Geese enjoy the warmer weather.

Female on left, busy eating.

The Male is ever vigilant, on guard at all times.

We flew to Florida just as 22 inches of snow arrived in NH.

An afternoon stop at Cocoa Beach.

We spent a relaxing week taking in the beautiful weather and tropical fauna.
Glad we weren't home in New Hampshire with heavy snow creating power outages.
We only lost three large oak limbs in our yard.

You can't always stop......to take a picture!

I have to thank Kim over at kitchenwindowbirder.blogspot.com for posting this picture on her web site. I have wanted to pull the car over on the highway every morning and take a similar picture of 5 or 6 turkey vultures who roost in the tops of trees standing in a swamp. The State Police frown on that. I tried to think of some hair brained emergency that would allow me to pull up next to the guardrail so I could snap a few pictures but nothing came to mind.

I'm guessing they were hunkered down looking dejected waiting for the rain to stop and the sun to shine just like the rest of us.

Cats like to hang out too......on the porch!

Welcome to the porch!
We've made the decision to have in-door cats.
There is just too much traffic.

Orion and Stella watch the squirrels race around the yard.
Buddy has his spot too!

The squirrels love to take peanuts from the pitcher. I just couldn't part with the pitcher after I broke the bottom out of it. I seems to keep the peanuts well.

Is he dancing for the cats?

A Male & Female cardinal visit the feeding station.

She is in the shade by the blue pitcher.

It's been a while, I know. Spring teased us with some nice warm weather in early March but has gone back to what we should expect. We have seen rain and sleet and flooding rivers. It's been cold and gray. Nothing seemed to charm me out to take pictures.
Out my window at work I see the ski trails on Mount Sunapee in the distance. Taunting me all winter to get out and enjoy the snow. I missed skiing this winter. For me the ski conditions have to be stellar. And this year we had a lot less snow and more "boiler plate" aka: ice.

(click on the photo to see the geese.)


I've tried to be patient. It's just so hard!
So I tried something new to distract me.

Having been inspired by my latest read Banana Heart Summer; the author is constantly describing food from her naive Philippines and the hunger of those without, I have been dabbling in cooking. Recipes, cookbooks and websites & magazines about food can get me excited.
I've always liked to bake. Bread, pie, cake, cookies, etc. But meals have always been a struggle for me. I've always said I hate to cook but I think I've found that I just don't like to coordinate a meal. I'm certain the neighbors could hear me cursing over the baked chops, rice and steamed veggies I attempted to make Tuesday. Nothing seemed to come out right, but they ate it.
Last night was different. I had fun making beef burgundy with bacon & onion dumplings. The day before it was chicken & broccoli Alfredo over penne and last Saturday chicken enchiladas. I guess I'm a one-pot cook. It's tax season and I'm trying to pick up the slack in the kitchen while my accountant husband works 16 hour days helping people with their taxes. He likes to cook and always makes it look so easy.
I'm trying my best to have fun while I experiment.

Silk Farm walk about

I took a hike at our local Audubon Center on Saturday.
I just needed to get out and enjoy the sun.

Waiting for it's summer resident blue birds to return.

The sun was warm on my back and the shadows stretched out across the field
as it moved lower in the sky.

At the bottom of this large white pine were the remains of some squirrel's lunch. I wonder just how many pine cones there were when he started?

It may be hard to see unless you click on the picture for a larger view; this maple leaf is frozen in the ice. There was a unique ice dam where the ground water had frozen and thawed and made a wonderful icy cascade as it was trying to reach Turkey pond.

Beach : Part 2

It was low tide at 5:40pm.

The gulls were very busy "clamming".

The water was warm and oh so relaxing.

Day Trip to Crane Beach : Ipswich Massachusetts

We arrived at the reserve at about 3:30 so it only cost $7.50 instead of $15 to enter.

There are mile of trails to hike.
The dunes were wonderful and only the sounds were of what looked to be swallows swooping overhead.
Yes, Bank Swallows; they dig into the side sand dunes to nest.
The trails lead in and out of wooded areas and eventually down to the ocean.

I spotted this fellow on the wire.
To our amazement he didn't fly...didn't flinch.

We guessed he was people watching.
(Birder pay-back?)

I'll leave you here and show you the beach tomorrow.

Favorite little path.

This is where I enjoy a quick morning walk.
Our neighbor mows this path through his woods.

It's not too long and there are several paths to mix it up.
The birds flit about and chirp a morning welcome.

Neighbors walk their dogs here
and deer and turkeys have also visited.

I enjoy walking but really only when my feet are falling on soft earth.
I dislike paved roads, sidewalks and concrete malls.
I'll take the woods with it's bug any-day.

Owl Print

A wayward owl flew into an Orem Library window during a snow storm on April 17th.
My brother who lives in Utah emailed this incredible photo from the local paper.
See the Daily Herald for the full story.

Our Phoebe has returned

I heard the phoebe this early this week. Up in the Maple tree I saw it perched dipping it's tail . This week I welcome the sound, next week I'll have had enough. Non-Stop "fee-bee, fee-b-be-bee; fee-bee, fee-b-be-bee; fee-bee, fee-b-be-bee".
I didn't hear the Phoebe this morning as I fed the chickens and thought it was weird. Soon I found out why. It had gotten it's self into the shed and couldn't figure out how to get out and was banging against the windows trying to escape. I opened the large shed doors and slowly moved toward the phoebe. It saw the new opening and quickly flitted out and up into the Maple tree.

Click this link to see and hear the phoebe:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Phoebe/lifehistory

HEAVY FOG

This is 10am on the Contoocook river. The water is high and there is bird activity. I could hear the geese flying overhead but couldn't really see them. I was very surprised I caught one in the picture.

I accidentally flushed out two ducks that were in the shallows.

A Great Blue Heron lazily flapped through and into the swamp.
Just a few small chunks of ice float past.

I have proof!! Red Bellied visits again.

Now that I know this woodpecker is around I've noticed his call and quick hammer sounds when I'm out in the yard. So I waited and waited and finally with camera in hand and window cracked open I was successful in getting his picture.
He investigate the suet but seemed more interested in the bugs that may be in the tree. I'm still just thrilled to have a new bird in the neighborhood.

Downy and Hairy

These two look similar but different sizes. The Downy on the left is smaller (5-7") and has a small thin beak. the Hairy is 7-10" and the bill is as long as his head. They were very busy at the feeders.

Activity in the woods

The work of a Pileated Woodpecker in the hemlock.

Some creature has wondered through.