This past week was our April break and with time at home, I was able to see all of the spring visitors stopping by. Our feeders were buzzing nonstop with birds, all sporting their finest breeding plumage. The bright yellows of goldfinches, raspberry-hues of purple finches, brilliant blues of bluebirds and bluejays, scarlets of cardinals and other assorted hues spotted the branches of nearby trees like colorful buds. Beneath the feeders, the newly arrived white-throated sparrows scratched at the leaf litter and periodically sang out their distinctive song: “Oh Sam Peabody Peabody Peabody!” An eastern towhee unexpectedly stopped by to do the same. I’ve spotted yellow-rumped and palm warblers flitting by as well. The air is filled with song!
It’s such a spectacular time of year, and having time off to enjoy it is such a bonus. I was able to visit local marshes and ponds and was thrilled to see great egrets, snowy egrets, glossy ibises and more! The turtles are back and the tadpoles are growing. Every day the grass gets greener and the landscape is clearly shifting to technicolor. It’s such a dynamic time of year.
Each day seems to bring new visitors. This past Sunday morning a turkey wandered into our garden to join in the fun and later in the day a pileated woodpecker stopped by to feed on the suet. (They are regulars in the surrounding area, but not often in the house zone.) The osprey are back in the neighborhood and we’ve seen several nesting pair around town. Our neighbors have seen a Baltimore oriole already, so I’ve put up some orange slices to lure them in, and my hummingbird feeders are filled and placed in anticipation of the ruby throat’s imminent arrival. I never know who’s going to be visiting when I look out my window!
Yesterday, the warmest of the year’s weather came to visit–light breeze, 70 degrees, blue skies and sunshine! After school, I took a detour to the hammock with an apple and a book. Within moments, I was swaying beneath the trees, slipping into relaxation. Ah, bliss!
I hadn’t been there long when I was interrupted.
“Hey, Molly!” Kurt yelled from the front yard.
“Yeah?”
“Did you by any chance bring a fish home today?”
“What?”
“There’s a fish in the yard. Right next to my truck.”
I sat up quickly, careful not to spill out of the hammock.
“A fish. In the yard? A big one?”
“It’s pretty big. I think it’s a blue gill. How in the heck did it get here?”
I had to see this! I I struggled to stand up, discarding my bowl of apple slices and book.
“I’ve heard of people finding fish in their yards before.” I called out while grabbing my phone, knowing I’d want to document the moment with a picture. “Do you think an osprey dropped it?”
“I don’t know…maybe?”
“Are there any talon marks or punctures?”
I kept up a steady stream of questions until I made it out to the front yard, and could check it out for myself. Sure enough, there it was… a good sized fish in the grass.
Kurt nudged it over with his foot. There were no noticeable talon marks or any indication that it had been carried by an osprey or eagle. We looked at each other, perplexed, and then both looked up at the clear blue sky above us.
What in the world?!
We have no answers to this mystery. Like I said, at this time of year, each day brings new visitors.
I wonder who’ll stop by tomorrow!
Nix the comfort zone 
Crazy day!! I’m glad you captured in in words and photo because it is had to believe!
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I actually had another slice planned, but I couldn’t ignore this! lol
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A wonderful title for your crazy mystery! I hope you get an answer – but know you may just never know!
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Thanks! Titles are tough for me, so I’m always happy if one works. We still have no answers to this mystery, and I’m not really expecting any.
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And then you had a slice to write! Ha!
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I know! I had planned to write about something else. I guess I have a slice in the bank now.
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What a great post! I am actually afraid of birds, but love them from a distance. I downloaded the Merlin app today, so that I can figure out who is serenading me each morning. I never expected the twist at the end!
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I love, love, love the Merlin app!!! I only use the sound feature, but it is SO helpful. Enjoy!!!
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Your prose read as dynamic as the movement and song and interaction among all the species you describe coming out this spring! But a fish from the sky?? Not what I expected.
The question is: will you eat it???
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lol That’s what one of my sisters asked! And, no, we did not.
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Watching the birds at the feeders is something we enjoy do as well. The colors. The sounds. The interactions. Flying fishā¦interesting.
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Now that you mention it, I have seen flying fish in the Bahamas. lol Maybe this was a REALLY long leap!
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I 100% did NOT expect the fish. Wow. I mean, the turkey? sure; a lost egret? maybe; but a random fish? Completely unexpected. I also noticed & loved the movement in your hammock descriptions: “I took a detour to the hammock with an apple and a book…careful not to spill out of the hammock…I struggled to stand up, discarding my bowl of apple slices and book.” Just fantastic.
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The fish was definitely an unexpected plot twist! ol
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OMG! That fish! Do you often have fish dropping into your yard? I’m so in love with the sheer volume and variety of birds in your area. (So glad you’re getting some sunshine and warmer temps!)
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This was our first fish, but I have heard of it happening to people. We’re about 1 mile from the bay, so perhaps a clumsy osprey dropped it?
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Birds are always a joy and a fishy mystery š
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Love the expression “the landscape is clearly shifting to technicolor.Ā ” As for the fish, haven’t a clue. Osprey distracted by something more enticing is my vote.
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The lack of talon marks was puzzling…I guess this is one mystery we won’t solve!
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