I’m Still Birding

Truly my Back Forty is a piece of Heaven on Earth.  I’m still walking each evening and enjoying a whole wealth of birds and grass and goats.  It’s wonderful!

SOOC

I’ve seen several goldfinches, but they are not very good at following my instructions to wait while I can be on the proper side so the sun doesn’t wash them out.  Sit still is another one they have a hard time with.  I had to settle for this shot.  For now.

I’ve decided I need to change from winter bird food (dog food) to summer bird food: thistle seed, fresh oranges and who knows what else.  The finches and bluebirds will like it.

SOOC

Pretty sure I’ll attract some orioles too.  Two males came crashing into my window today.  One was a little shaken up.

SOOC

The other knocked himself silly.  Not quite unconscious, but right as I took this picture, he tried standing up and his leg fell through the deck.  I put the cat in the house and took the bird in the shade so he could catch his breath.

SOOC

Finally, he agreed to look really pretty before taking off.

Don’t know why these birds can’t get along.  The two red-bellied woodpeckers were being hostile to each other too.

Really.  I think it’s a guy territorial thing.

Linking to Bird d’Pot, SOOC Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday 2, Mandarin Orange Monday, and Weekend Reflections

The Best of Spring Random 5

1.  I have been walking every evening in the pasture, and I have so many pictures of great finds that I haven’t been able to post them all.  I might be a bit long on pictures, but it really has been the best week or so ever for spring pictures!  If I could, I would spend my entire day in the Back Forty taking pictures and enjoying nature.  Of course, my poor Reva thinks I should have a bottle with me the moment she sees me in the pasture.  It really vexes her to have to wait until later to get her bottle.

male bobolink

male bobolink

2.  Marley is a goofball.  I finally convinced my son to hold the big boys for me to trim their hooves by telling him they weren’t in rut (and not peeing on themselves).  I led Fionn out and hooked his collar to the fence and trimmed him without the boy even holding him.  Of course, part way through Marley comes over and started watching from the other side of the fence.  The I felt it.  Yep, he decided to go all dominant buck and spray.  After finishing Fionn, we tried to get Marley.  The naughty look sparkling in those eyes!  He decided to show Boeris how dominant he was.  Boys!  We never did catch him to trim his hooves, but he had fun bouncing around.

bluebird

bluebird pair

3.  I’ve been working diligently all week to revise my fantasy novel.  Then it goes in for round two of edits.  I’ve had a lot of good feedback from the first novel, Consent, but I really did rush the process.  I was afraid I’d chicken out if I didn’t keep pushing forward.  This one, I’m really enjoy the fantasy/romance genre.  I’m taking a lot more time with it, and I think the results will be even better.  Of course, it isn’t for young readers this time.  Since it’s a slower process and I still want to post occasionally on my author’s Facebook page (link in sidebar), I’ve been making quotes, you know, instead of revising.

cherry blossoms

apple blossoms

4.  For the first time, I found a morel mushroom in my pasture.  Actually, I found two!  I’m excited and hopefully I’ll get to try preparing them in some delicious manner.

morel mushroom

random bird’s nest

5.  The farmer’s market where I take my soaps begins on May 24th.  I’ve decided to turn some of my pictures from this spring into note cards.  I don’t know if I’ll have them for the first market, but I’m looking forward to adding them to my table and my virtual market.  I might do a series of blossoms, one of  birds and maybe even a series of cute mammals.  Of course, goat note cards are a given.

squirrel just hanging out at home

raccoon

I really am having a hard time getting anything productive done with all this spring beauty in the Back Forty.

Linking to Random 5 Friday, Nurture Photography, and Weekly Top Shot.

Owlets

After my walk in the pasture yesterday, seeing the great horned owl, I decided to walk again.  I thought I had seen the owl’s nest even before seeing the owl.  I hoped I’d be able to see the owl in the nest confirming it.

Well, I didn’t seen the owl in the nest, but I do think it’s their nest.  I’m glad they stayed close after losing their last nest.  I hadn’t walked the front hill for quite some time, so I thought I’d follow the fence.

I hoped to see other interesting birds or maybe even a deer.  I did find a shy little thirteen-lined ground squirrel.

There was a downey woodpecker and a blue jay.

I don’t know what this lady is. (Hint, Texwisgirl)

Then I heard one quick quiet whooo before two little heads popped up directly in front of me.

Okay, they aren’t little even though they are still young and not fully feathered.

They listened to mom or dad’s warning, and the first one flew up to the nearby tree branch.

Soon the second one followed.

I am blessed to be surrounded by such beautiful creatures.

Linking to Friday’s Fences,  Farmgirl Friday, From the Farm Blog Hop and Camera Critters.