Father's Day Bike Ride

We went out the day before Father's Day.  Thought we would go past the pond and ride down to the river (by the old Target on Euclid).  The map shows where we start in a parking lot and the "x" marks where we rode to.

Facing West toward Plaza Lanes

Click to enlarge

Working the night shift

Russ knows something is going on around the deck.  Just hasn't found anything yet.

Memorial Day walk

Down on the trail again.  I was watching for the Indigo Bunting I had seen a few week earlier.  This is the best photo I could get.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (from what I can tell)

So I was out with Russ and had my camera (you never know what you'll see).  Saw a bird I did not recognize (not even from a book).  I got fairly close (as you'll see).  Looked through my Iowa bird book and nothing.  So I Googled "gray and white bird" and then checked Images.  I'll let you decide, but I believe I saw a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.  They do live in Iowa.  I am including pictures I took and then also including photos from BirdsofIowa.com Click here to see page from this website.



Same as above but just blown up.

Click to enlarge any photo.

And here are the photos from the website I found...

Russ and Al on the trail

While on the trail, saw my very first Indigo Bunting.  This is not a photo I took...

Goldfinches on the feeder

 I've got a "sock" hanging in the oak tree just beyond our fence.  I was testing out our new camera and trying to get as close as possible.  I've been fortunate to get some decent photos including both a male and female feeding.

Same photo just blown up.

Male and Female

Got 'em both.

A little better.

Why did the (wild) turkey cross the road?

Apparently to get to the other side.  We were out with Russ yesterday morning and were down by our community mailbox and saw two wild turkeys walking (strutting?) across the street.  Didn't seem fazed by us or Russ.  Last we saw they were walking into another backyard on our street.  Wished I would've had our camera.  What was funny were the wet footprints they left on the pavement.