Bald Eagle sighting

The Des Moines Register had pictures of Bald Eagles just south of Saylorville Lake this morning.  While I was driving to work this morning, saw a Bald Eagle flying over the bike trail near our home.  I figure being close to the river we will see quite a few.

A good day at the feeder (finally)

I'm not here during the day to see what's going on, but today I had some good activity despite the rain.  I've got the feeder in a small oak tree just outside my fence hoping to draw in from the woods (see photo of deer checking the feeder out).  This morning I had a Cardinal, a Chickadee and a Downy Woodpecker.

** On my way to the store, saw 3 Wild Turkeys in someone's driveway.  This house sits in the middle of 13 wooded acres. 

Little Buck

I guess we are seeing the whole family now.  This is our neighbor's yard.

I moved the bird feeder

Had in the yard but Russ was eating the seed.  Didn't want it in the front yard.  I wanted to draw birds in from the woods.

So, this morning I saw a Chickadee on the feeder who was quickly chased away by a squirrel who once again figured out he can't get at the seed.

"Our" deer paid a visit yesterday morning

 

 

We've been noticing them in the morning foraging around.  I've been waiting for some bird action at the feeder after I moved it to this oak tree but you can see they were checking out the treats.

I was fortunate enough to get a head-on shot.

Russ and I ran into them again last night behind our neighbors yard.

Sheriff Russ is sniffing up the wrong tree

He knows full well the squirrels have been in his yard.  He saw them from the window but wanted to verify a few things.

Cindy likes his profile in this photo.

Don't blink...I think I saw a mink...

And saw what I first thought was a squirrel in the distance.  But it seemed bigger and it was dark brown.  I think I saw my first wild mink.  They do climb trees and we are close enough to water for it to make sense.  I did not take this picture.

T Day Crew

Happy Thanksgiving

Bike trail that runs behind our house.

Future location for her senior picture?

Dean, Jon and Jake blaze a new trail.

We broke in the new digs with a nice Thanksgiving gathering.  Here are some photos from our walk on the trail…

Birds in the 'Hood

Birds I've seen in the backyard, in the woods behind the house and in the neighborhood: 

- Eastern Bluebird

- White Breasted Nuthatch

- Hairy Woodpecker 
- Downy Woodpecker

- Northern Flicker
- Great Crested Flycatcher (see other post)
- Black-Capped Chickadee
- American Goldfinch
- Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
- Bald Eagle
- Coopers Hawk
- Red-Tailed Hawk
- The usual suspects like Robins, Cardinals, Turkey Vultures...

Had the first annual block party yesterday

Took Russ up the street.  He was a big hit with kids and adults alike.  Met some nice people the neighborhood.

Started painting - first up...the kitchen

Saw two fawns this morning

Russ was barking and I came in to see what imaginary thing he had seen and we actually had some deer.  They looked toward the house while I was muzzling the hound.  They didn't seem too bothered by the noise.  Then they went into the woods on a trail we've seen them use before.

Everyone needs a good walking stick

Our window well (and just above it) seems to be a good place to hang out.

Russ and the owl

Russ was out last night around 9pm doing his business.  An owl swooped over the backyard low enough that he saw the silhouette and then it let out a hoot or two.  That was enough to spook him and he stayed away from the back fence.  The owl ended up in a tree but couldn't make out what type.  And I hadn't heard an owl sound like that so I'm still trying to figure out what it was.

View from the bike trail

This view is looking at the woods behind our house.  This trail goes along the Des Moines River.

View from our back window on Al's birthday

Cindy spotted the mom and by the time I got the camera and muzzled Russ, the baby came along.  Not a surprise for where we live, but a treat to enjoy.

On duty...

Another deer this morning

Saw a deer this morning when I was out with Russ.  He somehow misses these things.  It was a doe and she was craning her neck to eat some leaves off a tree branch and at one point raised up on her back legs to reach a branch.

What did you find Russ?

Russ noticed something in one of our window wells this morning.  Thought we had cornered a mouse.  But on closer inspection, he found a vole.  Either way he was on high alert.

Saw this on the bike trail near our house...

Had never seen this bird before.  He was on the trail just flapping in some dirt.  It's a Great Crested Flycatcher.  Usually spends time high in the trees.   I didn't take this photo.

Thanks for the flowers!

The previous owners left us some flowers in front of the house including these beautiful gladiolas.

Coyote sighting

We were told that we would "hear" coyotes in our new neighborhood but didn't expect to see one crossing the road before sundown.  That's what we experienced during the move.  Good thing Russ is bigger than they are...

Russ saw his first deer this morning

We were out this morning and I heard him bark and off ran a doe.  There is a new sheriff in town!
He saw deer at the other house, but not from his back yard.