Red-winged Blackbirds Singing in the Cottonwood Trees
I love how they stopped by for a last little song
Singing a song for all of us
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Passing Through, —Thursday, October 16, 2025
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Tag Archives: red-winged blackbirds
Filling the Air —-Monday, February 21, 2022
They are BACK!
The joy of song fills the air!
Spring is coming. I just have to be patient.
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Grey Day, Grey Clouds, Grey Everything —- Thursday, February 18, 20221
All-day Tuesday the grey sky hung dark and threatening.
(Taken December 2015, but very much current anyway)
Splatters of snow and sleet–then melt — then repeat.
But, if you are Min-Min—you know how to stay warm and dry.
HUGE SMILE here when I found her in the project car!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
The Heat of Summer is Here—Thursday, July 9, 2020
A wee tiny bird (I think might be a Starling) is living out it’s beginning life, in a hollow of a limb of the tree in our yard
At the Upper End, we have pheasants. Delightful birds
Over by the equipment area, I saw a fun courting couple
Then on the back road going to the Back Forty twice,
I ran across this pretty handsome feller
Our days are in the 100*s now. That is 37.7c.
At the peak of the heat in the daytime, the little songbirds rest—such wise little creatures
Or come to our chicken yard and try to grab a snack or two…
I’m sure they are thinking “get some food while everyone sleeps, then no one will ever know.)
The hawks and other raptors silent shadows slide over the warm and bright land
The blue sky is alive with life
As so is the earth
Ah Summer so
Full Life
Full of Joy
Full of Daily Adventures
To me
The most perfect time of the year!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
In the Harsh Wind of a Forever Winter Day—Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Even though the wind was terrible, blowing everything sideways and so chilling one thought the Arctic had suddenly slipped down to gather on the farm
The shadows were still beautiful
Shrinking and thinning as the sun rose higher and higher in the sky
The snow clouds fled and what snow was in the sky never stayed
But the joy of the whole day was this photo!
Finally a beautiful photo of the Red-Winged Blackbirds! Finally!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
The Long Days of Spring—-Wednesday, April 19, 2017
After winter we are back in the world of ‘real’ leaving behind that time of dreaming…of planning—a sort of make-believe time, whereby we think of all the things we want to do ‘come spring’.
Saturday Terry got the two new culverts put in and under the driveway. These culverts carry the water from the neighboring fields under our road back into the canal, on it’s way to the other farms below us.
The Red-Winged Blackbirds have decided to live in our thicket of trees and ‘hunt’ along the grass of our lawn…filling our days with restless and constant movement and joyful songs.
Although, the morning air still has the collected cool from the night before I open all my windows giving myself the gift of their songs.
The days are changing rapidly now…more warmth is arriving on the land. And the wind…the wind has come (also)…starting as early as mid-morning; stopping after the sunsets.
It will be this way until all the snow is melted on the Uncompahgre Plateau. By the first of June the wind will have died and the Plateau will be alive with spring flowers and….PEOPLE!
Finally, after last light, we are home. That welcoming refuge of strength and serenity, the soft glow of a few lights, as we settle down for an hour of exquisite delightful relaxation—Terry with a favorite TV show and I with some hand sewing.
Even with all the ‘stuff’ to do….I am so grateful and thankful for the coming of Spring!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
Popping Up all Over—-Thursday, February 18, 2016
It’s trying to rain here. Breezy and cold with scattered showers.
I saw a very weak sundog yesterday… which, usually, means cooler to even down-right-cold weather within three days.
Still all in all Spring is coming. The Red-Winged Blackbirds are back, I’ve been seeing flocks of Blue Birds and then yesterday, when out counting calves, there was a pair of Western Meadow Larks sitting on the fence as I passed by. YAY!
We have 80 soon-to-be-momma’s here on the Maternity Ward. 🙂 Yesterday evening I had only counted five new little ones.
But this morning, as the cows woke-up and started walking toward our house, I counted 9 baby calves. I’m pretty sure there are more, but I haven’t walked over the whole farm to see how many there really are.
Oh the joy of Spring and new little critters! Soon we won’t be a Maternity Ward but a NURSERY!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
A Wee Walk About—Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Our air started chilling down on Saturday night…growing thick with mystery and the promise of snow. The gray-pink clouds began enfolding the earth, as the sun set assuring us of a blanket white enchantment.
Sunday the snow started falling; winter’s promise was still alive.
Terry and I spent Sunday warm and safe. Although, a little on the bored side.
Boomer and I took a wee walk in the soft, muffled air. Boomer doesn’t really walk with me, there is always so much more to see and do than stay right by my side. Of course, now that cows are here he tends to not drift TOO far away!
Waking on the farm is to walk to the sound of silence — for even the cows are quiet in the falling snow.
Walking is satisfying, getting outside is delicious.
Monday morning the snow was thick and lush and rich. As I shoveled the snow off the sidewalks there was only my footprints, Boomer’s and the cats! (I enjoyed being the only human foot prints in the yard. 🙂 )
Snow! That gift of water for the spring, summer and fall!
Your friend on a western Colorado farm,
Linda
The First Day of March–Sunday, March 1, 2015
We’ve finally made it to the first day of March. That, in and of itself, is a true joy for me.
This has been the sun for two weeks or more. Sometimes the clouds part; showing little patches of blue. Blue sky, it sparks such hope.
We have a pair of Canada Geese living with the cows in the corn field. I love having them here. I mentally send them peace and safety…they must have decided to stay for a spell before heading up north.
I have also seen flocks of Western Meadowlarks (YAY, they are Back!) And huge flocks of blackbirds, some smaller flocks of red-winged black birds, but I have not seen any blue birds yet. Soon I hope.
My favorite cow is here again this year. She is dressed to the nines in stylish back and white…see her white tail. 🙂 It always makes me smile when I see her. She is getting older, so I wonder if she will be back next year. Only time will tell.
March 1st….what a nice date to see on the calendar…in 31 days we will be at April. WHOO HOOO!
Your friend,
Linda
Something Wicked This Way Comes—February 19, 2014
While out checking the cows and calves, which we do daily, Terry and ran over onto the cactus hill to see what we could see. We like this rocky point on the farm….every time we are up there we talk about maybe building a house on this hill. Although, it won’t be a typical house, but an house built into the hillside with southwest facing windows to capture the sunlight and the wonderful sunsets.
(Now to be honest you and I both know that Terry and I will never do this, but it’s fun to sit on the point and dream)
Leaving that point we headed over to the cattail area…Red-Winged Black birds were BACK! They wonderful songs filling the air. Traveling forward onto the grass pasture (next to the equipment area) three coyotes ran past us lickety-split. (Another of my Momma’s terms 🙂 )
This is blurry as they are running full speed. You can see the cattails in the forefront of the photo.
I detest these creatures.
We have lost calves to them. The sneaky pack of killers. They also kill cats! And small dogs!
Sometimes you have a cow that wants to be by herself to calve. The coyotes wait and watch, then when the calf starts to come out, they surround the cow, grab the calf, dragging it off and eating it–or eating parts of it leaving the poor helpless Mom in a frenzy.
Most cows will stay within the herd to calf, the other cows form a watch allowing the birth process to proceed as normal. IF a predator, coyote, wild dogs, or others try to capture the calf, the cows will stomp the coyote/predator to death, if they can. Most of the time the coyotes/predators know they will loose so they slink off.
They are heading into an area we call Deadman’s Land–the reason is it’s hard to get water there so nothing really grows well.
The other thing coyotes wait for is the sloppy-I really don’t want to be bothered by a child-Mother. Yes you have those Mom’s in the animal world, just like you do in the human world.
These Mom’s park their baby somewhere, anywhere, saying: you just stay there and don’t move—all cows put their babies in a safe spot (Usually with a cow babysitter) so the Mom’s can go graze. The “I really can’t be bothered with a kid” cow just parks her calf any old place and trots off to jolly it up with a group of her friends.
The coyotes wait, watch, make sure Mom isn’t paying any attention, slink in and have lunch/breakfast, dinner/snack.
Yes, I know the coyotes are beautiful. I also know that the calves and the cows are beautiful. Yes, I know the coyotes need to eat. BUT NOT OUR ANIMALS!
NO….feeding them WILL NOT STOP THEM FROM HUNTING!
In fact, it will just teach them that you are a source of food and create horrible coyote behavior—. Just read this little article from Boulder…
Whew! I guess I have ranted and raved long enough. I will stop now and apologize for this huge post.
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 