SINCERE THANKS to the folks who responded to my blog Unknown bird visitor.

Question #1: How’s a gal supposed to identify the Coopers Hawk when it is not listed in Birding in Polk County, Shipley’s Backyard Birds of Eastern Texas, or The Joy of Birding, A Beginner’s Guide?? Those are the books I have. I unsuccessfully searched the Internet. Gratefully, interested individuals read my blog and responded.

Question #2: In twenty months, why make an appearance now and “pose” for me?? ~~ “Yes,” I have been a novice bird watcher since moving to Livingston, Polk County, Texas.

Top two pictures from the Internet. See my visitor below Internet pictures.

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Postscript, Tuesday, June 9, 2015, 6:30 AM: An answer arrived via email–from eBird–and I share it here.

**Lorraine – The bird in your photos looks like a Cooper’s Hawk. They are very localized breeding birds in your area and you may not run across them unless you are looking for them, or, as in this case, it visits your back yard. My guess is that either you had some water it was looking for or perhaps something that attracted a prey item (rodents, small birds, etc). Feel free to update your eBird submission as you see fit. Roadside Hawk is extremely rare in the US with only a handful of sightings. –Eric**

Comment: Yes, the fountain with fresh water was nearby. Yes, there are rodents and small birds in my yard.

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Thrill, thrill!! S/he came back at 7:25 PM, Tuesday, June 9th. Well maybe I shouldn’t get too excited?! It might be dining on some of my little birds?!

…lonesome no more!! (Remember George Gobel–from the 1950’s?? If I remember correctly, he was referred to as “Lonesome George.”)

I  have a bird I named “Lonesome George.” I think he is a House Sparrow. For about two months, he has spent most of his time on the roof of the Bluebird house. He has a loud noisy voice and he is chirping constantly. Because he was “camped” on the Bluebird house, I thought he had a spouse and babies inside. Finally, I dragged the ladder over… and opened the door. No wife, no babies. The nest had been occupied; I could see droppings. So I speculated that a predator somehow got into the nest and devoured the babies (and Mama?).

I’ve been sympathetic for Lonesome George. He was grieving for his family? (Maybe birds have feelings.) Then it occurred to me that he might be saying “I’m looking for a wife; I have a fine high-rise apartment. There’s a smorgusbord of food at my doorstep.” Whatever his message, he was persistent!!

On June 7th, I saw a female at the Bluebird house with him. No more loud chirping!!

Reviewing my pictures (so they are in chronological order), I found this (the first documentation) and it appears that the House Sparrow has a companion. Did they have babies in the nest and a predator broke up the family?? (Click on each picture to enlarge, for better viewing.)

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Up-to-date pictures… with pictures of the offspring at a later date.

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Hours and hours of time are spent researching topics on the Internet. What a wonderful educational tool!! I’m curious about the birds that visit my yard. ~~ Do birds have emotions? Do they spread the word that an old lady serves up a feast at her house?

Conquering clutter in 1979.

Once a “hoarder,” always a “hoarder”???? I have “too much stuff”!!!!!! Furthermore, rather than seriously approach “downsizing.” I spend time working in the garden or preparing blog messages. Re-reading the message prepared in 2009, regarding the experience in 1979, I must reaffirm that I do **not** want to leave a mess for someone else to clean up.

Time to leave the garden and come into the air-conditioned trailer?!  The thermometer said 95 degrees in the sunshine–and I was working in the sunshine!! Time for some of yesterday’s sun tea. I planned an early start–anticipating the heat–but could not tear myself away from projects.

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Mexican Petunia bud yesterday; beautiful bloom today.

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Previously, I used a folding step stool between the ground and picnic table bench. From the ground… too big a step for this old lady. The picnic table is elevated on eight blocks (two for each leg). The gophers repeatedly dug up the area so the table would sink four inches into the ground!!

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A friend wrote that she plans to have a fountain with running water. My fountain has a pump that circulates the water–and I freshen the water every couple of days. The bird bath with “Water Wiggler“ was relatively inexpensive (from my yard in North Carolina) and I frequently change the water.

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Afterthought: I “step” up on the bench and table frequently to water the hanging plants. I recently hung two wind chimes from the pipe between two trees.

Can “Tommy” be resuscitated? Will his cousin survive? Expectations are high!!

“Tommy” when he was young and healthy. (The caption [on smaller picture] says Tommy loved the recent rain. However, it was the “latter” rain that hastened his failing health.)

Postscript: A visitor suggested my tomato plants, and cucumber plant, lack nitrogen. I searched the Internet and found this article. Time to go shopping?!

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Postscript to the postscript: 🙂  Just returned from a twenty-mile round trip to Lowe’s. It is a sauna outdoors!!!!!!

…are popping up on my email and social media. Recently, I wrote about the demise of my weather station. I searched the Internet looking for possible replacement; I shared my intentions–via email–with a friend. Suddenly, I have retailer’s advertisements!! Innocuous… but so aggravating to know Google is trolling my messages. My life is an open book!!

Yesterday was our hottest day of the year (so far). Ninety-four was official but weatherman added several degrees for “feels like….” Similar temperature forecast for today. Seventy-four as I publish this at 7:40 AM. ~~ “Hot and sticky next ten days” according to Houston meteorologist.

CARE residents have a wide variety of activities. Furthermore, a wide variety of weather conditions. As I type this (at three o’clock) it is ninety-three degrees outdoors in the shade. (The hottest day of the year!!) Follow me through the seasons. “Never a dull moment.” Always an opportunity to take pictures. ~~ All this… because Facebook asked “What’s on your mind?” That old expression “Variety is the spice of life” came to mind.

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Through-the-air TV reception spares me the cost of expensive satellite service. I receive WiFi from the CARE Center.

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Too many pictures of flooding?? All the recent major flooding in Texas but we were spared significant damage. When we experienced a power outage, we gathered in the dining room of the CARE Center and enjoyed conversation, coffee and fresh-baked cinnamon rolls. (CARE Center has a generator.) ~~ Life is good!!

One thousand, two-hundred thirty-four blog messages-and counting!!

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“Yours truly” is passionate about Bluebirds and blog messages!!

World Environment Day 2015

Temporarily, view the Earth Poem with animation.

Feng shui, maybe not. However, I continually “eye” my yard for better aesthetics. 

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Truthfully, I have spent very few dollars on my yard this year. Twenty more cement paving blocks, “yes,” but most… in my garden was 2014 expense or items from my garden in North Carolina. A lot of labor involved but excellent exercise for this old lady. Maybe one day soon I can stop arranging and rearranging and sit back and enjoy?! Welcome mat is always out; come visit.