The case for dandelions (it's not about bees)

We don't treat our yard for dandelions.  We would rather not expose our dog to chemicals and I've learned that dandelions are important early in the year for honey bees.  And over the years, I've noticed that finches and Chipping Sparrows like to eat the tops off the ones that have gone to seed.

This year has been no different and we've had the addition of American Goldfinch in my back yard...

 

 

 

The excitement this past week though was having Indigo Buntings in my backyard eating the seeds while sharing space with our state bird the American Goldfinch.  Below is a snippet from my blog listing photos I wanted to take and you'll see Indigo Buntings closer was a goal.  The pictures aren't the best but I didn't have to leave my house so I consider myself lucky.  I've even included a short video clip:

 

 

Two for the price of one...

 

And a video clip just because...

 

 

 

 

Just Another Day in the Neighborhood...

I was looking out the back window late yesterday afternoon and saw these two White-tail bucks going at it.  There were some does over a bit while this was going on.  Russ was safely in the other room so I quickly grabbed the camera and started shooting.  It's pretty wild to see in person especially in our back yard...



Been busy with bucks

About a week ago, I was on the phone and looking out the window when I spotted this young buck.  I took some pictures and then some video and of course right when I shut off the video, it jumps our fence and is in our back yard.  So I picked it up from there getting a few more pics and some video including it deciding the grass was greener in my neighbor's yard...

 

 

Here was Russ inside (just kidding)…

 

Here it is jumping the fence...

 

 

And then last night, I put my trail camera out and the first image was a procession of three bucks just after midnight.  Pretty impressive.

 

 

A doe for good measure.

Hawk Rescue

Cindy and I were driving home today when something hit our car out of nowhere.  We knew there was nothing in the road to avoid.  After the impact, I saw the oncoming car swerve a bit.  Looking in the rearview mirror I saw something brown and white tumbling off to the side of the road.

I took Cindy and Russ home.  I didn't see any damage to my car.  I drove back to see what I hit and what condition it was in.  Walking up to that area, I saw this Cooper's Hawk...

 

 

 

I could see movement and the hawk was upright so I thought it had a chance. I texted Cindy what was going on and she called the Dept of Natural Resources.  They referred us to a local volunteer group that rescues/rehabs wild birds.  I connected with someone and told her the location.  She texted me "got it" and sent me two pictures...

 

 

Looking back, if my window had been down, I may have had a visitor in the car.  Kudos to these awesome volunteers.  We got an update saying it had a swollen right eye and likely a concussion.  She will start it on pain meds and fluids before further examinations.  She said too soon to tell how it will do.  Likely going to SOAR, the raptor hospital tomorrow.

 

Here is a link to SOAR.  There is a link for "patients" so maybe we can track progress...

Click here for SOAR

And finally a little video...



Bike ride Sunday

Jake got a new bike and Steve wanted to get out on the trails with him and invited me along yesterday.  I didn't ride my 1974 Schwinn Continental because I wanted a softer seat and higher handlebars...glad I took the bike Cindy's been riding.

We loaded the bikes up in Steve's truck and cast off from NW 66th on the Neil Smith Trail heading north to Saylorville.  We ended up past the dam and then turned back.  A very nice trail.  A few hills but fun to ride through the woods and get glimpses of the river and then seeing Saylorville lake.

First time I've seen a deer in our yard

When we first moved in, the owners had mentioned deer in the yard but I always felt with a fenced yard, deer wouldn't find it necessary to come in my yard.  Recently I witnessed a deer jump over the back fence into my neighbor's yard but I reasoned they have multiple bird feeders and that was the draw.

I got a text from my neighbor this evening saying "you have a visitor in your backyard" along with this photo...

 

So I moved quickly to the back bedroom careful not to alert Russ (too late) and grabbed my camera only to see this young buck in our yard.  If we didn't have a fence, this would not be as big a deal.

 

 

Here is video of the exit.  I'm guessing it was easier jumping into our yard than jumping out but it cleared just fine...

 





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...

 



What did I see today?

I never know what I'll see when I look in the woods.  Most days nothing.  Some days coyotes.  Today I saw wings flapping and I could tell our resident Turkey Vultures were looking for something.  I know they are nesting on the edge of the woods facing the pond.  It seems to be a staging area for quite a few.  I don't usually see them fly through the woods but today I saw four vultures lighting on the ground and on logs.  As I was taking these pictures, they got bothered and flew away.  Ugly birds but impressive wings and wingspans.

Here's what I captured...

 

Here's a video clip you can only see ON the blog...

 

And then I took Russ out and as I usually do walked to the top of the hill and as I usually do was carrying my camera with me and saw these ladies.  It was sunny so pretty clear shots and you can see them leaving bothered by my presence...

Video of the coyote yesterday

(Ruth, you won't be able to see this in the e-mail you receive...it's viewable on my blog only)

This was yesterday morning just before 8am.  Feel free to mute Russ...



American Goldfinch feeding (but not at a feeder)

I've seen as many as five or six Goldfinch at a time feeding next door.  My neighbors on the other side have put out feeders so when you combine that with the natural selection shown here, it has been fun watching them.  These pictures taken at maybe at 5pm.

 

 

And now, an experiment.  I will include a short video here.  If you are reading this on an e-mail, it may not play but it should work on my actual blog.