Impromptu

Today I did not intend to post anything here. There were no stories or thoughts to write until I took a good look at the new oak leaves. So here I am with whatever. The first oak leaves, to me, means spring is racing towards summer. It’s definite.

I worked/played in the yard this evening thinking I should start building a pile of stuff to take to West Virginia with me. Bring out the suitcases, at least. Heck, I still need to shop for appropriate and professional birding apparel. That notion makes me laugh! A week from Sunday I’ll be leaving for the New River Birding & Nature Festival and I’m feeling some jitters. It’s too exciting to think about meeting more than a dozen people I know so well but have never seen eye to eye or held close to me. Have I lost my mind? I feel like a post-menopausal student leaving home for the first time, off to college… Wish me luck. ;-)

Here at my little wildlife habitat, I do a lot for the birds who visit but I think perhaps the greatest gift I have for them is the pond. They can survive without my all-you-can-eat buffet but they need the water.

Robin is checking it out, testing the water. I remember taking these photos with a cell phone on my ear. How'd I do that?

I enjoy watching birds bathe more than anything. Rocks are placed strategically at the water’s surface to make it easy for them.

I rarely get close enough for photographs. When flocks of Cedar Waxwings arrive, it's breathtaking, stunning, surreal.

Isn’t that wonderful?

Those Brown Thrashers would never let me see them at the pond.

Modest? Maybe.

Prefers a dust bath, as far away from me as possible. See the left eye?

Last week I saw the first lilypad.

These guys will keep the tadpole population under control. No doubt about it.