ..such soothing outdoor shots..those trees are amazing ..
#10 by pattisj on April 13, 2011 - 1:00 am
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bufflehead/lifehistory
I think you’re right, they would inhabit the area you described, for the winter, anyway. (Though I don’t know where you are in Mich.) And to answer your last question, I’d love to be your neighbor, but you’d need to move a little further south. 🙂 But be sure to bring the trees, animals, pond, etc. with you. I know I don’t ask for much…
#11 by Di on April 13, 2011 - 8:01 am
Fabulous woodpecker photos… they are gorgeous birds, but OH, the damage they do to a few things that they should leave alone.
Lovely post today!
Di
#12 by Hilary on April 13, 2011 - 12:01 pm
A beautiful series of photos. I believe they are indeed buffleheads.. cute, aren’t they?
I had to laugh at reading (and now hearing!) the Mr. Rogers theme and scroll to the bottom of your post to see a reference to Big Birds in the title of the previous post. I think I’m regressing. 😉
#13 by ladyfi on April 14, 2011 - 10:03 am
Oh, what a gorgeous neighbourhood you live in! Lovely lovely shots.
#14 by beth on April 16, 2011 - 9:02 pm
you live in a beautiful area…..we used to live in sterling heights and then pleasant ridge and then moved to grand rapids {all of this 23/24 years ago…..which part of the state are you in 🙂
#15 by jeanie on April 23, 2011 - 10:54 am
Christine, you remind me of what we take for granted in your new discoveries! Your “neighborhood” looks beautiful and I’m looking forward to seeing it first hand!