Bird food

I was sitting in my living room this afternoon looking out the window and I saw this bad boy coming across my drive way.  I knew he was coming over to try to get one of my wild birds or maybe a Squirrel that feed in my front yard.  I went and got my “Snake Charmer” and quietly open the front door.  I could see him through the storm door glass.  When I opened the storm door, he took off back across the drive way into the brush.  But he stopped to quick and I went across the drive way and saw him.  The Snake Charmer did its thing and the birds and the squirrels are okay for another day.  The snake liked birds so much so now he is bird food for a buzzard.

Pebble Beach

I walked down to Pebble Beach this morning and saw a lot of pretty flowers that I wanted to share with each of you.  Isn’t Springtime wonderful?

And then along came a spider.  You have to be careful when picking up rocks.

Birds

This morning I walked down to the river behind my house and found these two sitting on a perch talking with each other.

I guess they were having a nice conversation because they sat there for a long time while other birds were swimming passed and flying passed.

When I got down to the river there was a whole flock of these birds swimming.  Most of them flew off but this one stayed.  He would dive and stay under water for a long time.  I would watch him dive and then he would turn up about 20 or 30 feet away.  I guess he was catching fish but I didn’t see him eating any.

Flowers and Birds

I was out on my patio yesterday and noticed this pretty flower.

Then today I went for a walk down to the picnic area and saw a few more pretty flowers.  There were a lot of these growing along the road.

The river bank was full of these pretty white flowers.

Then not to be out done in the beauty department, I noticed this black or blue egret or crane.  Everyone knows I am not good at the names of flowers or birds.  I just think they are pretty.  This one was sitting on the far bank and I guess I was quiet because they normally fly off at the first sound.

Later I caught this one flying down the river.

Tax Day Tea Party

Yesterday I attended one of the thousands of Tax Day Tea Parties that were held across the nation.  I chose to attend one in a small town east of San Antonio.  Floresville is about 30 miles east of San Antonio and about 20 miles from my house.  I chose to go there instead of the big Tea Party in San Antonio because I thought that small towns need to be heard too and I am more of a small town person anyhow.  I happened to see one of my classmates there and so I sat with Shelby Koehler and his wife and had a nice visit with them while waiting for the event to get started.

They had a local band attempting to play some music and as Shelby said, the old German used to say “If you can’t play good, play loud.”  They played loud.  We were sitting at least fifty yards from the speakers and it was still loud even with my bad hearing.

Finally the event got started and the band quit making noise and it was okay.  We heard from General George Washington.

General George told us about how the country was founded and where it was going to now.  Next we had a speaker who happens to teach civics in Floresville High School and she told us about all the things that Washington is doing and trying to do that are against the Constitution.  That was very good and got several rounds of applause.  There were a few more speakers and some good ones and some bad ones.  You have to remember, it was a small town and you shouldn’t expect great motivators or orators.  It lasted about a hour and 45 minutes and that was about 30 minutes too long and the crowds started to break up.

I am not a good estimator but I guess there were between 200-300 people there.

  

I thought that it was a good turn out for a small town.  I had a good time and I am glad that I attended.

Carolina Wrens

The Carolina Wrens that built a nest out in my garage last year and had babies are back this year.  I had left the nest alone and was watching to see if they would come back and sure enough,  I looked in there today and there are two eggs.

I don’t recall the red specks on the eggs last year but then my memory is not what is just to be either.  I will have to remember to leave the garage door open so they can get in and out and take care of the babies.

Now I will have baby chicks on the inside

and baby chicks on the outside in addition to all the Hummingbirds outside.  Life is great.

Hummingbirds

The Hummingbirds are back in full force and I think more than ever.  The evening I took these pictures, there must have been 15 birds flying around.  Keep in mind that I have three feeders out and this activity was going on at all the feeders.  They are hungry and playful critters.