Orchard Orioles

Two Orchard Oriole females were foraging in the field again this morning, easy to see because of the bright round olive-yellow head and yellow throat and breast, and because they are so active and often in the tops of small trees or shrubs. They really are fun to watch, diving in and out of the weeds and thickets, looking more brownish as they fly, because their wings are tan-brown with narrow white wing-bars, popping up bright yellow in the middle of drab withered weeds, stretching the neck up to look around, and always the two staying together like close friends.

Today they were mostly moving around in an area of shrubs I can’t identify, but nearby stood an old, vine-draped peach tree, surrounded by tall rough weeds, but still looking sturdy – and loaded with big round peaches. I think it’s left over from an orchard that used to be here more than two decades ago, when much of this land was a pecan grove and farm.

Several persimmon trees nearby also are full of fruit. Brown Thrashers sat in the shrubs, looking sedentary and almost sullen next to the lively Orchard Orioles. Mourning Doves perched on the wires, several Mockingbirds flew around flashing white wing patches, and one Red-tailed Hawk sat on top of a utility pole overlooking the highway, as usual. A Blue Grosbeak sang from the woods across the highway. Eastern Towhees and one White-eyed Vireo sang in the field, the most tireless of singers, I think. An Eastern Phoebe perched near the top of a tall sweet gum in the most densely wooded part of the field, shaking out its wings, spreading its tail and preening, as if it had just taken a morning bath somewhere near.

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