Observations...

So, i was sitting out on the patio last Sunday morning enjoying a cup of coffee. I discovered:

• One must be prepared to duck if sitting in a nut hatch fly zone. They do not veer off of their course to the suet feeder.
• Young bunnies love to run in trenches (like the one surrounding the birch trees). And the will run in endless circles. Nascar bunnies...
• All birdbaths are for the use and pleasure of the Robins... and they can turn the water to a murky, muddy mess very quickly.
  

I'm not in your garden to eat it...

I'm not in your garden to eat it...
Originally uploaded by pjslomer

I'm nesting!

I watched her pruning the creeping phlox for building materials. She isn't very afraid of me... i think she read the "wildlife habitat" sign.

a different kind of alarm...This morning i awoke to the

distinctive "gobble, gobble, gobble"... i know that a turkey had ventured up near the house. Of course i didn't see nary a tail feather of my alarm clock.

Observations and Mr. White too!...

This morning I was entranced by the neighbors' locust trees. They had been in full bloom and now the petals were dropping. It looked like a snow shower with all petals softly falling to the ground.

I put out my usual hand full of peanuts for the blue jays this morning. And went back inside the house to watch the jays and all the funny things that they do. I watched for a time the comings and goings of the jays. But then there was a group of three jays on the table and each one was bobbing up and down making that funny "whoop" sounds that jays make. It seemed like some sort of jay ritual of gratitude.

When Joseph got back from his route today he mentioned hearing a Bob White in the neighborhood. Later when i went out to water plants i heard a whistle... thought it was the neighbors whisting for his dog. But sure enough it was the Bob White. I ran inside to grab my camera and when i returned the bob white was gone, sigh... but a short time later i heard the bob white call and patiently waited. Then Mr. White came waddling through the yard. First tot he birch tree where i have placed a shallow pan of water. After getting a drink, Mr. White wandered up and around the house. What a blessing.

Blues for Happiness...

Today when i got home from work i was talking with joseph in the driveway. I caught a glimpse of some blue flying into the paperbark maple. Much to our surprise it was a bluebird. It took off from the tree and headed right over our heads. No mistake it was indeed a bluebird.

We saw the bluebird a short time later... it proceeded to take a bath in the saucer like water basin that i placed under the birch tree. Later on we saw two bluebirds, possibly three.

Today, wWe are feeling very blessed.

Goings and Comings...

It seems that the baby bunnies have all disappeared! I was getting overwhelmed by the seven if not more of them... but now i miss them. I miss the of trail maintenance from their nibbling. I came to realize that baby bunnies don't nibble where plants are thick... they nibble on the edges. I'm not totally sure as to what became of the bunnies... but i did notice a cat in the vicinity a day or two after the disappearance. Or maybe the bunnies evacuated to another location.

and the mockingbird has moved on... Last weekend it had me a little crazy with it's loud and long mocking of bird songs... in rapid succession... over and over again. So on one level i am relieved that it has moved on and sad that it has moved on.

but the newest bird to make it's presence know in a catbird. It isn't nearly as exasperating of a sound as the mocking bird... and a very dapper bird to watch.

and a pair of hummingbird are enjoying the coral bell flowers. It seems to be one of their favorites. This evening i stood and watched the male ruby-throated hummingbird feeding on the coral bells. I was delighted to watch it land on the stem of the flower, gently bending down... not too far... and it continued to feed. Then it flew off zipping less than a foot in front of my nose!

Bunnys Galore...!!!

So last week i thought that i had one baby bunny in the garden... then two, then three... triplets. Then this morning as i gazed out the window that overlooks the garden i got the total picture. One, two, three baby bunnies on the lower path... AND one, tow, three on the upper path... AND some rustling leaves in another spot. SO, SIX BABY BUNNIES for sure and possibly seven. YIKES!!! And each one of those hungry little baby bunnies with sharp teeth is dining in my garden!

I did notice that they are very beneficial for trail maintenance... last year i could barely walk on the paths because the california poppies were sprawling all over the place. I just wish i could get them to eat the sweet woodruff that is running rampant... or even have the decency to do as my little baby bunny did last year and eat the dandelions. So, to prevent the little buggers from eat everything in my garden... out came the liquid fence and its nasty taste. Hopefully it will get them to move onto other plants outside my garden!