There are several "families," they seem to travel in pairs, and (I assume the male) continually taking offense at any potential interloper.
The redwing black birds in force and singing their song endlessly! I've yet to see the cedar wax wings I love but I'm sure they'll be there soon.
We are lucky to have cardinals year round here. They're one of my favorites!
I'm assuming someone planted daffodils here and there -- they don't seem to grow by themselves.
Here's a question for some of my blog friends who are more nature experts than I. Any ideas what this netted structure with the yellow pieces beside it (not enclosed) might be? It's the first year I've ever seen it. It's gone now, so whatever its purpose, it seems to be over.
I'm not sure what this is all about, but it appears to be a relatively well attended memorial, there year round for the past year or two.
Across from the pond is the neighborhood golf course. If you look closely you can see quite the gathering of geese. I'm sure the golfers just love this!
The squirrels seem busier than ever! This one was checking me out as I was taking my walk.
That bright forsythia in the background makes me smile!
And speaking of forsythia, here's what might be a last look, Most is getting it's green leaves now. I'll miss this cheery bush which always heralds the beginning of spring.
We haven't seen as many redbuds this year. They're a favorite of mine and when I do see one, it's cause for rejoicing!
Things are greening up. It's definitely spring, despite a chill that has come in over the past week. But my sure sign of spring has appeared.
Harry the Heron is back!
And he's hungry!
Harry is clearly an expert fisher-bird!
I've been told he has been back for a bit.
But in my world, it isn't thoroughly spring until I've seen my Big Bird myself!
Pretty soon the foliage at the ditch will fill in, the grasses become tall and the leaves thick. It may be harder to see some of the birds or onto the island where the deer live.
But for now? I'll take it!
Sharing with: Share Your Style / Let's Keep in Touch / Saturday's Critters
Here, too, the greens are beginning to dominate, and bare branches are filling out. I love your images of Spring.
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Spring has definitely sprung! Soon, it will be summer again and you'll be back at the lake. Hard to believe 2021 is over a quarter way through already. Love all the photos from, and old friends at The Ditch.
ReplyDeleteDeb in Wales
My Red Bud tree is just starting to open it's buds, it's so cold that it's taking its sweet time.
ReplyDeleteLove seeing Harry back!
Hooray for Harry!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking us along on such a beautiful nature walk today. Gorgeous photos Jeanie. Have a lovely Sunday evening. :)
ReplyDeleteRedwings can be quite territorial this time of year.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous walk. You a great photographer to catch all these sightings of spring.
ReplyDeleteExcellent shots of Harry, good timing!
ReplyDeleteYour squirrel is red! How lovely- ours are grey as you know and large!
WOW did you ever think the snow would leave??
Wow, life is back in business at the ditch. You got some wonderful photos Jeanie, especially of those herons. I saw one flying but I haven't seen them on the ground yet. These are great to see so thanks for sharing. Happy new week. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteI am happy to know that life at the ditch is proceeding as it should, Jeanie. Now that Harry has returned you can officially proclaim spring and ease right into summer. Before you know it you'll be heading for the cottage again. I too wonder about daffodils. We see them all over here, and it's hard to believe that they could have all been planted, and especially in so random a fashion. I don't know whether squirrels move the bulbs and bury them, or if the plant can also be seed propagated. If I can find out I will let you know. In the meantime, just enjoy them!
ReplyDeleteI miss the red squirrels over here. We have both black and gray now. Janice
ReplyDeleteHarry is a beautiful guy! And the thought of seeing geese sitting on their nest -- well, I don't know what to say, it would thrill me.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen much forsythia in my life, but it looks more lovely in your picture than any I have seen. The birds and the flowers always get me excited, and you certainly have a lot here today. <3
At this time of year, nature is attractive everywhere. It is your camera and photographic skills to be thanked for making it available to us.
ReplyDeleteIntriguing memorial! No hint as to what it commemorates.
The cardinal sure is my fav!
ReplyDeleteYes, the city or people planted daffodils here, too, love this.
Sad memorial. Glad it´s respected.
Dangerous life the geese spend in that place!
Oh, the squirrel. Haven´t seen the pack here since the death of one of them.
Yay on blossoms and Harry!
Great to see the return of plant and animal life at the ditch, it all looks so beautiful. Und say hello to Harry for me! I wonder what that memorial is for? I wish we had cardinals here, that would be something! Have a great week, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to Harry the Heron. The Red Squirrels are pretty!
I love seeing all the spring blossoms and blooms. Wonderful captures of life at the ditch!
Have a great week!
How lovely to see all your photos. You appear to be about a month a few weeks ahead of us spring-wise. Our forsythia is just coming into bloom, and the deer have eaten all the tulips. They don't appear to like hyacinth. Buds are appearing on all the trees. I can't wait for the lilacs! This past week we have had lots of deer coming through the yard to cross the road in front of the house. There is a river just down the hill. We have been enjoying watching the birds pair up and the resident chipmunk appears to be expecting! Isn't nature wonderful! xoxo
ReplyDeleteSpring is glorious and I always enjoy seeing your photos in nature during this renewal season. Looks like you had an abundance of forsythia and glad you have redbuds blooming. Sometimes the blooms are short lived. Yay for Harry, I know it's a relief to spy him every year. Have a wonderful week Jeanie.......
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of your springtime world, love the birds and flowers.
ReplyDeleteI especially enjoyed seeing the forsythia. That, and the pussy willows, were our first signs of real spring in Iowa, too. Our bluebonnets are great, but that forsythia can give them a run for their money!
ReplyDeleteIt's getting there but we have had some chilly days so things are at a standstill..Our border is closed between Ontario and QC..things are rough..
ReplyDeleteIt's spring at the ditch. Love all the critters and flowers. Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteSpring is looking pretty there! Glad to see Harry is back.
ReplyDeleteI know seeing Harry makes you so happy. He always seems to pose for you. The signs of spring are always a welcome sight after winter. Wishing you a wonderful week, Jeanie!
ReplyDeleteSo glad that spring had sprung and you are seeing wildlife - especially Harry! Phil said they saw over 20 ducks on his walk with Paul yesterday. I had to stay back with Will so missed it but Paul was thrilled to see so many. They saw them at the lake by our house and I guess there were 2 young boys in the water up to their waist!!! Eeks!! The water had to be so cold. Phil let Paul run around by the beach but he stayed clear of the water thank goodness!!
ReplyDeleteI am starting to see daffodils and tulips on my walks. It makes me so happy!!!
Geese are so _aggressive_! I know you're looking forward to seeing the goslings :) It's wonderful to see your nature photos. Some look like our area and some quite different.
ReplyDeleteWow photos. The netting thing looks like what the biologists use for studies. Or maybe it is meant to keep the geese out of the seed?
ReplyDeleteForsythia are in bloom around here as well. There are masses of them growing wild (not pruned) that are fabulous.
Jeanie, always happy to see your Big Bird. What a gorgeous place for a walk..Stay well..xxoJudy
ReplyDeleteSo many signs of spring at the ditch.. I'm glad you can welcome Harry back again. I've heard some golf courses train australian shepherd dogs to keep the geese off the greens. Happy spring, Jeanie.
ReplyDeleteThe Ditch looks lovely this time of year with all the different birds and critters. That is a pretty Angel and flowers. I have seen small spaces like this in the town I grew up in, and it usually means that a loved one passed away and maybe in that exact spot. That bundle of flowers, the red and purple, are so pretty. Oh, those mischievous squirrels, I don't think I'll ever get used to them. They are always in my front yard and I shooooo them away haha.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
I love each spring your walk to the ditch and seeing Harry. How wonderful! Hi, Harry! But of course, I love your sightings of Mr. Cardinal because I can't see him here. Oh yes, redbud. I have never heard of it until another friend mentioned having it in Ohio. I had to have one and now mine is blooming too.I think your squirrels have more rusty coloring than the ones I see in Oregon. I will look forward to seeing those baby goslings on your next visit.
ReplyDeleteYes, when you see Harry at the Ditch, it is definitely spring. It's all so beautiful in your world right now. Now that my tulips are dying back, all that's left is green in my gardens. Yours is so much more colorful, like with the cardinal, the forsythia, and those infuriating Canadian geese. They live in my neighborhood, too. Loved the beautiful photos of spring in your world, dear Jeanie.
ReplyDeleteJeanie, as always great photos. I especially love seeing Harry. I am sure not as much as you do though. We get attached to these sweet creatures of nature, don't we? Your netted area looks like it could be a duck blind, but it is hard to tell.
ReplyDeleteHappy spring walks, Jeanie. Love seeing the photos.
I enjoyed all of your birds and nature shots! I loved going on a stroll with you. Thank you for all you beautiful Spring nature finds!
ReplyDeleteYou got some gorgeous pictures on Harry the Heron.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most beautiful time of year..
oh these are great pictures, Jeannie! Especially the heron ones! I love the forsythia bushes so much, we had a big big one outside the kitchen window where I grew up. I love those pretty red buds too. Thanks for your sweet compliment and all your comments, so glad to see you stopped by. Oh yes! I do love those deviled eggs...I could eat a hundred! ha ha LOL Happy new week my friend, stay safe and take care.
ReplyDeleteJeanie, I enjoyed seeing your glorious spring photos! And Harry is back--such comfort in the cycles that surround us. What a treat to view nature so intimately! Enjoy every moment.
ReplyDeleteThere were many beautiful sightings of nature in the ditch, Jeanie! I love seeing forsythia and mother duck on her nest, and Harry the Heron busily fishing for his dinner.
ReplyDeleteWe have been having snow, so all signs of Spring here have been covered with white. That is springtime in the Rockies.
Lovely scenery and shots of wildlife. The forsythia are in bloom up here everywhere and so pretty! I love seeing Harry the heron too! Nature is grand!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pictures, as always. The herron is so cute and I love the forsythia. I hope you have a lovely Spring. xx
ReplyDeleteHappy Harry pictures once again!
ReplyDeleteDoes Harry have a friend ??
No doubt about it . . . it is SPRING . . .
even with this nighttime frosty cold dip we are experiencing.
My Bleeding Heart has blossoms . . .
so it is keeping me busy covering and protecting.
Warms up to 45 or so during the day but
each morning now for several days it has been 30 degrees and less.
Not complaining . . . we have had days of beautiful bright sunshine, blue skies!
Great pictures of spring, Jeanie! Although we're a few weeks ahead of you with blooms, it seems the forsythia lasted a really long time this year - so nice. We have redbuds and dogwoods dotting our hillsides all along our interstates. Against the green foliage and black rock, it is a wonderful sight! I'm glad someone noted what they thought the netting was in the comments, I was wondering too. Enjoy the season!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're seeing signs of Spring Jeanie! It's wonderful to watch things come to live after a long winter! I love cardinals too, I have one that appears often outside my kitchen window, I love to spot him!
ReplyDeleteJenna
You have a quick and steady hand with the camera. Your photos are great! I loved seeing the heron doing what it normally does. Cute bird.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photographs. Especially love the red squirrel and the red winged blackbird, both of which I miss from the Midwest.
ReplyDeleteHave a great one.
❤️❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteHorray for a Harry sighting! Glad you're finally seeing signs Spring has arrived in your area.
ReplyDeleteHello Harry! I wonder where he goes when he's not at the Ditch. Nice to see all the animals and birds preparing for a new year.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, and the daffodils. I always assume people have planted at least one in the wild if I see ones like that. They do seem to be a cultivated variety, aren't they? I always believed daffodils spread by various ways - growing extra little bulbs which will sprout in turn, or else by seed, though goodness knows who fertilises the seeds, I doubt they're wind dispersed looking at those trumpets! Come to think of it, there's a LOT I don't know about daffodils. Not that this stops them being among my favourite flowers. I never heard of a nasturtium daffodil, but I did plant one variety called "geranium" this year which was pretty confusing!
ReplyDeleteLovely photographs of Harry the Heron ...
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Well, I seem to have missed this post. I always enjoy it when you take us along with you on your walks at the ditch.
ReplyDeleteHello jeanie,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed all your birds and photos, Great sightings. It is wonderful that Harry the Heron has returned. I love spring time, the blossoms and the birds singing. It is a happy time..
Could the fenced off area be a spot they want plants or grasses to grow. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your day! Happy Weekend! PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
How lovely that there will be some goslings along soon. Love that Cardinal too.
ReplyDeleteI like how you observe things. It was nice to read your commentary and the pictures are awesome. Overall an outstanding post!
ReplyDeleteWonderful serie. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a privilege to see the families of geese, and understanding what's happening. What a gorgeous place! Thanks, Jeanie!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, all the photographs you have taken are wonderful! I love Harry and all these animals/birds... Thank you for linking up so I could feature your post for you at Share Your Style #301. <3 Our squirrels are busy zooming up and down the trees around our home. One is particular is quite friendly and will let me walk around in the yard while he eats. My mother-in-law actually gets squirrels where she lives in Northern California to knock on her front door looking for their daily peanuts!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the beautiful lake and all your feathered and furry friends,
Hugs,
Barb :)
I don't think I've ever seen a redwing blackbird! Your bird photos are wonderful. Love herons....we have a pair of them in our neighborhood.
ReplyDelete