At daybreak here in Charlotte Park, West Nashville, Davidson County, just east of the Cumberland River across from Bell's Bend, five cedar waxwings helped me greet 2006 by feeding in the top of one of my hackberry trees. At 12:15 PM, I was returning the dishes to the kitchen after a repast of country ham, black-eyed peas, rice, collards and hog jowl, I looked out the window and saw a gorgeous male Eastern bluebird on a wire. It stayed for a moment, then swooped down into the yard and snatched up an insect all the while displaying its breathtakingly blue back. It perched on the wire for several minutes then flew to a tree in my far back yard. Wouldn't it be fantastic if it is one of the bluebirds that was checking out the woodpecker hole in my dead ash tree last week, liked what it saw and comes back with a female to raise a brood in my yard next year? I think that is unlikely as the hole is higher above ground that any nesting sight I've ever seen for a bluebird. Could it, would it adapt? Oh well, I can dream, can't I? Along with all the Smorgabird regulars including my peanut butter begging mockingbirds and my sassy little white-crowned sparrow, these two species guaranteed me a happy start to the New Year! I still have NOT had my usual red-breasted nuthatch or brown creeper appearances this year. Too hot? Of course, just watch for the weather to give us an ice storm just before I'm due to drive to Florida for some birding later this winter! If ice threatens, I'll just leave ahead of schedule! HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all, and a birdy great 2006! Dee Thompson Nashville, TN =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the count in which the birds you report were seen. The actual date of observation should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp _____________________________________________________________