Mockingbird

A new visitor at the water bowl on the deck today—a Northern Mockingbird.

The temperature fell below zero overnight and this morning when I stepped out to fill the feeders and the water bowl all the birds were very glad to see me. On days when the temperature is below freezing, I heat water to refill this water bowl so that it warms up the bowl itself and the wooden shelf on the deck railing and stays fluid longer before freezing. Often the birds will simply gather around it for warmth as a few doves did earlier. I watched the flutterings of mourning doves, cardinals, blue jays, titmice, sparrows, finches and others, then along came the mockingbird. This bird lives in the maple in the front of the house eating the berries on the English ivy that grows on the tree, and this is the first time I’ve seen it at the watering hole.

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