Mack's First Visit to Terry Town

Heading for Terry Town was more like getting ready to go out in winter.Once there, we had to make do with bath time.... look at Mack's expression; it says it all.
The days were full of activity and the little guy finally collapsed.

Several days were really cool... Grandpa even allowed the hat to keep Mack warm.

Birthday dinner for Gram was at the Brauhaus... one of our favorites.

The humming birds were back though not in the usual numbers.

A female Evening Gross Beak enjoys the Spring flowers and seeds.

Carrie at the Headwaters of the Mississippi.

What else but a Bald Eagle on Eagle Lake?

Mack got into the tether ball.

Flowering trees are just now in bloom.

Back in the trailer, Mack tries out Gramps chair.

This morning before we left for the airport...Mack posed with his basketball. We sure are going to miss this little guy ... and of course his parents. Come again soon, Mack!

Rare Sightings

As we drove into our yard, this is what we saw in the front of the house. We followed her around the back as her little family scurried behind her. Yes, these twelve little ducklings and their Momma came waddling through our yard this afternoon.
She was not too keen on me getting close.
And when I did the little ducks ran under the mother and you couldn't tell there were 12 of them. Too cute!

There have been some other rare sightings in our neighborhood these days... One sighting was of Mack and Mom enjoying temperatures warm enough to let us get outside and check out the tulips.This rare sighting was of Mom and Mack about to go down the slide at Kelly School.
This funny bird showed up and Mack had to check it out before he could use it in the tub.
The Black and White Warbler was a first for me. It is the only warbler that can move head first down a tree trunk.

It makes a sound like a squeaky wheelbarrow.

Of course the Goldfinch needs no introduction and is not rare in our back yard. We have had more than usual this Spring.

The Yellow Warbler is a beautiful little bird with red stripes on his chest.

They rarely sit still long enough to take a picture so I was fortunate to get him sitting on the ground.

I don't think they stick around because I haven't seen him for several days.

This final rare sighting was of Mack sticking out his tongue. He was entertaining us with a series of funny faces.

Spring Visitors

We have had several visitors in our yard lately. This one is a Harris Sparrow, I believe. This mom and her babies have been running around in the back yard. I just had the skirting put on the sun room to keep out critters like this. I have noticed since we have finished the skirting that the little rabbits aren't around. I am hoping that they are not trapped underneath the sun room. A few days should give the answer.
Robins have been around for a few weeks. This guy just took a bath and is shaking his booty to get the water off.
These Cedar Waxwings showed up en mass at the bird bath. They are Cedar Waxwings because they have a yellow splotch on the tip on their tail while the Bohemian Waxwing does not.

They are an absolutely beautiful bird with their cute masks, and smooth feathers highlighted with red and yellow dashes of color. Tell me that God doesn't like color!

Two of this bunch have water dripping out of their beaks.

Don't they look like little bandits waiting to rob something?

So much fun!

Oh yes, this little bird showed up with his Mom this week too. Their visit is the best of all! Rob was able to come this time for a week while he visited his folks and brothers.

Signs of Spring

There are some signs of Spring around... but it is slow in coming. Our first Goldfinch showed up at the feeder in his summer coat.We made a quick trip to the lake and I can't seem to get away from the Cooper's Hawk. He is my neighbor at the lake perched next door in an evergreen.
Eagle Lake is waiting for us to go kayaking but we did yard work and set up the trailer.

Everything was fine except for the carport which was destroyed by heavy snow. The tarp is off but you can see how it twisted the steel support rods. Guess I'll know next time to take the tarp off over the winter if we get a new one.