It’s trying to be Spring

While out and about last week we looked high and low for positive signs of spring.  Still no spring flowers, but lots of birds singing and the trees are starting to bud out. This has to make the porcupines very happy.  Fresh new buds gotta taste way better than just gnawing on tree bark. While sitting in my little blind, I thought I could see something sticking its head out of the wood duck house that’s on the other side of the pond.  After zooming in with binoculars, I could see it was a woodpecker.  Oh well, at least something was checking it out.The mergansers and mallards are still hanging around the pond and I’m hoping they’ll find a nice spot out there and start a family.  We haven’t seen any rabbits around yet this spring, but there have been quite a few squirrels in all shades of gray, charcoal and black.  This one has some sort of skin problem around its ear. On Monday we came back home for a few days and are glad we did.  I heard there was more snow there on Tuesday.  All I can say is it better be gone by the time we get back later this week.  Sheesh, enough is enough!

Happy Earth Day!

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I know it’s been awhile since I’ve updated and the reason is there hasn’t been much happening around here.  We’ve seen quite a few different birds this spring and the deer swing by each night, along with a raccoon or two.  But we haven’t seen any bear, bobcats or other exciting animals yet.  I should say, I haven’t seen any bear yet.  Jim was out looking for sheds (antlers from deer) the other day and saw a young bear.  They looked at each other and the bear turned and walked down a little hill and disappeared into the woods.  He also saw where it denned last winter.
 
The other day we saw this porcupine along the side of the road.  Apparently he didn’t want me to see his face, but seeing this side of him is a reminder why I was happy I was in the truck when I took his picture.
This week I set up my little blind so I can try to get some pictures without scaring everything away.  The beavers are no longer out there but there’s still quite a bit of water.  This week we’ve seen ducks, herons, geese and some other long legged waders out there.  Here’s a picture of my blind and the view from it.


I really enjoy sitting out there…as long as it’s not too cold and windy.  This morning I was watching some hooded mergansers and got a fairly good picture of two of them.  Just as I was leaving I saw an eagle fly over.  I don’t know if I scared it off or if it was just a coincidence that it was flying over at that time.  It would’ve been nice if I had known it was around.
Things are still very brown around here, but one of these days, I’m sure spring will happen.  The “s” word (and I don’t mean “s” as in spring or showers) is still being used by the weather people.  Shame on them! 

Pond Stars

Over the last week, we’ve been on all the regular dirt roads and have seen a deer here and there, but that’s about all.  The main wildlife action is right out our front window.  All that water out there has been very inviting for many birds and ducks.  There’s one duck that  hangs around and I’ve yet to identify it, but it seems to get along okay with the beaver.

This morning I saw a great blue heron out on the little island.  I grabbed my camera, went outside, zoomed in all the way and got this picture.  Man, they really have great eyesight.  I tried to get closer and like always, I scared it away.  But I did get it’s picture and when I was editing it, I noticed another bird in the background.  I have no idea what it is.
Yesterday, to my surprise a pair of swans landed on the pond.  There’s no way of knowing if they’re the same two that were here this spring.  It doesn’t matter, it’s just nice to see them stop by.

This morning while I was watching the beaver and the mystery duck, I noticed a kingfisher perched on his favorite fishing spot.  I’m always trying to get a good picture of one of them (and I’ll keep trying).  I caught this one just before he slammed into the water to catch a minnow or something.

And finally…I love all the cool spider webs that appear at this time of the year. 

So there you have last week’s wildlife moments from around the pond.

Babies, Babies and More Babies

There’s a tree behind the outhouse that’s home to a sapsucker family.  The little ones have been very vocal for about a week now.  Mom and Dad have been busy flying around getting good eats for the brood.  This one looks like it’s about ready to fly off on it’s own.

Then while I was getting dressed for the day I looked out the window and here comes a Mallard duck family.  Today was the first time we’ve seen this group.  Nine little ones all in a row.  Cute, huh?
This morning we did our morning walk on the same road where I had the badger hiss at me.   We’re walking along, into the wind and I see a doe out ahead of us.  We call Molly back and surprisingly she actually came!  See the doe out there on the right?  

I start taking more pictures and I see a little one with her. 

No, make that two little ones.

She sees us and off  they go. 

See why they’re called Whitetails?

Still waiting for the bluebirds to hatch.  Mrs. Blue kept a close eye on me as I took her picture.

Right next to their bird house is a house full of tree swallows.  It won’t be long and this one will be flying around on it’s own and eating lots of bugs.It’s no wonder I like it up here so much.  There’s never a dull moment.