It's that time of year

I hadn't mowed in awhile and we had quite a bit of rain.  I got out yesterday with the push mower (I mean push like in no power) and saw two different types of frogs and a toad.  I'm sure they like the grass a little taller. This shows the variety of wildlife we have around here.  I've tried to identify them before...here is my attempt (Jon, feel free to help me)…

Boreal chorus frog



Pickerel frog



Some type of toad

Fawn fun

I was sitting in the bedroom where we keep the blinds open and movement caught my eye.  I looked up and saw four fawns just behind our fence.  I successfully diverted Russ and told Cindy to come look.  Here are two video clips to show what we saw (it's been awhile since we've seen fawns)…



 

 

Early bird

I saw this baby Robin (young Robin) on the ground under the tree that has the nest.  I was worried about its survival.  I did read that if they have feathers...leave them be.  It is a little ahead of schedule leaving the nest.

So here it is under the tree...



Here it is about 20 feet away by my gate a day later and after surviving heavy rain...

And here it is at my back fence line and then on the edge of the woods...

 

I will say that it could flap its wings and move.



And here is where it should be...

 

 

Bonus video of the nest before all of this happened...

 



American Robin nest again this year

This one is not quite as low at the previous nest I documented.  But I can get these shots without a ladder.  The branches do a good job of protecting the view.  I generally don't get too excited about Robins because they are so common, but it gives me an opportunity to watch activity up close.

The waiting is the hardest part...

We could use some squirrel pictures

The month of May was a rough one for our family.  Posting didn't seem important.  I was looking back and found these Fox Squirrel photos from late April and thought we're overdue for some squirrel photos.  The second one is a youngster...

Additions to the front yard

We added two hanging baskets out front.  Went with Calibrochoa again...this time red.  The yellow flower is called Gazania.  These were given to us by a neighbor.

We were going to hang chimes off our porch but ended up hanging them where I've had a feeder before.  These are beautiful chimes with a verse about mothers in heaven given to Cindy by a good friend of Amy's.  And I hung Ruth's finch feeder next to it.

We also got a new lighted cross.

Cleaning up after the birds

This post is just catching up on some bird pictures from the last few weeks including a female Robin sitting on a nest in our front yard (roughly eye level).

First up, the elusive Eastern Bluebird.  I don't see often but they are around and I keep trying to get better pics...

 

Here is an American Goldfinch in my yard...

 

 

 

I hear Red-winged Blackbirds in the neighborhood.  I spotted this one in Adel while picking Russ up at the groomer...

 



 

And here's the mama American Robin...