Alas, Harry the Heron hasn't shown up yet this spring, but I've had some other lovely sightings as the Ditch begins to awaken.
Slightly (emphasis on the "slightly") warmer weather and plenty of rain has helped the Ditch color to burst, and while it's still filling in, it's looking awfully good! (And yes, we dipped below freezing last night.)
But this day happened to be a perfect one to wander by the water and see the water lily pads beginning to pop up. What fascinating shapes!
I was able to enjoy both sunshine and shade as I moved around the path.
Despite Harry's elusive behavior, I've enjoyed seeing birds and critters. This grackle had the light just hitting it perfectly to illuminate his "neon" head!
The red-winged blackbirds have been out in force, too.
It seemed like every spot I walked, my Merlin was recording red-winged blackbird songs!
There were robins, too (not photographed) and this handsome blue jay.
I know blue jays have a bit of a bad-boy reputation, but they're awfully pretty!
Speaking of bad boys (and maybe bad girls!) the geese have been, for the most part, hanging in pairs. This duo is right by where a female has built a nest on the ground, right in front of that bench. I wonder if they are house hunting this year or getting ready to start building again.
And these two ducks amused me -- like a couple of guys just hanging out at the bar or over the back fence!
Of course, not all the creatures are birds. And not all have the best sartorial choices but hey -- whatever floats your boat. This guy looked comfortable and when you're on a walk, comfort is where it's at.
I saw some squirrels too. I loved his curious face!
Keep singing!
It looks like spring is finally is here! (Except for the days when it's not!)
Sharing with: Saturday's Critters
9 comments:
I'm seeing cardinals and anoles and butterflies pairing up everywhere I look around here. We had a rare cold front move in last night, and it's going to be a cooler day with highs in the 70s. I'm enjoying it because I know the heat is coming soon.
Aww that squirrel's face is adorable! I am glad you were able to enjoy some nice weather!
The pink flowers are beautiful. Great photos of the birds Jeanie, when I try to photograph some birds they just fly away! And that squirrel, what a cute face 😀. Have a great weekend.
I haven't heard the redwing blackbird yet. It's a favorite sign that yes, summer's getting here. I love that hoarse shout.
Jeanie, you got some great pictures of the red-winged blackbird. And that's hard to do! They seem to often hide that bright red underneath. There is so much color at the Ditch right now! I loved each and every picture you took there. Look at that Pink blossom tree! I love that path photo, how peaceful that is. The blue jays are surely a pretty bird, but I don't see them around these parts - it's the stellers jay that I see mostly. The geese are so protective of the nest they built near the bench. And that picture of the ducks is charming, and your words about them hanging out at the bar go perfectly with the photo. Thanks for taking me along in nature, Jeanie. After my trip, I have been wanting to spend some time just being still with the gentleness of nature. I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful post.
What wonderful Spring colors and weather you are having. I have enjoyed all of your photos. No cherry blossom or apple blossom here yet, later this month, but I have had some red winged black birds in the yard. I love spring! Happy May Jeanie! xo
Hello Jeanie,
Your walk to the Ditch looks nice, great weather and lots of bird sightings. Your bird photos are awesome and I love all the blossoms and the lily pads. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
I love the red-winged blackbirds -- one of my favorite birds, and not one we see here. The light really hit that grackle just right, didn't it?! I could have sworn you saw Harry earlier this season, but I guess I'm making that up. Maybe you just mentioned the prospect of seeing him again.
What wonderful photos in your glorious, little ecosystem.
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