Talkin' turkey

When it rains, it pours (figuratively...it's very dry now)...the same day I get a hawk picture I have a pair of Wild Turkeys at my back fence.  I'm thinking they like the acorns under my oak tree...

Community garden in the neighborhood park

The City of Des Moines has community garden space in Woodlawn Park which is on my dog-walking route.  Here is an ear of corn and a squash blossom (look closely for a bee in the center)…

 

Hawk at work

Saw this Red-tailed Hawk this morning.  Best I could do from the road through my windshield...

Monarch

Every summer I hope to not only see Monarch butterflies but to get pictures.  That's why over the years I have tried growing milkweed.  Now I just rely on my neighbor's flowers.  Here is what I saw yesterday...

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher update

I saw the pair yesterday and was able to get a few pictures.  The captures are not great but help with identification...



I saw a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers on my fence this evening

I saw this pair of birds and I was confused on what they were.  They appeared wren-like but the coloring was wrong.  I was seeing gray and white.  And I made note of a black tail.  My Birds of Iowa book didn't have this bird in it so after searching the internet, I am certain this is what I saw.

This is NOT my picture...

 

This was very exciting.  I was just talking to my neighbor who is a bird-watcher as well and telling her we get spoiled with what we see but I'm always hoping for more.  This evening, I was blessed with more.  I will be watching and will try to be ready with my camera.

 

(UPDATE)

I had forgotten about a post from 2012 that I thought I saw the same thing.  The birds I saw last evening seemed smaller than the one from 2012.   Click here to go to the 2012 post

Acorns aplenty

I don't recall acorns last year on my oak tree along the back fence but they are certainly there this year.  This Fox Squirrel is enjoying a snack...