Turkey Vultures

A common sight circling in the sky.  One of my favorite birds to watch in flight (along with Barn Swallows and American Goldfinch).  Maddy and Jake call them "lazy birds" because they don't flap their wings very often.

Not the clearest pictures, but unusual to see sitting on a house and certainly noticeable.

 

Toad or frog

Not sure what I have here.  I think they like that my neighbor waters his lawn.

Vole Patrol

Russ sniffed out another vole (or the same one again).  Cindy called me and said we've got another one.  For some reason they don't like me coming up at them with a gardening tool and a coffee can.

Here it is...

Sad but fortunate

I saw this nest in my neighbor's yard and thought "wow that's a small nest".  I went back because something told me it's a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird nest.  Jake loves hummingbirds so I picked it up (with a glove) and took these photos.  I did save it for Jake to show him.

The construction is fascinating and cool to see the materials.  And amazing to think they are doing without tools or hands.

Here it is in the yard...

 

 

Here are two close ups from the top...

 

 

 

A close up showing the bottom...

 

 

And here is a size comparison...

 

New storyline to follow (Robins)

Since my milkweed are struggling this year, I have been looking for a new storyline to follow.

Well I've got one.  Robins have made a nest in the tree next to the driveway and have decided to "go out on a limb" and build it at roughly my eye level.  I see the mother every morning when I open the garage door.  If I hold the camera above my head, I can see down into the nest so stay tuned for pictures of baby Robins.

Here is the tree.  The nest is right above the sign.

 

Here are two views of the nest...

 

 

 

 

And here is mama and she's probably not happy (with me)...

 

Vole hole

Russ found another vole (or the same one again).  Same window well.  We've noticed a hole in the screen and now I know why.  Actually there were many holes/slits in the screen because that's how I chased this little guy out.

Not knee high by the Fourth of July

As I've posted before, my milkweed are not as high as a normal plant.  I'm hoping by thinning the plants out that they take root and have a better Year Two.

But there is improvement after thinning the plants.  They are still growing.

 

These are some plants I planted more into the woods.

 

Here is a "bonus bunny".  I think Russ missed him against the rocks.