Spring has Sprung

Well sorta, in about three weeks most of the bulb type flowers should start popping up.  This from past experiences/observations of when the Robins, Cedar Waxwings, and Grackles return from their winter feeding grounds.

The neighbors crabapple is preferred over ours, once they pick it the birds will start in on our tree.

Some of the Robins are looking a little rough around the edges, this one was healthy looking.

Grackles are pairing up already, not surprised.

Swan Dance

Bjorkboda Marsh, Hamilton County, Iowa.

Crows

Crows, they were going after the Cooper's Hawk that had been sitting atop the light pole a few minutes earlier.

Thistle and Bumble Bee

I've been enjoying watching the butterflies, bees, bugs of all types, gold finches, and hummingbirds hang out in the thistle this summer.  This year it came up right outside my kitchen window, in the east garden, and is currently over 12 feet tall.  Luckily some of the blossoms were down low making it easier to snap photos.  The hummingbirds had a nest in it this year so I was able to watch the mamma and pappa bird tend to their baby until it fledged earlier this week.

Trumpeter Swans

Crabapple Feast

These little piggies, I mean Robins, are gorging themselves on the crabapples that have hit the ground.  There were something in the range of 250-300 Robins that descended upon our neighborhood stripping all of the crabapples and hackberries from the trees.  The Robins fought with Cedar Waxwings for the crabapples.

Birds on a Wire

Bird Nest

Found on the lower branch of a pear tree that was low enough to the ground to be swallowed up by native grasses.