Birds in the Snow

First photo isn't of birds, but it is the feeder! This made me laugh. The squirrels knocked off the lid to the feeder and yet didn't discover it. Not even when there were two squirrels hanging on the squirrel baffler. It isn't supposed to be squirrel proof, just annoying enough so the squirrel need to work at it. Anyway, this day there were 5 of the critters in the lilac, waiting for seeds!!! We were really hoping one would crawl in, but it is probably best. Can't imagine trying to empty a bird feeder of an irate fat squirrel. 

Eventually, the fluffy tailed rodents left and the birds got their chance. I was inside taking photos, the porch had too much snow on it to hang around out there til birds were used to me. These are not near as curious as the ones in North Kenai. They are mostly gold finches, red finches, a few sparrows, and assorted juncos. Haven't seen a chickadee in years! 

This picture made me laugh, too. The little fairy figure is next to a cement border near daffodils. She's in the ground so her 'toes' touch the earth. At the moment, she's waist deep in the snow. By Monday, her head was covered. She eventually was unearthed when I assume a squirrel fell off the tube feeder into the deep soft snow. Later, when I looked, there was a hole in the snow near her and she was uncovered to about where she is now. I've a photo somewhere of a squirrel eating in the hole and will post it later. 

It has been a splendid moment in winter. Thankfully, the birds are still visiting and you can see the goldfinches are starting to get their summer feathers. Next year, I hope to participate in the 25th annual winter bird count. Right now, we'll just keep them fed and happy. 

In a Robin's Nest (photos by Jon)

The work of a robin isn't done til the fledglings take off on their own. By then, parents often have another set of young ones to take care of. And I thought raising two boys was crazy! 

These first two photos were taken May 28. The babies were barely hatched. You can kind of see little open beaks in the second picture. And mom is much less harassed looking! 

 This one was taken during a very hot evening, June 1, -about the time we had some thunderstorms. Mom's panting on the nest, protecting the little ones. Her nest is high in a lilac, but fairly exposed to the elements.

 Waiting to be fed. Jon shot all of these pictures this last weekend (June 7). The babies are larger now and about ready to fledge. They can jump from the nest about 13 days after hatching. The next week is the toughest. They can't fly well, need fed by the parents, and are at their most vulnerable. I'm afraid the neighbor cats are going to enjoy fledglings in a short while. We try to chase the cats away, but 24 hours a day in 10 or 15 (til they youngsters are strong flyers) is a lot of unseen hours for neighbor cats to wander by.

 It is almost like she's teaching them how to fly, but Jon really probably just caught the mom as she was getting ready to forage some more. Baby robins eat a lot and both parents feed them. A robin can make 100 trips to the nest to feed babies each day!!

 They are very well camouflaged in this lilac nest!

I got the information on robins NOT on my favorite All About Birds site, but on one about American Robins. If you follow the link, you can find even more fun facts. Also that if one does fall from the nest, before it is ready to jump, it can be put back carefully. I didn't realise "robins identify their babies the way we humans recognize ours-by sight and sound, not by smell. So if you can safely put the babies back in the nest, go ahead!"

Birthday and What Not-

Jon retrieved all the parts to Steve's birthday present and left dad to assemble it while he went off to work again. Steve said it wasn't too difficult to put together, in spite of having limited directions! Moses managed to hop up into it (he's getting older and it is harder for him to move.), so as thought, the cat is very pleased. Can't you tell? 

Steve likes it, too! I purchased it off of Amazon from Best Choice Products. I ordered the stand and the hammock. Steve said it is still needs some work to make it tighter, but otherwise, I think I chose well! 

Jon also tried it out. (he was after starlings and it didn't work quite as well as he'd hoped)

While out and about, I was in line at Walmart and the lady in front of me was a bit flustered. It appears everyone comes to Kenai and fishes during July. I think she said this is Captain Andy Hillstrand. While at Home Depot, I parked next to a truck with the ornament below on the hood. (The lady inside was sleeping, so I snagged a picture of it) 

I also discovered Tillamook ice cream is reaching out in flavors. I didn't get one, but I was definitely impressed! 

 I purchased suet cuz the young woodpeckers were searching all over for something easy to snack on. This wasn't up for long before a couple landed on the feeder. I think this juvenile was with a parent (on the other side).

This incident actually happened earlier in the day. I didn't want to start out with carnage, though! I was in my room and mom called me to say a big bird was on the pallets with a duck. I ran upstairs and managed to take this one very bad photo before using my binoculars and seeing the duck just might be still alive. I knew it was a grown duck, which means there would be some defenseless babies out there. I ran down to see if I could scare it off. I did. The predator lifted the adult duck like it was a mouse and sailed off into the trees. I am pretty sure it is a goshawk. Unfortunately, most bird books and photos are much better and don't show the topside of the bird. I downloaded a bird app from the Cornell Lab (birding institute), but it wasn't much help. You post the photo and then it chooses a bird. I was told this was an American Crow. When I searched on my own, I read the goshawk has a long tail, is fast, can take down larger prey, and plucks the birds it kills. 

 The pallet and water were covered in feathers. Definitely a plucking situation. I don't know which mom was taken, I'm sure the ducklings are gone now. I've not seen many out there on the water. It has been 24 hours and nature is not kind when it comes to trying to survive.

Steve was going to drive the Mercury to the parade for Caledonian Days. I won't get any photos since Jon is probably driving a different vehicle (the fire truck). Steve was wishing someone could drive the Land Cruiser, but two drivers and 3 rigs means one vehicle gets to stay home! The were planning to take the Mercury to DQ on Friday. If so, it will be the first time for Jon to ride in it! 

First Snowman!

Second snowfall, first snowman. We got quite a bit on Saturday night. Not even the Sunday paper arrived on time!

 I needed to clear so mum could get out to put seed in the feeders if she wanted. I realised it was much more efficient to make snowballs than shovel snow! So, I made a snowman. It took quite a while, he was close to my height.

 The poor dear had his head break twice. After a bit the snow wasn't quite as sticky. I persevered! I found one of dad's really aged hats in the shop (it reads Anchor Point!) and added rosehips for lips (they fell out rather quickly!). Since Jim had come by to chop down the trees, I had a lot of branches to choose from. I just snipped them until they looked arm like and he was good to go! I sprinkled seed on him before I went inside, the birds made him very festive!

The feeders were fairly full of snow. One of them, I just took it down. It is an open box and as it was still snowing, it was more efficient to move it. The little guys were working hard to get the suet. 

 

You can see how much snow we got--and this is after I tried to brush it off the vehicle! 

 Oddly, there are a couple of male mallards still hanging around. Not sure where they are swimming, but there are a few star shaped spots of weak ice on the lake.

 As the day waned, the sun came out and made it even more beautiful!!! I love this place and winter is truly a wonderful time of the year.

Things odd, strange, and wonderful!

This is sort of a hodge podge of pics. The first ones I took last night down at the Tesoro beach. The others were from a walk I took on the 4th, I think. 

 The colors were not stellar, yet it was still amazing. Alaskan gold!

 I found this rather large jelly while I was waiting for 7pm, when the sun really was set to drop into the mountains. I was surprised it was almost as big as my shoe. It was obvious it had been there a while!

Earlier Photos~

When I finally got around to taking the easement road to see where it came out, I found several VERY odd and strange things. Those words do not necessarily mean the same thing! When I reached a fork in the road, I found an airstrip I didn't know existed!!! There is also a for sale sign for a property off to the left--a stunning property on a lake. When I went back to mom's, I walked on the edge of the airstrip. It was faster-

 I was surprised to find this across the easement. You can tell not many people have been down this power line road recently. It was kind of disconcerting to go around it. There was a house and several broken down rigs (cement truck parts and other assorted mechanical debris) on the right side. On the left was a house that screamed 'BIG BARKING LOOSE DOGS'. Thankfully, I didn't disturb any as I passed. I did tiptoe as best I could!!!!

 Found this ultra cool use for rocks and poles. The rocks are in cylinders of chicken wire.

 I found a lake. Not a real surprise. This part of Alaska is dotted with lakes. This one is stocked, however. I heard a large splash and saw a good sized ripple after.

 Very intriguing set up in a birch tree. The tall slender parts seem at odds with the twisted one below.

 This is where I stopped to turn around and go back to mom's. It was getting kind of close to dinner and I had no idea how much longer it would take to get to Lamplight. Since I now knew where I was, I figured I didn't need to continue. I was pretty surprised to have the easement end up in someone's yard, but I wasn't going to try to find it again.

 This grouping of golden mushrooms made me laugh. They are camouflaged to look like the leaves!

 If you look at the very top of the photo, you will see the Pipeline Road. This beginning part of the easement is well maintained, for being an easement!! I had shared photos of this a few weeks back. This is about where I found the chain and the black ski cap in the trees.

 Not long after I got home, we found this lady in the yard. We assumed it was the mom with the calf. We were partially right. She was a mom, but this cow had TWO calves!

 They didn't hang out long, but they enjoyed their stay in the yard. I'm not sure there are many rosehips left!!

 Before the kids left, one of them was rubbing on the flag stuck in the tire. I guess the poor kid had an itchy cheek!!!!

Mom also had a two of these on the feeder. Everyone was coming to mom's yard for a snack!!!