Tuesday, January 31, 2012

WATCHING YELLERHAMMERS


It's a mild, almost spring-like day here along the river. The temperature is already 60˚F with a possibility of reaching the mid-60s˚ by late-afternoon. Quite amazing for the final day of January—though I've given up being surprised by this strange and unseasonable winter.

I've spent my day so far fiddling about with a couple of writing chores in my workroom. Whenever I've glanced out the window, there's usually been a pair of yellow-shafted flickers taking turns on a nearby suet block feeder. Again and again I've paused to pick up the binoculars and spend a few minutes just looking closely at one of the birds. 

Flickers are, to my mind, far more lovely than generally credited. Gray head, reddish-beige face, a black moustachial stripe at the base of the beak; there's a black bandanna under the chin, the breast is reddish-beige-fading-to-pale-tan with black spots spattered throughout and into the underbelly; the back is a light olive-brown patterned with black crescents, the tail is dark on top fading lighter underneath, with a white rump that's conspicuous in flight. The namesake feathers, on both tail and wings and best seen from underneath, are a brilliant mustard yellow. I'm always amazed by the varied colors these woodpeckers sport. Just incredible!

Southern hill-country folks often refer to the flicker as a Yallerhammer. Under the slightly edited title, Yellowhammer, it is designated the state bird of Alabama. One of the most famous trout flies indigenous to the Appalachian Mountains, a pattern used throughout the brook trout streams of the Southern Highlands for nearly a century, is also called a Yellerhammer, because the tying recipe incorporates yellow flicker feathers in the lure's construction.

Whatever you call them—Yellerhammers, flickers, or one of their more than 100 other common names—they are always worth watching.
———————

29 comments:

Wanda..... said...

I enjoy the flickers that eat at the suet feeders here too, right on the back porch. Yesterday on a walk in the woods I saw Eastern Bluebirds and managed to get a few photographs... poor quality, but the Bluebirds 'are' back!

Grizz………… said...

Wanda…

Yeah, my feeders are pretty close, though this particular suet feeder is maybe 20 feet from the window. Anyway, I have a good view, and a great view through binoculars. I just can't get over the color that jumps out when you really take a good look at a flicker, and such neat patterns.

I don't think the bluebirds ever left. They only rarely show up here along the riverbank, but I've seen them regularly from November through January this winter; there just hasn't been that much cold weather.

I just checked today, and my daffodils are at least 6 inches, and tulips about 2, while my neighbor's Lenten rose has sported several blooms since December.

George said...

I quite agree, Grizz. Flicker are among my favorite birds, though I am more accustomed to seeing the Common Flicker. I've never heard of the Yellerhammer, but that's why I come to this site; I always learn something new.

AfromTO said...

boy they have a lot going on in their outfits-amazing that your spring flowers are up-boy you will be lounging in your outdoor furniture soon-I can just see a hammock in winter.

Grizz………… said...

George…

Eastern Yellow-shafted flicker, Northern Yellow-shafted Flicker, Common Flicker, Yellowhammer, Yallerhammer…all one and the same bird. And there are another 100-plus names for this same bird, as well, though those are less frequently heard.

I don't know if there's a fly fishing shop anywhere close to where you are right now, but unless they're saltwater specialists only, they'll likely have heard of (or might even carry) Yellarhammer flies—and certainly most shops inland will know them.

BTW, did you know today is Thomas Merton's birthday?

Grizz………… said...

AfromTO…

Sure doesn't feel much wintery here today, and tomorrow's supposed to be almost as warm, though a chance of showers. No hammock, but I've been sitting outside in my deck rocking chair.

AfromTO said...

Rocking chair? What watching the young whippersnappers go by as you whittle something.

Grizz………… said...

AfromTO…

There are no whippersnappers—young or old—hereabouts to watch. I watch geese go by on the river, and chickadees and nuthatches and titmice at the feeders, and Moon-the-Dog in the grass wallowing on her back with her belly up to the sun. No whittling, either, just a great big mug of fresh-ground, blessedly strong coffee, piping hot and capable of making me consider joining Moon in her grass-wallowing.

SueT said...

Love your Flicker, it's a beauty. We have Yellowhammers this side of the Pond too (I live in France) but ours are smaller and nowhere near as colourful as yours. Just found your blog via one of your neighbours (Julie) I shall enjoy reading your old posts and am now following you.

AfromTO said...

Can we see a pic of you grass wallowing belly up to the sun?

Robin said...

Wow, is he pretty!

Robin said...

Daffodils and tulips? I guess it doesn't surprise me as there are containers in front of a block of Condo's that have had Pansies blooming all winter. It's all very strange. This time last year, I was hunkered down with a friend waiting for so much snow we were walking on the top of cars.

Muffy's Marks said...

You are right, they are very pretty birds. Being from WI, I have never seen one before. Thanks for teaching me something new today!

Grizz………… said...

SueT…

Hey, I'm glad you found your way here to the riverbank—and especially pleased you liked what you saw and signed up. If you read a bunch of the old posts, you'll soon discover we're a pretty casual bunch who all seem to like birds, blooms, books, seasons, and having a good time among friends. Drop by often, comment whenever the spirit moves you. You're always welcome.

Grizz………… said...

AfromTO…

You wish! The idea is to build readership, appeal to folks of good taste, etc., etc., etc. The truth is, if I flopped down on my back and wallowed belly-up too long, sun or not, I might have to see a doctor afterwards.

Grizz………… said...

RobinX2…

He is pretty or, being male, I suppose handsome. We rough-and-ready outdoor types don't take to being called "pretty," not that I've ever personally been at any such risk.

I'm going to restrain myself from making the obvious sophomoric remark about those winter-blooming pansies. I expect this unseasonably mild year, if I'd have had the right annuals scattered around, at least a few of them would have made it in bloom through the winter. There for awhile, I thought my zinnias might make a go of it but they gave up the ghost in November, and some butterfly bushes quit in December, right before it warmed back up.

I haven't forgotten that blizzard of last year, either—though you got a much worse dose there than we did here. Still, when I look at my images from then, every one has snow—whether of bird or river or squirrel in a tree. And who can tell…there's still February to deal with; you never know.

Grizz………… said...

Muffy…

I'm always happy to make introductions, but surely you have yellow-shafted flickers in your bailiwick, too. I've seen them on Michigan's U.P. Perhaps you just haven't been in the right sort of territory that a flicker likes—or maybe they around, but fairly uncommon.

Anyway, glad you liked my colorful ol' yellerhammer.

AfromTO said...

Ah come on we will all chip in for the chiropractor and pain pills.We need our spirits lifted during this gloomy time.....xox

Grizz………… said...

AfromTO…

Your body might be a temple…mine is a chiropractic nightmare. We're not talking a few bucks in the hat, but serious cash sufficient to purchase a winter hideaway in the Caribbean.

Besides, it does my image as a riverbank sage and astonishing wordsmith no good whatsoever to be seen wallowing in the mire like a common yellow journalist, even if such a vision might serve as a giddy panacea for your cabin fever.

The Weaver of Grass said...

We have yellowhammers here in the fields of the farm Grizz. They are neat, sparrow like birds with a vivid yellow head.

Grizz………… said...

Weaver…

Different birds, obviously, though the same name—just as you also have robins and goldfinches, and perhaps others, which sport the same name but are not the same bird. The old Southern Appalachian name of "Yallerhammer" likely reflects your bird, considering most of the region's first white settlers came from Ireland, Scotland, and England. But "yaller" was the vernacular pronunciation for the distinctive color, and of course, "hammer" refers to a hammering, woodpecker-type bird. To my knowledge, "hammer" was not affixed to part of a local name for any of the other species of woodpeckers. You still frequently hear "yellow"spoken as "yaller" in many parts of the mountains, though the influence of the media is really beginning to homogenize speech and language. One of these days everyone in the U.S. will sound like everyone else…which to my mind is a shame, for I think accents, dialects, speech patterns, and the way things are phrased along with local names and colloquialisms enrich a country. To lose them means to lose something of ourselves, or history and heritage. It takes all the color out of speech.

Gail said...

HI GRIZZ - great picture - looks like the same as we have here :-) And it is going to be 60+ degrees here today. I am editing my book - going back before I go forward any more - I feel lost so I need to claim the sequence and flow again. phew.

Are you interested in being a final editor. I would play you, of course.
Love Gail
peace......

George said...

No, Grizz, I did not realize that yesterday was Thomas Merton's birthday. That's a reason to celebrate! Thanks for reminding me.

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

Just got back in. It was another spring-like day here, too—really warm and sunny. Didn't need a jacket. What a strange winter.

We can talk about your writing project via emails. I might be able to help you some—depending on length and the time I think I'd have to allot. I will certainly look at it for you. And whether I do a full edit, a partial, or just some basic notations, you CAN NOT pay me (or "play" me, either). This is between friends. Understand? A favor, something I can do for you. No pay, not a dime.

Grizz………… said...

George…

I started a piece on him yesterday, then shelved it because I didn't have time to do it right. Plus, I wasn't exactly sure I knew what I wanted to say—which happens sometimes. I guess he would have been 97.

Gail said...

Hi again - so sorry about the typo. I just saw it when i came upstairs and looked at your blog. Good Lord! Anyway, ya, we can chat via email when it is through which is quite a ways off. so much later.
Again, what a terrible typo on my part eesh
Love you
Gail
peace....

Grizz………… said...

Gail...

A "terrible typo?" Nahh. Amusing? Yup.

Seriously, my best advice at this point is to write. Get the whole thing out in rough draft. Then rewrite after you have the basic story down. Then go through it scene by scene for a third draft. After that, time for an edit, maybe one of several. Writing is mostly rewriting. But the first step is to tell the story in one piece. Don't worry about how good or bad, just tell it while it's in you. Too much starting and stopping can kill it before it has a chance. It's very much like giving birth.

Gail said...

Great advice my friend - I am forging on, getting it all out just like when I gave birth, yes, especially to my son who weighed in at 9 pounds nine ounces!!!
love you lots

Grizz………… said...

Gail…

A simile you can identify with, huh? But that's what you gotta do with these things—forge ahead, push…push…push!