It started out like any other day, still having nice weather, doing my normal routine  of critter feedings, I had Just finshed freshening all the bird waters, filling the feeders, and putting out  fresh orange halves for the woodpeckers   when ... all of a sudden... the sky turned dark and winds began blowing in cold airs so strong that it was bending the tree branches and blowing the leaves right off all the trees. It seemed like winter came in an instant.

 But when I looked out at the field across the road, I realised it was more than just the arrival of winter, this was a tropical wind storm and it was blowing big trees down around the field. These trees were strong, 60 +year  old Elms, so I knew we we having some pretty strong winds ( which I found out later to be over 90 mph).

One of the trees that fell in the winds is pictured here

Most of the songbirds were no where in site, they surely had sensed the storm and had found safe cover. But the migrating birds weren't so lucky...  I noticed a flock of black hawks that were being blown all around. There was about 50 or so and they were blowing into each other and having a hard time keeping on track in the strong wind gusts that were comming from all dirrections.

 Some of them came down to seek shelter in the field and stayed there for about 20 minutes smoothing their ruffled feathers and preparing for their continuing journey.

When they assended back up into the sky to rejoin the others , it looked like a line of clumsy chorus dancers streaming across the sky, bouncing through the bumpy air gusts as they all fell into the group , and continued their struggling journey to the south.

Soon the sky cleared and the strong winds subsided bringing out the usual songbirds. Even though a couple of their trees were missing and many branches were missing from others, I don't think the birds minded, they seemed pretty happy just to be safe. And they showed their appreciation by filling the air with beautiful bird songs as they hopped around the various feeders and bird waters.
I may be spending some time cleaning up fallen trees and branches for awhile , but the damages are minimum so I am very thankful that all is well in the habitat.

Safe and happy journies to you all..