Sunday, March 4, 2012

Signs of Spring

Even though we are seeing signs of Spring, many of our Winter regulars are still hanging around, much to our enjoyment. Three types of ducks are still hanging out on the pond, including a first time visitor. This week's offering also includes a variety of flora. Enjoy.

Every Texan has eyes trained to scan fields in early March for tell-tale spears of bluebonnets. I spied a few on our land, and am excited about the promise of a bumper crop coming.

The Lady Banks Rose is showing signs that there is yet life in the old girl!

The Vinca Major survived last summer's dearth of rain, and is showing a few early blooms.

Pretty convinced this church-going squirrel is a Baptist, as he insists on eating every time he comes to the chapel!

The American Goldfinches have been missing the last few days at the office, but I have had a few show up at the house.

This is the female Lesser Goldfinch.

I've kept the sock and tube full of thistle, and they've been emptying them regularly.

Not unusual to have four birds on this feeder at once.

That black above his beak will cover his forehead, and that back will be solid yellow.

The Yellow-rumped Warbler is hanging in there at the office.

And Saturday morning I spied my first one at the house.

The male and female House Finch on the deck at the office.

House Finch

The Spotted Towhee continues to be elusive. He just likes to stay in the underbrush, so to get a shot I have to do a 'stake-out'!

The Spotted Towhee is a winter visitor that I expect to be gone before long.

The peach trees have dropped their blooms. But before they were done, I noticed the bees were working them pretty good one day, so I decided to see if I could get a pic. Amazing creatures that benefit us in many ways.

If you ever see a little bird that just spends all his time 'creeping' up the tree trunk and then starts over at the bottom, that is a Creeper. It's a little blurry, but my best shot so far.

Our pound puppy Mirabelle enjoying a nap in our lush yard, (compliments of the God of nature, and Him alone!)

This sunny Sunday afternoon, two Gadwalls cruising by a pile of Red-ear turtles sunning on the bank.

The Ringneck ducks that continue to grace our pond.

The male Ringneck found the floating board, and enjoys preening himself there.

An early morning light on the pond, and the male Ringneck.

The Red-winged Blackbirds are still enjoying my feed on the deck. This is an immature male. I know, I know!

The Carolina Chickadee, always present.

Welcome our first-time visitor to the pond, the Hooded Merganser. This is the look after he comes up out of the water, with his 'do' slicked down.

When dried off, that head of feathers is all puffy, and something to behold.


As you can see here, the female's puff is even bigger, just not as brightly marked. These two provided us with a lot of viewing pleasure.

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