Checking out the Yard

I thought it might be nice to give the lay of the land.

This is our front yard

It isn't any fun to mow but the squirrels love the trees.

I really like the daffodils!

Hey, I'm glad you could join me Connor.  I like the daffodils as well.

This is the empty lot to the east of us

We see lots of rabbits and birds over here.

I bet there are some snakes there, too.

Connor really loves snakes.

This is the view to the west

Lots of birds and critters like to congregate on the hill.  There are lots of trees and open space.  By the way, that church, Trinity Lutheran, is where I work.

Finally, this is the back yard

The yard is fenced in and that is our detached garage.  The bird feeder is in the fore to the left.  It's been cool and wet lately and we've seen a lot of critters just in one day.  We've been taking pictures through the back window so the birds don't get scared off which is why you will see a screen.

The grackles were the first to discover the feeder

They kind of remind me of a biker gang because the other birds don't hang around too long when more than a few of these toughs show up.

Still, they can't keep everyone away

I was really pleased to get this picture of our cardinal on the feeder.  He flew away about a second later but was back later in the afternoon.

Here is the inspiration for our journal

I just love that little flash of red.  We'd never seen a bird like this before and the excitement of discovering it is a Northern Flicker really motivated us to start taking steps to invite new birds and critters into the yard.

I named him V-Neck.

Well, that certainly fits though I don't want him (or her -- we can't tell) to be confused with a t-shirt.

We also had an earth-bound visitor

I wasn't sure how the rabbit made it past the fence.  Dad told me that they could squeeze through tight spaces but I wasn't sure.  I went outside to check things out and he ran right through the space in the gate and didn't even slow down.  I guess dad was right.

That was pretty good for one day of looking out the back window.  Let's hope the days ahead are just as good.

Goodbye animals and friends!