Yard, Gardens, Birds and Critters

Bluebird vs. The Squirrel By Mary J Williams © I was outside Just checking on things Listening for birds And hearing them sing I heard the Bluebird Couldn’t see him yet I will keep looking Usually I do, you bet! I saw a squirrel running As fast as he could Up a tree and down Is he up to no good? I couldn’t believe my eyes When I saw the flash of blue There was a Bluebird Chasing the squirrel, who knew? Never have seen Something like that before Bluebird hot on the squirrel’s tail Hoping to make a score Bet the Bluebird had a chick The squirrel got too near Bluebird was giving The squirrel something to fear In the tree and out Down on the ground he went Across the street lickity split Out of the area the squirrel was sent Into the bushes Way across the street They went out of sight I think the squirrel was beat The Bluebird was back Up on the line in a little while And I swear to you I think I saw him smile   5-3-2025    

The Northern Mockingbird By Mary J Williams © I have heard you Singing your song But when I go on the deck You are always gone Where are you Way up in the trees I can’t find you at all It is never easy Saw a bird perching When I went on the deck On the fence post I couldn’t ID it, by heck Went inside the house Grabbed my camera from inside Hoping the bird was still there And didn’t fly off and hide It was still on the fence post Zoomed in to see An Eastern Bluebird He turned and looked at me I got a couple of pictures And then he flew away I heard the song of the Mockingbird Coming my way Looked over to the left And there he was On the neighbor’s birdhouse pole Singing, that’s what he does After a couple of pictures He flew away I figure I would see him On another day I was thrilled to see him I love to hear him sing They have so many songs Songs to the heart he brings 10-14-2024 They are around the house a lot The Northern Mockingbird 

At My Kitchen Sink By Mary J Williams © Standing at my kitchen sink Trying to fix supper I look out and see a squirrel And then I start to sputter I can’t believe it It can’t be true The squirrel eating My Christmas cactus I grew He is holding a piece I can see him eating I run to get my camera Proof is what I will be needing There I have a picture I just can’t believe it Eating Christmas Cactus I wish the heck he’d quit Now I’m watching Bluebirds In the birdbath, bathing It is a Juvenile It really is amazing Then the one starts to preen On his chest, tail feathers and wings All of that then flies down again Into the water he flings Wait, the squirrel is back Rose Moss flowers to eat No wonder I don’t have flowers The rose moss is his next treat I can’t believe all that is going on I see an orange bird across from me No picture, as he flew Just as soon as I could see Juvenile Bluebirds Three of them I see I am out on the deck now The neighbor’s feeder across from me One more bird to ad...

Heated Birdbath You Need By Mary J Williams © Writing a poem About the birdbath outside Don’t know If I can Messing it up, I can’t abide A heated birdbath You really need In the winter weather They don’t just eat seed Watching out the window Just the other day A sparrow flew in Drinking, plus stayed to play It’s 18 degrees In the water to bathe I have seen other birds In there that day It startled me plenty A few years ago When the Starlings bathed 18 degrees that day also I have to remember In this frigid weather Birdbath water is above freezing And they have to clean their feathers The squirrel even visited All other sources are frozen My water is not My water is well chosen I had to clean the birdbath It was not at all clean When the waters that way The birds barely preen I scrubbed it all out I brought it inside Standing out in the cold Couldn’t do it, I tried It’s all cleaned out Fresh water is in At least 6 birds already here  Which really made me grin Snow-cold and Starling...

Winter-the Yard, Birds and Critters and Me by Mary J Williams It's sort of winter but the weather is mild You can be outside Which makes me smile Weeds were pulled and I planted a seed one was a tree If it grows, it will surprise me I have had fun watching the birds an argument between bluebirds and the Robins I've heard Chickadees flying in and the Titmouse too I grab the camera Then off they flew I have a flowerbox sits on the rail It's on the two by six so falling will fail It also can sit on a two by four but mine just has the space The birds walk through the tunnel and disappear without a trace One time, while filling the feeders One of the tunnels had a bird A sparrow was in there  He ran so fast, he was blurred I love watching them  they think the tunnels fun Maybe they get cool If there's a lot of sun. I have to wash the deck  to try and keep it clean with bird seed and poop Dog pee I mean When it's cold outside Or very early morn The dogs do their business...

Birds and the Bees and Me By Mary J Williams (c) What do I love Looking outside Watching the birds Eat food I provide So many birds What do I see There is the Tufted Titmouse And the Black-capped Chickadee The Cardinal flew in To take a drink Many do the same Bluebirds too, I think Yes, there he is The Bluebird just flew in Not for the food, but water Busy they have been It’s nesting time now No insecticides for me The birds need the protein From the bugs you see The Robin digs down Eating caterpillars or slugs Please don’t kill them Don’t kill the bugs If you spray your flowers What will the bees do Visit the flowers for pollen And die because of the brew We have to protect As much as we can The birds eat lots of bugs Insecticides I ban Robin and Cardinal Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Bathing Bluebird waiting his turn for food The Bee

  Spring in Missouri By Mary J Williams © The other day When I was out I saw many birds Flying about First, I saw A Red-winged Blackbird flying I saw a Robin on the ground A Killdeer out there crying Then I saw the Grackles With their tale held high Vying for a female Come on don’t be shy It’s springtime in Missouri Some have daffodils in bloom I don’t have them yet Soon their yellow will break the gloom I have had the crocus And my mini daffodils I saw tulips coming up Which gave me a thrill Up on the front porch A pair of Carolina Wrens Went and grabbed my camera But couldn’t find them in the lens When I step out upon my deck I listen to all the birds I hear the Bluebirds and Starlings Cardinals and more singing their words I wish I could understand What they are saying I guess I’d have to be a bird But a human I am staying I love Spring I love the flowers and the birds It’s just so hard to explain There just aren’t enough words! Grackles Carolina Wren Northern Cardinal...