Smiling Earth Gardens

What a full and awesome day of birding today. I could get used to this no work thing.😅 We almost missed this (1) American Bittern because I was too busy with another exciting bird, which turned out to be a not so exciting kildeer. 😬 Sorry, they are exciting too. But a woman ahead of us was throwing her arms up in excitement and waved us up to point it out. I never would've seen it in that grass. But I was thinking about how cool it would be to see a bittern all day.
(2) And look at all those snow geese! So fu***ng many! Usually I see one with an identity crisis, thinking it's a Canada goose. Have you ever watched a flock of geese flying and some turn, but not everyone got the message? They usually figure it out after a bit of honking. Some don't.
(3, 4, 5) Purple Sandpiper and Ruddy Turnstones. Uncooperative ones. Please look any direction but away from me!
(6) Barnegat Lighthouse.

If I didn't see this red tailed hawk fly to this perch, I could've missed it. Though I like to think I'm better at spotting birds than that. They really blend in with the natural environment, not so much black fences. I wish I'd gotten video of the girl walking on the path maybe 5 feet away. She didn't even notice this giant bird! 📱 🧌The unflinching bird was like, "yeah, whatever". And we were scared if we got out of our car 20 feet away we'd scare it off.🤣

Out with the old, in with the new. Change doesn't always happen at the best time, or when you want it, expect it, or plan for it. Sometimes it's a slow process and things can be raw and prickly, leaving parts cold, exposed and just plain ugly. But what comes out in the end is usually so beautiful, strong and fresh. 🙏
Usually chickens molt in the fall, if they molt at all. It's brought on by stress which can be caused by a number of things, often the changing daylight. Marsala's threshold for stress was the solstice ☀️. Sh*tty week for it with all this cold ❄️ and wind🌬. But she knows what to do and has places to go to escape the weather and stay warm. The girls huddle up together on the roost at night to keep each other warm too.
Happy New Year! If you're feeling like Marsala 🐔, I hope your feathers grow back quick and pretty and you find warm friends to help you through. And if you're anxious for something new and just have to tear off the old, remember to have some patience while things grow and don't be afraid to snuggle in to a comfy place if it gets rough out there! 💛

I was trying to get a shot of the fluffy house finches, but they kinda get lost in the branches. Perhaps that's part of the plan? Mr. Cardinal came in to steal the show! He's also always watching for me, checking all the windows and calling for me. House finches either haven't gotten the message that I bring treats or they don't care.