picnic Lunch

the bottom of the Bird

We have robins around all winter, but to hear the "cheer up, cheerily" over head in the tree feels like Spring is on the way to me.

checkin' on the Kiddos

Violet-green swallows

waiting for chow

you kind of lost your focus, Son

the bottom of the Bird

Mountain bluebird

Sometimes they help you out, and pose beautifully, sometimes not so much.

welcome, Robin

Thornton W. Burgess, author of children's books loved by Booth kids and grandkids, named the character in his books, Welcome Robin. He surely is this time of year! 

We have robins around all winter, but when he begins to sing his "cheer up, cheerily" rain song, you know spring is truly around the corner!

the Bathers

 

The last batch of fluffy light snow caught in the treetops. The local mob of starlings appeared to be "snowbathing" in the top of the elm across the street. They were tossing the snow on their feathers and fluffing and preening just like they had gotten out of a water-filled birdbath. I've never seen them do it before, although my chickadees like to "leafbathe" after a summer shower. 

The best part about it is that when I looked at the picture closely, the tree buds are beginning to swell as spring creeps closer.

are you lost, Fellas?

I find it rather puzzling that brown pelicans would be a popular garden ornament in SOUTH DAKOTA! Here they are, with powdery snow on their sunny southern selves. Do we have Florida envy?

addendum: see www.pureflorida.blogspot.com today, envy (with all CAPITAL letters) of my blogfriend, FC is huge.

a favorite Neighbor

Pica hudsonia

The black-billed magpies love this lone pine lookout tower. I see them most days either on my way to school or on the way home. If I am lucky, I catch them both times. 

This one was soaking up the final rays of the late afternoon sun and hollering about something or other. I didn't see anything to be stirred up about, maybe he was just yelling for the fun of it. Wish I'd had the bigger lens, not the point and shoot, they are so photogenic and very camera shy.

a Puzzle

Do you know what you are looking at? I bet somebody does.

dear Turkeys,

Can you tell me exactly where you are going? You seem confused, do you need a map or a compass?

...and here they Come

Sometimes they are the "bully boys",  sometimes up to mischief, but not today, just lookin' for lunch.

head down, tails UP

Did it ever occur to YOU to have a snack while hanging upside down?Red-breasted nuthatch people seem to think it is perfectly normal.

crossbill Red

 

red crossbill male (Loxia curvirostra)

A crossbill's odd bill shape helps it get into tightly closed cones. A bird's biting muscles are stronger than the muscles used to open the bill, so the Red Crossbill places the tips of its slightly open bill under a cone scale and bites down. The crossed tips of the bill push the scale up, exposing the seed inside.

 (from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website)

catching the last Rays

This cottonwood tree catches the very last rays of the sun every afternoon before it sets behind the Hills. And just like clockwork, every afternoon this band of starlings perches here to enjoy the last of the sunlight before they head to bed for their long winter night's snooze.They preen and chat quietly for about ten minutes, bidding each other good night and then off they go, returning again the next afternoon. I know they can be a nuisance in the wrong place, but is kind of friendly like to see them there when I get home from school every day.

#9 the Odd Couple

This lovely couple seems to be "in a relationship" according to their Facebook page!

goosey goosey Gander

Goosey, goosey gander,

Whither dost thou wander?

Upstairs and downstairs, 

And in my lady's chamber.

(From an old English nursery rhyme)

Check out www.rhymes.org.uk...a fun site that lists the "secret history" of a number of favorite nursery rhymes.

 

discriminating Shoppers

I always put in the shell peanuts out for my blue jay gangsters. It is such fun to watch them come in and do their daily "shopping", as picky as anyone in a gourmet food shop, thumping the melons or squeezing the peaches. They pick up and weigh every single peanut before selecting a single one, looking for the "most for their money". They will eventually pack them all off, but only the choicest go first, usually for stashing somewhere like my firewood pile or under the pine duff in the back yard..

 

#10 theatrical Make-up

American wigeon drake and hen

My youngest daughter loves the dishy eye make-up on this guy!

Very Cirque du Soleil.

where are the Froot Loops?

 (borrowed from www.naturalsciences.org)

Rainbow-billed toucan, national bird of Belize, denizen of the Central and South American tropics, happy fruit eater...how did you end up in a snowy spruce tree way up North?

#8 the King of Fishers

Belted kingfisher

Belted kingfishers are described as being "large, conspicuous and noisy", an apt label if ever there was one. They look like some demented hairdresser has spiked up their 'do and brushed all the feathers the wrong way. Very cool creature, despite the punk rock look and lousy singing voice.
Hard to get them to sit still long enough for a picture, got lucky on this outing.