It's Thursday

I didn't get any birds ready for Wild Bird Wednesday because I just haven't taken many pictures, and really haven't seen anything different. Yesterday while I was at my computer desk, I noticed this juvenile Blue Jay right outside my window and it seemed to be begging for food, trying to get my attention. I saw their peanut feeder was empty. I took advantage and got some pictures. Unfortunately I'm out of peanuts, but back to the store today buddy. Hang in there.
We had a fierce rain storm yesterday but it only lasted about 15 minutes. All water was welcome! More coming today I guess.
Have a great day everyone.

Macro Monday

These past few days I've had the juvenile Hairy woodpeckers at my feeders. This is a male waiting for Mom to feed him when he is perfectly capable of taking care of himself.
Happy Monday to everyone. Click on http://lisaschaos.com to see lots more close-ups..

Sunday

I still have a few Pine Siskins that haven't left for the North country yet. Must be they like the eats here.

We've had a couple unfavorable days with wind, rain, and much cooler temperatures, so we haven't been out and about much.
At home the Goldfinches are here every day, and I keep an old used Christmas tree for the birds to land on next to my main feeder.. In the background you can see I still don't have my garden all planted yet. :~(

One minute sun, then clouds, and then lots of heavy rain. Quite windy too. Our youngest granddaughter Jalyn, managed to get a Pee-Wee baseball game in Saturday before the rain settled in too. They WON 10-1. High fives "J" She got 4 hits!! Her Dad told her to swing that bat like she was mad at her sister. LOL

With the cool temps, the Bumble-bee wasn't moving very fast. This one stayed on this Zinnia for a long time.

Last but NOT least I have been waging war lately on all the critters that raid my feeders at night! My latest victim was this highly ticked cat! My goodness was he/she mad! I went out early at dawn to release it, and he hissed, snarled, and growled at me. Jumped at me from inside the trap too. I was concerned he might come after me when I let him out, but thankfully as soon as I opened the door, out he flew and at warp speed too. I've checked with the neighbors and can't find an owner, but at least he didn't come back last night. So far in the past 2 weeks I've caught 5 raccoons and 1 skunk. I still have yet to catch a possum I saw out there and another skunk. These animals carry diseases, to say nothing about the devastating results they will cause if they get at my chickens. A nursery ( and that is what a group of raccoons is called) will wipe out the entire flock in a very short time if they should get in the chicken coop. We love our chickens and want them to be safe! ♥ 
Have a good rest of the weekend everyone...

Sunday

I have been filling this peanut feeder twice a day, and these guys have been getting more than enough to eat believe me.

This Grackle looks a bit angry don't you think. At least this keeps them off my other feeders.

Walking the dog the other evening I saw a couple Barn swallows sitting on this wire. We have had a family that built a nest on the driveway light up over our garage, but I see there is a hornets nest up there this year, and we'd better remove it before it gets any bigger. So far the swallows haven't been back.

The Tree swallows have decided that the big gourd hanging on the end of my clothes pole might just be what they are looking for to raise their family this year.. They don't especially like it when I hang out clothes, but that's OK, they'll get used to it.

Somehow this orange Azalea escaped the frost we had last week, and is going to be beautiful. We did lose almost all of the apple blossoms though.

Last but not least I still have a pair of Titmice that come every day to feed. Last year the raccoons raided their nest, and they chose another site this Spring, but I haven't found it.
Have a wonderful day all.

Happy Mother's Day

Before I begin my blog, I want to wish all the Mom's out there a very Happy Mother's Day. My Mom was a wonderful and such a special person, and I miss her so much.
I took this picture this afternoon around 2PM. I found a ring or halo around the sun. These rings are caused by ice crystals within thin cirrus clouds,

While watching trains last week, I spotted this Green Heron flying over our van and landed on this log not far from the tracks.

Still hanging around my yard is this male Indigo Bunting. He usually will only be here a week or so, but so far I'm hopeful he will like this area and not leave.

Checking out the Great Blue heron rookery, I finally could see some chicks. There are only 4-5 nests left and I still wonder how they remain in the trees.

Another regular visitor to my feeders is this female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. I have two pair, and would love to find a nest.
Have a wonderful day everyone.

Thursday

The Baltimore Orioles are here, and now I will be taking lots of pictures of them. Soon they will be bringing their babies too for the grape jelly.

I also have a pair of Orchard orioles. I posted the male yesterday, and here is the female.

Lots of arguing going on too even though there is plenty of jelly for all. Just playing around with different colors here.

Not sure what these two are looking at.
I finally got the grass mowed this afternoon, but it was still wet after the rain we had this morning. Now I'll have to rake up the clumps maybe tomorrow, and get out the weed whacker.

Thursday

It turned out to be a rather warm day with the temps in the 80's, and that was the perfect recipe for an evening thunder storm. It only lasted about 20 minutes but we got very heavy rain, with lots of hail and a drop of 15 deg. in temp.

Showing up this morning were several White-crowned sparrows. They are so cute and very fast.

Yesterday I checked the blue bird house and found a partially built nest mostly of green mosses. I don't remember ever seeing a bird nest like this, but later in the morning the Tree swallows have arrived, and were checking out the house. I'm thinking maybe a mouse is in there. I'll keep a close eye on it.

A couple more shots of the White-crowned sparrows.

There are a few Chipping sparrows too hanging around.

Now this scary guy was crawling up the wall of the garage. I'm sure this is some kind of jumping spider.

Last but not least I saw literally hundreds of Red Admiral butterflies today just everyplace. I've never seen so many before. Good to get pictures. I have more shots of them, and will post more in the coming days.

Sunday

I've had a pair of Cardinals that come to my feeders every day. I only hope they bring their kids when they get bigger.

At the wetlands I saw a small flock of Mergansers too. I was really surprised that they stayed in sight. I also saw a Great Blue Heron too, but of course he flew away.



On our way to Erie, Penna this week we went by this wet land pond, and I noticed this pair of geese were acting very strange, and on closer look, I see why. They had goslings and were protecting them from another pair of geese nearby. The parents were moving around so fast, it was difficult to get good pictures.
I hope everyone is having a great weekend. We're in for another freeze tonight. Getting used to it by now. Take care.

It's Monday

We woke up this morning to rain and a quite humid  day. It remained this way till right afternoon when the sun came out and was a glorious rest of the day. No fire in the wood stove needed tonight. This male Goldfinch doesn't seem to mind the rain.

Took a ride this afternoon, and I spotted some Cowslip growing along side a small stream. Spring is here for sure.

As promised, here is a picture of the "peeps". They are growing like weeds, and will be moving into their new digs in about 2 weeks. They are so funny to watch, and are now testing their wings. It's difficult to get good pictures of them as they seem to be on the move all the time. No longer are they little balls of yellow fluff. Now they are getting the red color they are noted for.
The weather forecast for us tomorrow is high winds, and temps in the 80"s. A cold front moving through later, and that makes me nervous. A perfect tornado recipe!

Thursday

Look what we woke up to this morning. 2.75" of heavy wet snow. That brings our total seasonal snowfall to 100". Way below last year.. It is really pretty, but I can say that this time of year, because it is already gone!

As we pulled onto the main highway this morning an Amish horse and buggy headed toward town.

All of a sudden this week, there has been a large flock of Brown-headed cowbirds invading my feeders.  Soon they will be more interested in cows than my lunch bar and will move on.
Have a great rest of the week. We're headed for some warmer weather...

Easter Sunday

Driving by Chautauqua Lake this week, I noticed the gulls have returned after a short absence thus winter. I got some cool shots and will post them on World Bird Wednesday.

I actually don't remember where this swamp is, and I looked for some ducks, but didn't see any.

I've wanted to post this barn for a long time but we finally got the chance to photograph it this weekend. It is the biggest complex I have ever seen, and it has been empty for many, many years. I can only imagine how many cows used to call this home.

Last but not least, HAPPY EASTER to everyone...

Monday

Here it is Monday again,and the sun is shining so brightly, but I can see off to the North big black clouds sneaking in. The forecast is for clearing though and another hard freeze tonight. I haven't been any place lately so here are a few birds from home. Mrs. Red-bellied woodpecker continues to show up, but I have yet to see the Mr.

Of course I have seen both the Mr. and Mrs. Hairy woodpecker, and lots of Downeys too.

Goldfinches by the tons, but I love them and their bright colors.

I was very surprised to see 2 Pine Siskins still hanging around. By now they usually have migrated North.
Have a great day everyone, and stay safe.

Overcast Sunday

Here is another shot of one of the many Goldfinches I have. They are everywhere, and the males are getting their Spring colors more every day.

Friday night we had a strong storm with a cold front blow through here, and we had a brief heavy downpour with lots of  hail stones.

We took a ride last week to check on the Great Blue heron rookery, and I did see several birds on the nests. Last Spring a early nasty Spring storm blew some of the nests out of the trees, but there are still at least 6-7 left. I'll keep an eye on them.

The peeps we have in our basement are growing like weeds. They are 1 week old today, and I have quite a survival story to post, but will save it for another day. Check back. It's a really good story.