.
It’s that time of year.
.
.
The time of year when our backyard looks like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock film.
.
.
Large flocks of starlings, grackles and red winged blackbirds have landed and they strip our feeders in no time flat.
.
.
It’s impossible to keep them full this time of year, and sometimes? I fear reprisal.
😳
.
.
We have a young Coopers hawk who enjoys using our backyard bird feeders as a training ground for hunting. He’s not very adept at capture yet, but he sure does give it the old college try.
.
.
He also drives Lord Dudley Mountcatten completely insane. The poor feline is confused. It’s a bird, so he’s fascinated. But it’s a predator, so he’s scared.
.
.
It’s only a matter of time before blood and feathers will be scattered on the ground.
.
.
And while that’s hard to take….
.
.
Hawks really are beautiful creatures.
.
.
And deserve to eat just like the rest of us.
.
.
As I said, my crazy calendar hasn’t been nearly crazy enough to suit me, but here are a few more tidbits from March.
.
.
I see nothing wrong with this abnormality. Heck… it would saved me quite a few miserable nights when I was a foolish teenager who over indulged on T J Swan wine.
.
.
Comparison of drawing to actual rabbit?
.
.
They nailed the ears, but otherwise it looks like a bloated tick with whiskers.
.
.
This is very true…. and if I could find my backyard video when I literally bumped into a skunk, I’d prove it. They really do look like little gymnasts when they’re pissed.
.
.
Comparison of drawing to actual skunk?
.
.
The tail is too small, the head is too big and we still have the bloated tick issue.
.
.
Every morning for the past week I’ve woken up to honking. Not inner city traffic and pissed off commuters, but honking all the same.
.
.
Canada geese are on their way north, and the river behind our house is a veritable goose super highway. No need for an alarm clock when these fellows are overhead…. they’re loud!
.
.
Large groups and small, for the first hour after dawn the sky is full of travelers.
.
.
A raucous and sure sign spring is on the way.
.
.
❤️
.
.
Saturday afternoon, the deer and the snow showed up at the same time.
.
.
Our two little bowls of sweet grain don’t last long with a herd of 13 and there’s always a good deal of jostling for position. This includes outright kicking.
.
.
It’s hard to tell, but our buck has finally lost part of his rack.
.
.
And as the alpha male he usually gets a bowl to himself.
.
.
For your viewing pleasure, deer tv.
.
.
.
And we’re blending..
.
.
This time of year deer camouflage comes in handy.
.
.
Of course our backyard is covered in snow one day and melts the next, so what do they know?
.
.
But they enjoyed the green grass while it was here.
.
.
.
The son of our previously in residence big buck seems to have taken over the old guy’s backyard territory.
.
.
He’s a nice looking fellow and brings his herd of 8 to munch every night.
.
.
Four does and four young’ uns jostle for bowl position while the big guy always claims his own.
.
.
Yes.
I’m talking about you.
.
.
We all know squirrels are dedicated acrobats, pilfering seed from feeders upside down and while hanging from one foot. But the other day I found myself being impressed with their balance.
.
.
This little guy was sitting straight up… on a bent branch of our crabapple tree… in high wind.
.
.
It was cold, and his little front feet were tucked in.
.
.
But his back trotters were gripping for all they were worth.
.
.
Bravo little guy.
.
.
It’s looks like I’m not the only one laying on some winter poundage.
.
.
I don’t know why, but this year?
.
.
Our backyard squirrels are positive porkers .
.
.
Look at this guy…
.
.
If that’s not the definition of chonk…
I don’t know what is.
.
.
Our resident juvenile red tail hawk dropped by the other day.
.
.
He uses our backyard bird feeders as a training ground for hunting, but that afternoon he was perfectly happy hanging out on the back deck railing.
.
.
Until he spied Lord Dudley Mountcatten stalking him from the window behind the couch.
.
.
Then it was bye bye birdie…
.
River's world..... 