Avians, Take Me Away

So relaxed at this point that I almost forgot to write up a post!  ALMOST.


I got to spend more time than usual outside today with all of the neighborhood birds.  Sitting in the yard, watching and listening to them always lifts my spirits and relaxes me.


I had two relaxation sessions today, which is highly unusual.  I'm very glad to have had it though!  I'd been pretty tense, and I can feel a definite difference in my neck and shoulders.

It certainly helped that I got to see quite a few of my Blue Jay friends!  This one started out on the telephone wire, but he didn't stay there!

Most of the birds used the top of the fence to roost; I thought this was much more individualistic, which means high approval marks!  You can also see in the bottom right hand corner my re-blooming lilac, which is close to re-blooming!

Another appearance by the beautiful Blue Jay, beak filled with peanut.  Yes, I try to keep the one feeder with peanuts in it to tempt them and the woodpeckers to the yard. 

I liked how I managed to catch one bird coming in to land, one leaving, and two just hanging out.  

Imagine that!  Another shot of a Blue Jay.  There were several times 2-3 of them were chasing each other away from the feeder; I'd not seen them do that  here before.  I guess they're feeling comfortable and at home?

This little one was just a couple of feet from me, and showed no fear at all!  All of this seed was in a feeder that the squirrels have learned to tip and dump the seed.  One of these days I will learn not to refill that feeder completely . . . 

Mr. Cardinal stopped by to pose - right profile . . . 

 . . . and left profile.

I think this is a cow bird; I'm pretty sure when I see one of the males, but I'm not too sure about the females.

Caught another one coming . . . 

  . . . and another one going.

I had to be VERY patient to get this pic.  This little guy, I believe is a chickadee.  He normally doesn't spend long enough at any one feeder for me to get a shot!


Oh, and on top of it all, Bella (the hummingbird) showed up tonight, too.  I was outside, and she flew up to the feeder, and I got to talk to her for a few seconds before she flew off again.  She zoomed by again later, but didn't stop.


And if that wasn't enough to make my day, I bought 4 more (different) rolls of Duck Tape tonight!  Oh, the creative juices are flowing!!

Bloomin' Backyard, Redux

I am SO completely enjoying this mild winter and spring!  One of the trumpet vines is just about exploding with blooms, but not the one I pruned WAY back (but it is growing like nobody's business).  That's OK - maybe I can keep ahead of them this way??

Just a couple of the blooms open and ready for the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, not to mention the ants.

Trumpet vine buds before they open - hard to imagine all of that flower contained in those little buds.  Oh so many of them on this particular plant, too.  C'mon little hummingbirds, your nectar bar is OPEN!

More of the beautiful daisies in varying stages of blooming.  I love it when most of them are open at the same time - simple beauty at it's best.

The yucca plant is also pretty much in full bloom.  I wish it would bloom more often - unfortunately, it's only pretty about 1 or 2 weeks out of the season.  But it is pretty, and difficult to get rid of, so I'll hang on to it!

I'm guessing these are coneflowers.  I'd planted a bunch of wildflower perennial seeds last summer, but it was too late/hot and dry for them to do much then.  I'm reaping the benefits this year though.  Not all of the plants are coming up, but a couple here and there are, which makes it interesting every time I check!

The primrose had already bloomed, and I thought was finished.  Looks like I'm gonna get another round out of them!

I don't know what this plant is, but I found it hiding and had to grab a shot of it.  Love the purple!

And the reblooming lilac looks pretty ready to bloom again!  YEAH!!!  Can't wait to see those little pinkish blooms, and smell my favorite fragrance.


Now, with all of this beauty just in mostly my back yard, it's surprising when something not quite so beautiful intrudes onto the edges of my sanctuary.  Yesterday, I had left home to pick Mom up from church when I saw something in a neighbor's yard.  I kept thinking it was the weirdest dog I'd ever seen.  When I got close enough, I realized it was a Turkey Vulture enjoying it's noon meal (probably a squirrel).  EWWW.  Yuck.  Not near my little bit of beauty and rest, please.


I sat outside for a while today watching the birds enjoy what was left in the feeders.  Several of them empty out pretty quickly because the squirrels have learned how to tip the food out of them since they can't get into them anymore.  There are a couple though that the squirrels haven't yet gotten the better of, and they tend to remain filled a little longer.  That's good 'cause 20 pounds of seed doesn't last very long in my back yard!  I've been searching for the 40 pound bags on sale, but I can't get stocked up.  Every time I think I'm going to have one in reserve, I empty the previous one.  These fine feathered friends are greedy little buggers.


But, they are worth it.  I love sitting outside and watching them.  The last couple of days I've been watching them when a group of them are balanced on the telephone wire and a couple more add to the group.  It's sometimes a bit comical watching them try to balance with the swaying wire or shift of weight.  Every time I sit outside and watch the birds and squirrels, I feel so much more relaxed and calmer about life in general.  And if I close my eyes and just listen to the sounds, it's another level of treats for the senses.


My pretty blooming plants, the feathered friends, and the entertaining if irritating squirrels are part of my little backyard island of solitude where I can go to recharge my batteries and relax.