Blossoms and potential babies

The mock orange is loaded with bloom this year, and smells so good. That's where the Robins have their nest. Great housing choice, birds! :)

The wren house has a nest of.. House wrens. Hee!
SEVEN eggs in there. Someone was overzealous.
They built their nest with some feathers, sticks and a plastic baggie. What on earth?

Voodoo is EIGHT. I can't believe it. He is a senior dog, by definition. Bird dogs do nothing *by definition*.

Baby 4 is here!

The last Robin egg hatched last night.
Four healthy, hideous babies.
I know, soon they will be adorable, but right now? Oy.
Weirdly, i can stuff my head and hand in their shrub without drama. But, God FORBID the dogs are with me. All Robin hell breaks lose, and I get yelled at and swooped!
How is this MY fault?! Dive bomb the dogs, you crazy birds!
I removed the broken shells on the ground under the nest. No reason to encourage jerk possums and raccoons. Fingers crossed for the wee Robins.

Babbling (big shock, right?)

There's a robin nest just behind the garden..
I've been stuffing myself in the Mock Orange where the nest is located, and thank baby J the Robins aren't ripping my face off.
Yesterday, FINALLY, we have BAAAAABIES!

I tend to get this expression on my face when there are birds involved. My *demented with joy* face. Please note Michael looks like he wants to kill me.
I wouldn't hold still for a pic.  We were at the national aviary, for God's sake! I couldn't hold still!!!

The storms are beating up my poor peonies, but they are still stunners. This plant came to me from my mom, who got it from my grandmother.  I love growing plants with history :)

I'm off to mix up a Shakeology shake, as promised to a dear friend.  I have a terrible habit of not eating until dinner....
and then I tend to eat everything in my path.
I'll be posting a review of Shakeology soon.  Cross your fingers.

I warned you this was a Babble post! ;)

birds in May

we've had a few new birds around...or I've finally gotten semi decent pics..

scarlet tanager couple

black-billed cuckoo

Sooo this happened.

I'm alive. Birding a TON.
I WILL BE BACK!
Really. It's spring (aside from 23 degrees and snow right now).. Gardening to share!
Miss you all!

I finally saw an osprey. And the jerk does THIS on camera. Only me. *eyeroll*

Decorating with a nature theme..

Maybe I took it too far this year?
(check the *ornament* in the center of the wreath)

Thank you, little Carolina Wren. That made my day :)

Things People Say..and a babble

"You should just be happy you're alive!"
Generally said when I'm grumbling about something normal..like a clogged septic line (ew).
Telling someone who has any kind of medical ANYTHING just to be happy they are alive...is a good way to get kicked.
My appreciation for life doesn't vanish when I'm outside in sleet and howling winds, with 40 feet of septic line snake.  It's just..taking a back burner for the moment.

"Oh, you must feel good...you look fine!"
Because you have a portable CT and can see the blood clot in my lung? Awesome!

I sleep 8 hrs a night, and nap at least 2 hours during the day.
I am weak and shaky and dizzy a lot.
I am cold constantly.
I am grumpy as all hell.

THIS IS NOT ME.
Ok, the grumpy part is.......

"Blood thinners! Well, don't cut yourself!"
*blink*
Well, shit. There goes my plans for the weekend.


---
I know this stuff isn't said to be unkind or dismissive...but after the 53rd time...
I warned you about the grumpy, right?

Ok, moving on!

You see the line of yellow Gorilla Glue on the feeder...and the reason why.
I need cast iron bird feeders!

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I went birding a few weeks ago...
I saw two horned grebes (adult, non breeding..so sayeth the bird books)!!!

Canada goose photo bombing

I also saw a black-crowned night heron.  I'll spare you the horrid photo.
Two birds off my life list.
HAPPY!

We need Keepers.

Last week, Michael and I were doing a bird drive.
We parked in several spots and watched, got out and wandered around a bit.
 The weather was horrid...freezing, sleety, windy. We dressed for this (and I have a point).

I rarely see other birders here, so imagine my excitement when a car pulled in behind us and I spot someone with binoculars! WOO!
Even more exciting, the lady comes up to the car and starts talking Bird.

She glances in the car and looks startled.
Ok, I know with his dark eyelashes and bright blue eyes, Michael can look Intense, but seriously...he's a friendly guy.
She takes a step back...says her goodbyes..
Flees.


It's only on the drive home I realize Michael is still wearing this:

And black gloves.
So maybe he DOES look like a serial killer.
Whoopsie.

Hoodies..and why I need a kayak and/or more camera equipment

No.  Not my normal attire.  BIRD type hoodies!

Yes, I know. Blur city. YOU try hanging out of a car window while sleety snow pelts your face and you're busy fighting with your beloved on WHY you need a 500mm lens because the f@#%ing birds won't come closer...
Anyway.

HOODIES! A herd of hooded mergansers! WOO!

Don't you think I should have a kayak...in addition to a 500mm lens?
Nothing could possibly go wrong with ME in a kayak, carrying a 500mm lens.
At all.

Michael tried (and succeeded) using my comments against me.
"You aren't a photographer, you said. You said you're someone who happens to have a camera. Why would you invest that much in a lens, if that's the case?"
"You laughed when I mentioned kayaks a few years ago. You brought up about 10 ways you would kill yourself with a kayak. So..what's changed?"
BECAUSE I SAID SO.


I know. Should have worked on that argument.

Observations..

During the Great Backyard Bird Count, we ran into several other birders at the local hotspot.
Thrilled, since I rarely see other birders out and about..but...
Something struck me.
None of them were under 60 (and of course, guessing at age.  Guessing generously, at that).

I've been birding since I was 16 or so.  Seeing *older* birders wasn't shocking as a teenager.
But now, decades later, it's strange to still be on the young end of the curve.
WTH?
Why aren't more people in their 30s birding?!
----
Yesterday was warm and mostly sunny.  LOVELY!
I received my giant box of vegetable seeds..and today is gloomy and drizzly and horrid.
Tomorrow? Flurries.
WTH?
I think I hexed myself by ordering seeds and messing around in the garden.
----

Have a pile of pics from the backyard bird count...

Red-shouldered hawk VS crow

Oh.... and a bird dog!

One month..and a thanks

4 weeks.
28 days.
Of confinement.
Pass the Xanax.

We're all doing really well..normal well for this time of year!
Things are busybusy at home, Michael is busybusy at work (retail management)...blahblahblah.
But, we're good!

AND...AND AND...
LOOK!

Santa must have heard my desperate pleas and sent a Pileated for Christmas.
About damned time.
It's only been 20 years.
First pileated woodpecker sighting was when I was 15..walking home from the bus stop..and I've only seen 4 since then.  FINALLY, a photo that looks like a bird and not a blackish blob!
----

As a pet owner, I'm required by law to take embarrassing photos of my dogs on holidays.

I think her headband is a little too tight.

Made the mistake of using the command "watch it!"..he's so intensely focused on cheese he looks like a maniac.

No dogs were harmed..or emotionally scarred.
My dogs are snobs.  $16 a pound Manchego cheese is an accepted reward for complying.  Regular old provolone? 
Hell no.

Henry is getting pretty bored, but is finding ways to amuse himself during confinement.

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I appreciate you all not bailing on me during my vanishing act. I know we lose and gain followers all the time, but I gotta say..I really expected a lot of people to bail.  So, thanks for sticking it out :)

Babble.

Honestly, which of my posts aren't babble?
--
I recently mentioned to a friend that I had never seen a pine siskin.

Nope.  Never.

Not a one.

Master of the Obvious, I'm not..and yet there are people out there that follow me into the woods.
I should come with a warning label.

---
I have an appointment with my Dr today.
Loathe. Detest.
I found a little bump on top of my foot.  No idea WTH it is, but I decided it was time to seek medical advice when bumping it almost made me pee my pants (excessive profanity helped with the pain).
---
I LOVE this candle company...and they ship!
If anyone wants to shower me with love, I'll accept 1000 Peppermint Patty candles.
I'm selfless like that.
---
Our gorgeous 70 degree days turned into 38 and drizzle.
I'm thrilled I spent the last few days wandering in and out of the house, enjoying the sun!
---
The birds are enjoying this *fancy* food.
Bird crack.
I'm sure Scotts doesn't appreciate me calling their food crack, but they aren't paying me or giving me free stuff..so..
BIRD CRACK!
The woodpeckers in particular are going crazy on it.
How are black oil sunflower seed prices in your area?  $28 for 50 lbs here! Holy crow!
The birds better get jobs and start contributing!
---
By the way, I swore I didn't have photos of the Common Merganser couple, either:

Now..anyone up for a hike in the deep woods?

Backyard, Oct 17

Looking out the east kitchen window-

The birds are enjoying those bird cakes a little TOO much...

I can see myself making bird cakes and neglecting my own cooking.

Everyone's a freaking food critic nowadays....