Every spring I'm waiting for the return of the Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus), these beautiful bright orange-yellow birds who spend the summer in our neighborhood. But this spring I was taken by surprise. Last Friday morning I had stepped out into the garden as I do every morning. I walked around, looking at my plants when I heard some lively chatter. It actually took a couple moments until it registered and I thought "that's an oriole - but it's too early!". I turned around, searching at the hummingbird feeder in the pineapple guava - and sure enough, there he was, perching on the feeder and taking a few good sips of the sweet nectar. March 22 - this was the earliest I had ever seen him in my garden (I write it down every year). In a few days he will bring his female companion to the feeder as well. So I went and filled a little orange bowl with grape jelly (they love this) and hung it in the tree as well.
The nectar that the Hooded Oriole is drinking is my ticket to this week's T Tuesday, so graciously hosted by Bleubeard and Elizabeth. By the way, the feeder is not dirty, even tough it looks like it in the picture.
I continue to heal and walk much better by now, however, I'm still rather slow. I have started to do a few exercises for the knee and hope that the occasional pain will eventually disappear. I'm still not allowed to drive though since I drive a stick and working the clutch might still be a bit difficult (and painful).
Here he is digging into the grape jelly - sorry for the very pixelated photo.
