Looking for Orioles

Sam and I went to Lincoln Saline Wetlands to look for Orioles since we had seen them there a few years ago.  Well, we didn't see any Orioles but we did run into some interesting wild life!

 This is a Bull Snake, but we thought it was a Rattle Snake!  It made a rattling sound as I walked by!

 This is a Harris' Sparrow.

And this is a bunny in a field of dandelions.

Visitors

In September, as usual, the hummingbirds came to visit.  This guy was on the telephone line one afternoon.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, this guy came for a visit.  I think he's the biggest stick-bug I've seen.

Around Kevin's Cabin

Kevin's cabin is a bit south of the city of Grand Lake and right by the Colorado River.  The river flows quickly here and it is wonderful to fall asleep to its' rhythm.

 Female Mountain Bluebird on the garage roof.  I think there was a nest under the roof because the female and male spent a lot of time perched here.

 Male Mountain Bluebird

Colorado River looking south and...

...looking north.

Squaw Creek Snow Geese

I went to KC last weekend to visit with mom.  On the way home I stopped at Squaw Creek.

Squaw Creek

Sam and I stopped by Squaw Creek on our way home from KC today.  Most of the photos Sam took.  My 100-400 lens needs some TLC, I need to send it to Canon.

Sunday Walk & First Snow

We walked around Nine Mile Prairie Sunday afternoon in our shirt sleeves, then woke up Tuesday morning to snow on the ground and ice on the roads.

 It's always fun to see Bluebirds at the Prairie.

 I like all of the branches where this guy was perched.

 Reflections

 Front porch Tuesday morning

Hummingbirds Return

We put our feeders out around the 15th of the month.  Our neighbor said he had seen a hummingbird fly by earlier that week.  It hasn't been until the last couple of days that we've seen activity at the feeders.

I shot these at 1250 ISO since the light wasn't very good and I was using the 100-400 lens.

You can see his tongue!

Egrets

On our way home from church we drove by Holmes Lake to see what the rain had done to the water level at the lake.  We were surprised by the sight of 2 Egrets!  Sam suggested that we go home and get my camera, so we did.  I need to re-learn how to photograph birds though.

Indigo Bunting

Forgot that I had seen this beautiful bird when we were in Branson.

Common Yellowthroat

Sam and I took a walk this afternoon around the lake and saw this little guy fly into the brush near the lake.  We looked him up in the bird book and learned his name.  It was the first time we had seen this bird.

Trip to Red Cloud

Diane and I finally made our way to Willa Cather's childhood home town of Red Cloud.  It was great fun to visit small towns along the way, see a bunch of Snow Geese in a field, and learn about a great woman from long ago.

Monday of Spring Break

I don't think I've ever spent the first day of spring break shoveling out after a snowstorm!  Good news is, with the snow we always get lots of visitors to our backyard feeders. 

 I actually saw 2 Flickers at one time today.

 Mr. & Mrs. House Finch

 Two Wrens came today.

 Pine Siskin

I don't know who this guy is but I like his coloring.

And of course a Grackle, I usually scare these guys away, but he really is pretty with the contrast of the snow.  We also had some Downies visit, a Dove, Junco, and of course House Sparrows.  I think that's all I saw today.