Saturday, December 02, 2006

On the second day of Christmas......


This afternoon I was sitting in my car, in the grocery store parking lot, eating a just purchased chicken biscuit, and reading, when I heard some commotion from the right side of the car. A beautiful cardinal, as red as red can be, was sitting on my rear-view mirror and looking into the window as if to beg for a bite. I knew if I tried to share it with him he would spook and fly away, so I stared, and wondered how long he would stay there. I was surprised to see that he stayed for at least 25 seconds, but I am convinced that he didn't know I was there, or he would certainly have flown away.
Maybe he was just primping in the mirror, checking to see if his reflection could assure him he was pretty enough to attract a mate. I could have told him he was cardinal personified, and that any self-respecting female (she of the drab coloration) would be very pleased to 'know' him in the social sense as well as the carnal. Males are so insecure.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow. I've never seen an actual live cardinal. It must have been a beautiful sight. Here from Michele.

carmilevy said...

Guilty as charged.

I'm not a bird, but I find a little bit of mirror time every day makes me feel a whole lot better about myself. Maybe Mr. Cardinal was simply following a similar, gender-specific agenda.

Whatever he was doing on your mirror, I can't help but think that he was fated to be there. And you were fated to write about him. How cool is that?

OldLady Of The Hills said...

LOL, LOL...Lovely, Judy. How wonderful to see one of these gorgeous birds so close up! They are truly beautiful beautiful birds! My very first 'sculpture' made in Kindergarten was of a Cardinal....it wasn'r very good at all, but it was bright red and most everyone knew he was a Cardinal...! I would love to see one so close up one day! Lucky you, my dear.
What, pray tell is a Chicken Biscuit? Sounds scrumptious!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Well, it sounds really yummu Judy...And truly Southern, too!
I'm not sure I could stop, myself...! (LOL)

Anonymous said...

I've never seen a cardinal in real life. I've seen some in zoos, but it's not quite the same, is it?
COncerning the video on my site, I was wondering if you had flashplayer installed on your browser, which you must if you are watching Millie's 'can't open it" series. Thanks for visiting

Eddie said...

The Cardinal is interesting. Now, what about the chicken and biscuit?

Jennifer said...

Oh, I'm sure he was beautiful! I hardly ever get to see one!
Here via Michele...:)

Bobkat said...

Hi, thanks for visiting my blog so I thought I would come and visit yours :0)
What a wonderful experience for you, I love it when you can get close to wildlife and I know that exactly feeling of keeping still adn holding your breath.

In the spring I had a blue tit (small beautiful blue, yellow, black and white bird) that would visit my car wing mirror on a daily basis as it thought there was a rival in it! He would plump himself up and pose adn posture ad try to attack this other pretender to his throne and get himself so worked up before flying away, only to return the next day!

rashbre said...

I've seen Cardinals in Florida and I can remember them having quite a song too! Looks in the mirror a lot, wears red, struts stuff and sings? Must be a rock star amongst birds!

Here today via Michele's.

rashbre

kenju said...

I am sorry for those of you who never get to see cardinals. They will cheer you up immediately (if you need that) as they are so bright red and beautiful you can't help but feel special to have seen one. We have a pair who live in the forsythia bush off our back deck. Everyday when I eat breakfast, they flit about looking for food, fly back to the deck rail and sit there just long enough for me to enjoy them, but never long enough for me to grab the camera and get a pic.

Pat said...

I had to google cardinal. Impressive! I don't think we have state birds or even county birds. It's a nice idea. I also have never heard of a chicken biscuit. I'm guessing it's a biscuit flavoured with chicken?

Anonymous said...

I love moments like that :) I hope you're having a good weekend. Take care.

P.S. - Here from Michele's.

Anonymous said...

Wow, that must have been fanstastic to see something up close and personal like that. Are they as red as they are in the pictures. I bet it was beautiful!

srp said...

The males are so vain aren't they. Why is it the female that always gets stuck with the drab colors? The male and female mourning doves look the same to me. How great to have one standing on your mirror!

Star said...

what a treat! especially this time of year when things are starting to go drab.

Anonymous said...

Well I personally really, really, really like the Cardinal card or picture. It would definitely be in my box of favorite Christmas decorations. In fact, I think I would find an all-year location for it. I find it quite unique and clever.

Shephard said...

Love cardinals. Miss seeing them. Always so skittish tho. So pretty.
~S

utenzi said...

That's really freaky Judy since the rear view mirror is inside the car. Not the normal place for a cardinal to be.