Last night I heard the
first whippoorwill of the season. I'm fascinated by the penetrating and repetitive song emanating from such a small and unassuming bird in the night. According to the ways of Southern farmers when you first hear the song of the
whippoorwill it's time to plant peas. Meanwhile I've been busy preparing for visits of relatives from New Hampshire and Finland. Other duties have also called me away from my clay work and blogging. (Image for the whippoorwill was borrowed from the net).
This afternoon I saw the first
Spring tortoise meandering around in the yard. See him there in the right of the photograph. I've taken the photo through the screen. He is about 10 inches long or so. I knew it was a male because he cruised by the female den and bobbed his head hoping she'd come above ground and join him. What a memory he has after his Winter's nap; he remembered mating with the female late last summer. Little did he know the den of the female
gopher tortoise has been blocked off much of this Winter. We're hoping she's harboring baby tortoise underground.
We had a light rain during the day yesterday and this evening we have flung the windows open enjoying the balmy weather. I hope you're having a relaxing time welcoming in the seasonal changes Spring is bringing. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
we use to have a lot of whippoorwills here and now we are too populated and there are few. I can remember being kept awake for hours during mating season by their constant call.
ReplyDeletePlanting peas, I did not know that.
Lovely bird! It looks like a nightjar to me. Probably it's cousin over the pond. We are still in winter. : ( Have a nice day!
ReplyDeleteSheesh Linda, we're expecting snow Thursday and Friday. I'm ready for spring...for sure!
ReplyDeleteWe are a long way off from anything resembling spring here, but I so enjoyed reading about yours. To live where you can see tortoises regularly would be so fun and I don't hear a whippoorwill nearly often enough anymore. Lovely post, Linda.
ReplyDeleteWe're expecting spring tomorrow, together with snow. I hear whipporwhills constantlly in the summer, but can't recall seeing one.
ReplyDeleteThe whipporwills in this area stay deep in the woods. In all the years I have lived here I think I've seen two. They are very shy.
ReplyDeleteI love the way you have tortoises out in your yard. Occasionally we see box turtles, but that is about it.
Spring! What is that other than a date on a calendar? Sloppy snow here!
Though I have heard many, I have never seen a whippoorwill.
ReplyDeleteWhat a romantic little turtle.
Oh, glad to hear that you've seen your first tortoise of the season! My grand daughter was just here and asked if we'd seen any Box Turtles lately. We see these and huge water turtles crossing the roads around here... but it's usually April or May. But we've had rain and balmy weather lately too.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen such a bird, but hope to someday. Will they be around in Miami during August, when we will be there?
ReplyDeleteI enjoy reading about your tortoises. I hope you have little ones emerging from the borrow soon!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda,
ReplyDeleteI found you through my friend Dee and noticed your last name is Starr. SO IS MINE! Only mine is Star. Had to pop in and say hello. Loved my visit here... say hello to the turtles for me. lol I hope to hear some whipporwhils soon... I'm itchin to plant my peas! Have a great day, Lea
It is so fascinating to read about the changing of the seasons and the things that we notice that herald the coming of Spring, or Autumn in different parts of the world. No tortoises down here unfortunately (they'd probably freeze, and certainly be less amorous!). For us it was almost a frost last night, poplars and willows are becoming gold, and I am going to have to pick green tomatoes soon before the cold kills them. Px
ReplyDeleteOh, that freaked me(in a good way). I have an iron bird that belonged to my dad. "He" looks exactly like that first pic...
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't think you'd be so excited about spring living in FL until I realize that it's more than just the promise of warmer weather, it's the birds and other wild life showing themselves.
ReplyDeleteThat whippoorwills feather coloring is fascinating! Clapping wildly about the tortoises. I adore tortoises!
ReplyDeleteI am with Willow. I also adore tortoises (even if one did once piddle in the pocket I had put it in to move it to safety from the road), and do hope that there are some young waiting to emerge.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have a tortoise cross my patio. I would probably faint from excitement. :) I have heard a whippoorwill I have never seen one. They are different than I pictured. I am glad to be reading posts on the blogs that are showing signs of Spring.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute bird. Have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteHugs
I see that you haven't posted in several days. I hope all is well with you and yours!
ReplyDeleteThanks all, our visitors from Finland and New Hampshire are leaving today so I'll have a bit more time to visit all of your blogs, thanks for all of your comments, we've had a blustery two days of rain storms and now another cool down, Spring is unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty whipper will! So nice, and camouflaged.
ReplyDelete