Thanks for all the kind comments! Since these photos I was able to get a few more migration photos before the rain set in, but kept hoping I could get some more. We spent one weekend at a family reunion in IN, then worked out of town as extras in the Disney movie Secretariat during two very cold, windy weeks (long hours, miserable work, but at least I got to see John Malkovich and Diane Lane). This weekend coming up might have some sun, but I've not seen any migrants for awhile, so our migration action may be over.

I really appreciate the responses - I knew this probably was a bit absurd. Just not enough to go on. Comically enough, my husband and I saw a flock go by overhead a while ago and the same effect was visible. Sincerely doubt it was the same type of bird (again, too far away to make any i.d.)so it just goes to show how right you all are - very deceptive depending on all the environmental factors. Thinking of hanging binoculars permanently around my neck. :) Ging

I am thinking maybe it's a regional thing too. The house is in Virginia Beach where many of the homes like this have put on this type of siding. I got a little nervous though when I read the responses to shorebird's thread because her house is also contemporary and most thought she shouldn't put shakes on it. I'd like to soften the house up a bit if possible. I'll be moving to this house permanently in a year and am trying to think of things I can do to give it a bit more charm. I'm thinking about taking out the hedge and planting Annabelle hydrangeas in its place. It won't look that great during winter but I'm okay with that. I also have a lattice with a climbing rose growing to the right of the garage door and a potted Mandevilla with a lattice placed on the porch to the right of the front door. Maybe I could train the rose to trail over the top of the garage door. I also need to take off the storm door. You can't see it in my pic because it's opened. I'm not sure if I should replace it with a full glass storm door or just take it off and have no storm door. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Thanks Marilyn for your story. Although I am not a rescuer, I had my bunch of racoon friends (worked nightshift, alone as a desk clerk) who visited the trash cans, ate my night snack and tried to enter the motel lobby daily. Righ now my backyard seems to be a haven for short-tailed critters. Stumpy, a squirrel with 1" tail comes daily for her peanuts, she showed up for the first time in 03. She also has only 2 claws on her right front paw. Bobby (bobtail) is a racoon who sits at the backdoor every morning and waits for the bowl of food and that I move the big saucers I use as birdbath in order to check if there are snails underneath and once in a while I see a possum which also has a short tail, about 6" long. My horde of squirrels all have names too and some of them sem to know theirs, Stumpy sure does. I really admire your work and am so sorry that Vernon did not make it.