Backyard Birds- April 2020

A few random shots of my common backyard birds in April:

Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Chipping Sparrow and Carolina Chickadee.

Woodpeckers on the Old Oak

An old oak tree in our front yard is a favorite hang-out for a resident pair of red-bellied woodpeckers during winter.  They are often seen scooting along the thick branches in search of tiny insects.  They also hide their gathered acorns in holes along the branches.  

Other birds like to visit this old tree too.  I've seen blue jays, cedar waxwings, chickadees, robins, downy woodpeckers and many others perched upon its branches or inspecting the branches in search of food.  

This old oak tree needs to be cut down because of the many signs of destruction and disease within its trunk and limbs.  My hubby and I have talked about having it cut down, but it's another one of those things that we procrastinate on because we can- seems there is always something more important that needs attention.  So, for now, the birds can enjoy it a while longer, and I can enjoy watching them.

'Tis Spring, Say the Birds

I love the white blooms that spring up on our Cleveland Pear tree during the warm, sunny days of March.  They're the first blooms of the new season and they make a showy prop for bird photos.

The blooms are gone now, replaced by bright green leaves that will

turn darker as spring progresses and summer settles in.

May each of you have a wonderful week.

Paul B. Johnson State Park

My youngest daughter and I rode out to Paul B. Johnson State Park in rural Hattiesburg, Mississippi on March 15th.  It had been years and years since I've been there.  My parents occasionally rented a cabin on the lake during summer vacation when I was much younger.  

We walked along the nature trail for a few minutes but didn't see any creatures stirring about. The trail itself is nice and has wooden benches here and there for those who want to sit and rest or watch for wildlife.  

The water level in Lake Geiger was higher than normal due to flooding rains in the area. Water was still overflowing onto the bridge days after the heavy flooding.  

A small group of Canadian Geese were busy foraging in the grass near the water's edge.  

We saw just a few other creatures stirring that morning, including a squirrel and a red-bellied woodpecker.

A whole bunch of turtles were warming up in the sun.  I counted 26 of them to begin with- about half of them scrambled into the water as I approached (guess they were camera-shy).  

That's a crowd!

Thanks for dropping in.  Have a great week!