Thanks for leaving your comments on my posts--I've been reading them, but haven't had time to respond. I used to be able to do that at work early in the morning, but now just working 4 hours, I have to actually "work" while I'm there to stay caught up. I hope you all understand. I'm hoping things will get better in June once the migration activity has slowed down a bit.
Today I had to work an afternoon shift to accomodate a meeting that had been scheduled (I was "strongly encouraged" to adjust my schedule in order to attend). It was nice to have a relaxed morning at home and for the first time this spring, I got to sit out on the deck with my coffee and knitting and enjoy the backyard bird serenades. And if I hadn't been home this morning, I would have never seen this........
Woo-Hoo!! Indigo Buntings are back in my yard!I just love these brilliantly blue little birdies!
The Goldfinches are singing like crazy too, and I couldn't resist taking a picture of this gorgeous little guy.......
and his sweet little mate on the next branch.
My Baltimore Orioles just got back this past Wednesday also. I was going to try and get a little movie this morning so you could hear how loud he sings in the crabapple tree right by the deck, but he kept hiding on the other side of the tree and I couldn't get a good view of him. But I guess there's plenty of time left this spring.
It's raining right now and I'm hoping it stops in time for our Master Naturalist field trip tomorrow. We're spending the entire day at the Nerstrand Big Woods State Park. I can hardly wait--it's going to be overcast with high temps only in the 50's, but I'm still anticipating that we'll get a chance to see some warblers and other migrating spring birds. Here's an excerpt from an e-mail our instructor sent out this afternoon, "The wildflowers will potentially be spectacular, so bring a camera, a notebook, personal field guides, cool gadgets like Ruth’s iPod bird id gizmo, etc.," I had to chuckle when I read that--he's referring to my birdJam which I've been taking to class every week. I don't really consider myself a "hard-core" birder, but in our class there's only a couple other people who appear to be bird-watchers, so I guess that makes me practically an "expert." I'm hoping to use my birdJam to maybe call in some birds for classmates to get a closer look at--it worked really great with the Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher my sissy and I saw last weekend. (Oh yeah, I've got a shopping bag full of field guides that I'll be toting along to share with classmates too!)
I hope you all have a good weekend and a chance to get outdoors and enjoy spring now that it's finally arrived.
20 comments:
the colors are so vibrant they do not even look like real photos! amazing! I don;t think I've ever seen an indigo bunting, though, I know a girl who is named after them!
Ruthie- I'm tired just READING about your schedule! I'm just so excited to hear about you Master Naturalist class. It sounds so fun.
Well, I guess it's better to be busy than not. Right?
Hope you can get caught up soon.
Hi Dana,
When you see an Indigo Bunting in the sun it's like a bright blue light. They are truly amazing birds.
Hi Lynne,
I'm sitting here yawning and telling myself to go to bed! My last Master Naturalist class is June 3rd and I should be able to get caught up (hopefully!) after that.
Oh gosh, Donna, I don't even remember what "not busy" feels like! But thank God, I have my health and all my faculties and can cope with this crazy schedule--the alternative is not even worth thinking about.
Gorgeous visitors you had that morning! Hope you get that video of the Oriole :) That would be fantastic to see!
Love the buntings.
Have a great weekend Ruthie.
Great shots of the Indigo Bunting Ruthie! You sound so busy, but it's a fulfilling kind of busy. Have fun on your walk today.
Yay! I saw my first Indigo Bunting on Thursday here. No Rose-breasted grosbeaks yet though, and I'll get no Orioles, so I'll enjoy yours Ruthie. :c)
Ruthie,
You are so well suited for the master naturalist class. I'm proud of you! The birds at your house are great - much nicer than the brood I have. Our trees are all leafed out - like July! I see you are all much behind.
I hope your job is a good one. Relax when you can. I'm trying, too. I don't think I'll ever catch up with blog reading - ever again.
Mary
Those indigo buntings are so beautiful! I keep hoping one will show up at my feeder along with the goldfinches and purple finches.
Indigo buntings in Minnesota? I had no idea! I'd have spent more time outdoors when we lived there.
Mary F is right--trees are completely leafed out and it's 87 here in NC today. The birds are lined up at our birdbath with their little towels and flipflops.
Wow - what wonderful pictures! I can't get that good of a close-up with my camera. We have indigo buntings and goldfinch at our feeder, also. I haven't seen the oriole yet; it usually passes by this time of year, comes to the feeder briefly, then we don't see it for the rest of the year.
So as not to confuse you with a hard-core birder, as far as that goes, I guess a person could say that you're a bird expert, so as to keep things straight!! LOLOLOL
I hear you have quite a reputation as a birder in SE MN. Thanks for taking a few hours out of your busy schedule to go birding with ME!! :) I had a great time and met some new birds too.
Your (not as busy as you) Sissy
I sure like the pics of the birds, that close-up of the bunting is so spectacular. "My" girls are both so busy if I still worked and did hobbies now, I'd be dead. I do still bird watch and I still miss the woodcocks on our yard. When we trimmed up all our trees for mowing I lost all their hiding and nesting places, even got rid of the brush piles, that didn't have a good effect either. Keep your blogs coming, I read them all.
MOM
Happy Mother's Day Ruthie! (your a mother to your furr-babies) Sounds like you're keeping busy, but all of it, well except for work, sounds like a good time. I hope the rain cleared off for your field trip. Lovely pictures!
Howdee Ruthie,
You are one busy lady..I dont work...or have any schedule and I have a hard time keeping up with responding to comments, updating my blog and reading all the blogs I love here in Bloggyland.
And this being a very birdie time of year...well
There are priorities right?
Dont worry about not replying...understood! I do it because..well I have xtra time..if I didnt...well in the past I just sent out one general thank you for commenting..and if anyone had questions would answer those.
So Glad you have your Indigo bunting...I love those bright blue birdies!
Thanks Red (like your new profile pic!)
Thanks Gaelyn. Hope you had a good weekend too.
Thanks Kim. It is a good kind of busy, I just wish it could be rationed out evenly year-round!
Oh Jayne, I didn't realize you don't see the orioles, but I guess you have other good birds to make up for that. Saw my first RB Grosbeak when I got home from work this morning.
Hi Mary,
After a week of bird festing, I can only imagine how far behind you must be feeling.
July sounds good! The last 2 nights have been down in the 30's (my furnace is still running!)
Hi Deb,
I hope you get to see the indigo buntings too--I'm sure your kids will love them!
Hi Marylee,
The indigo buntings are more of a woodland bird here in Minnesota, but they like the white millet in a tray feeder and I'm close enough to some woods that they occasionally stray to my backyard feeders.
Hi Aleta,
I'm not really that close to the birds--my camera just has a really nice 10X zoom! (and there aren't enough leaves on the trees yet for them to hide behind)
Oh Sissy, you crack me up (I should have never told you that story!)
Gosh Mom, I wish I had been more of a birder when there were woodcocks in your backyard--I missed that Sora Rail you had too!
Hi Julie,
I got a nice card from my furry babies ;-)
Our field trip was good--not a drop of rain, just a little chilly.
Thanks Dawn for your good advice.
Hola Ruthie,
I got exhausted just by reading about your days! Wow! You are one busy lady!!
I've been quite busy too, and will stay like that for a few more weeks ;)
Take care, besos!
Mel
Oh my, I know what you mean! More time please, indeed! I'm not even half as busy as you, but I would love more time! Ack! That's great that the Buntings came to your feeder! I haven't seen any at our feeders this year, but they are definitely in the neighborhood.
BTW, wanted to let you know we watched "Pucker Up" the other night - a very interesting movie! Dave was sure someone would whistle "Flight of the Bumble Bee," but alas, they did not. Thanks for the suggestion!
Hey Ruthie - I'll trade you a western scrub jay for an indigo bunting; and I'll trade you a lesser goldfinch for the REAL thing! Deal? LOL. Great photos of your birds. You gotta love staying busy - it keeps you outta trouble! :)
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