Birds of Yellow....Well Hello!

The goldfinches are back on our farm. I love to watch them eat at the thistle feeder. They have such a happy song you can't not smile when you hear it. One of the many birds I look forward to seeing every year. Wouldnt feel like summer without them. I also leave some of that pesky thistle in the garden just for them because I know how much they love it. We also have a few purple finches too!

Little Bitty Barn Baby

At our old farm we had baby barn swallows return every year to our porch. They had built a nest right around our porch light. Every year they would return almost on the same exact date. Once they arrived you knew it was going to stay warm and when you woke up one morning and they were gone then you knew it was going to get cold soon. Barn swallows are so graceful in the air and they are so beneficial to your property. They eat a whole lot of bugs everyday. One year one of the babies got to close to the edge of the nest and fell out. We managed to rescue him and before we put em back in the nest we took a few pictures.

He was so content perched on our hands 

He was starting to fall asleep

We climbed the ladder and put him safely back in the nest with his brothers and sisters

Some of the cutest little faces I think Ive ever seen. They always look mad. Safe and sound now!

I think Mom and Dad were grateful.

 Barn swallows are one of my favorite things about summer. They always follow the lawn mower and swoop so close to you for all those bugs you stir up. They are always welcome at our farm. Once they decide they like your home they will return every year and so will their children. I am looking forward to the arrival of my feathered friends this year. Not too much longer I hope.

Which One Of These Is Not Like The Other

This was taken at our old farmhouse. This black and white "cat" would show up everynight. I get alot of grief from everyone for feeding skunks.  I know they carry rabies and other diseases and they dont smell too pretty but if it comes into my yard I feed it regardless of its popularity among everyone else. I am not the type of person who could ever harm any living thing. Besides have you ever seen a skunks face? ADORABLE!

New Visitor

Had a new visitor yesterday on my feeder. Its a red bellied woodpecker. Im not sure how they got their name though because their bellies arent red?? You would think red HEADED wood pecker would fit them better but what do I know. I took these photos through the window so they arent the greatest but I didnt want to miss the opportunity to photograph such a beautiful bird.

                                   I hope that he/she likes it here and decides to stay!

An Unwanted Visitor....Well if your a bird anyway

This Hawk has decided that he likes our pasture. Its wide open and great for catching those mice he seems to love. He is eating the seeds out of a giant sunflower that we left in the garden in this picture.

For the past month I have witnessed this graceful bird go about his daily life. He is usually perched atop one of  our fence posts or in the mulberry tree. I have been trying for awhile now to get a good photo of him but so far he isnt allowing any close-ups

At our old farmhouse we use to have alot of evergreen trees and were lucky enough to have a hawk family raise their young one year on our farm. I have pictures and video of the babies when the momma was teaching them how to fly. I will have to look back through photos and find them and post them here in the future.Hard to believe that such ugly babies turn into such beautiful adults.

I now know why I dont have as many birds visiting my feeders as I use to. Yesterday he sat for a good hour right here in this spot in the picture above just watching them eating at the bird feeders. Im not happy that he sees them as potential dinner but I have to accept it.

.

It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful gods creatures really are.

Night Visitors

One good thing about fresh fallen snow, You get to see who is visiting you at night.

                                   A coyote was in our pasture

A close up of his/her footprint

And a whole lot of bunny prints in my herb garden

Lets hope the coyote doesnt see those bunny tracks ! Yikes!