Sparrows in the Rain

A dark, gray, rainy day, very warm, with storms around. We were under a tornado watch for several hours, but heard no more than passing thunder here. The birds around our house have been active and seem to like the warm, soft rain. It’s strangely spring-like. Two White-throated Sparrows sat in the top branches of a tea olive bush with raindrops plopping onto their feathers.

Pine Warblers, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, Cardinals, Mourning Doves, Downy Woodpeckers and House Finches were active around our one hanging feeder. Eastern Towhees scratched in leaves on the ground, and Song Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows fed in the bushes. A Phoebe, a Mockingbird and a couple of Bluebirds hunted around the yard, and two Black Vultures floated low over the bare-limbed trees.

Another White-throated Sparrow wallowed in a puddle of rainwater at the edge of the sidewalk, sinking down into the puddle repeatedly and fluffing out its feathers, fluttering and shaking all over, apparently having a fine time – and chasing away other sparrows from its puddle.

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