The pond is exploding with new life this spring. Dozens of birds of all stripes and colors are eating seeds at the feeder (black oil sunflower is very popular) or foraging nearby. Other critters are busy as well reproducing and finding food for their offspring. Hawks, osprey, swans, geese, turtles, squirrels, muskrat, kingfishers, blue herons, and green herons - the natural world develops with incredible intensity after another winter season draws to an end. And the flowers and other greening plants......
....like these clematis.....
......and these lupines add to the proliferating spring colors.
Multiple goose families coexist peacefully - not the case with swans who do not seem to coexist peacefully with anything.
Even though this mother goose saw me well in advance, she still let her goslings come up the path - one of them doesn't seem so sure that was a good idea.
This red-shouldered hawk is nesting with his mate on an undeveloped lot in the neighborhood. He often stops to hunt in the corner of my yard. He roosts on a branch no more than ten feet off the ground at water's edge looking for tasty frogs or snakes/eels. He seldom stays very long this time of year - the red-winged blackbirds that are nesting nearby torment him mercilessly by diving and pecking at his wings and tail to make him go away. He goes away.
The drama of spring continues to unfold daily. The local swan family is now down to only three surviving cygnets from six just a week ago.
And even though it was a mostly cloudy day, it had a nice beginning.......
Another great day to be alive.
No comments:
Post a Comment