Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Around about

Since last visit we made a quick trip to MSP for someone's birthday.  No way will I say WHAT birthday it is, but for three months we are the same age if that helps.  I am 73.
This is one of our favorite walks while we are there... around Centennial Lakes.
Back at the lake spring is progressing fast.  Not only have we had record heat but the Geese seem in a hurry to raise their family in the short season we call summer.  I think we skipped spring and went right into summer.
This Red-eyed Vireo is extremely hard to get a picture of.  M spotted him in a tree close to our Park Model and I was able to get this picture.  The Vireo is one of my favorites because it sings all day long.  From morning till evening you can hear its song somewhere in the campground.  Here is a link if you would like to hear it's beautiful song:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-eyed_Vireo/sounds 
Many years ago for Father's day I was given this "Church birdhouse"  It came from a nearby Knick-knack store and was really more of a decoration than a wren house because the hole was too small.  It has a hole on both sides, I guess a front and back door to the church.  I know well how that works as new people would often come to church in the front door but someone else was leaving out the back door.  But I digress.  I bored the holes bigger and repainted it to make it more appealing but it didn't attract anything.  This year however, a Christian Wren has been busy building a nest, or is it just "visiting" to see if she likes the place and worship style.  Anyway we have two beautiful singers in our neighborhood for the time being. 
We planted some Columbine flowers years ago and this year they are doing well.  The Hummingbirds love them and I love trying to grab my camera fast enough to get a shot.  
The sun even glints off the neck of this male.

Thursday, May 17, 2018

Spring Has Sprung

Spring is definitely here.  The migration has been in progress, though I still have to hear a Wren .  This beauty was at the lake but didn't stay around even though I hurriedly put up the Oriole feeder.

We heard a ruckus outside of our lake place and saw this crow diving at the Bald Eagle.  It didn't last long and I got only one picture.

These sparrows migrate through every Spring and enjoy the seed and water.

A beautiful Rose-breasted Grosbeak showed up early at the lake.  Most of the birds like black oil sunflower seeds.

These guys are year around birds, but still very colorful if not quiet.

Needless to say, the migration requires a good bath, even if you have to take it with all your relatives.