Easy Being Green

I spotted this beautiful green snake along the trail from our house to the river and boat dock almost tripping over him. He was frozen in the center of the path and pretended he was a long green blade of grass allowing me to approach very closely. He did not move even when I decided to continue on the path and I actually had to walk around him.

I think he is smiling and maybe it is because he saw his meal just up ahead.

Do you see it? Look closely...maybe you should click on the photo and see if you are as good at finding 'Green Waldo' as the snake is. Take your time, I will wait....

It is sometimes not so easy being green.

Transient Neighbors

There is a charming newly fledged titmouse that has been hanging out beside the bird feeder for several days now. He/she is just so huggable. It is rewarding to see him as the little ones don't seem to stay around for long.

This photo was taken earlier in the week. (Remember the house with the laundry trailing out the front door?) Mom and Dad chickadee had been exhausting to watch. Removing every insect they could find in my yard they arrived continuously throughout the day. I peeked inside the house earlier in the week and saw at least two little faces with open yellow billed mouths panting inside. Two days later I returned from shopping and the parents were no longer darting inside. I looked and the nest was empty. They had fledged and I had missed it.

The blue bird story is sadder as we noticed no activity for weeks and upon finally opening the box we saw an empty nest. Even the eggs we had seen earlier were gone and there were no broken shells. Perhaps my five foot long friend here pretending he is part of a small oak tree beneath the bird feeder had something to do with it. He is not as talented as the tree that was pretending it was a bird.

New Tenants

A new couple has moved in nearby. Since I am still at work in the city, my husband has been the spy of their activities. Except for the demolition and remodeling noise, they are a quiet couple. The male part of the team arrived earlier this spring and began the remodeling. We were sort of surprised that he installed the entry away from the water and facing our deck. I wish I could have heard her comments when she saw this.

"You have that lovely water view and you decide the entry should face that brick monstrosity? I will have to listen to noisy biped chatter every evening from that deck!"

He probably appeared sheepish but continued to move wood chips out the front, because he knew she loved him and she needed someplace to nest soon.

Over the next few days, hubby watched them settle in and begin their child care. They seem to have a balance of responsibilities. When he returns to watch the little ones, she leaves -- probably to get a meal out and some fresh air. There is not much room in that abode.

Yesterday they had their first adventure. Blackie, the black snake, which I had talked about in a previous blog entry has come out of hibernation and returned to the yard. He was 'snaking' his way up the remaining trunk of a small dead tree. This trunk was within a yard of the trunk in which our young couple had set up housekeeping.

I wish I could have been here to see the drama. There was a rather vocal (on the part of Mr. Red--you would think I could come up with more original names) argument followed by diving and flapping. Blackie, probably intimidated by that jackhammer bill, eventually gave up his territory even though it was only feet from the bird feeders. He moved on in search of a meal elsewhere and will certainly startle me one morning when I am out gardening.

I will post some photos today of the newly-weds, if I can.