Spring is here!

We greatly anticipate the arrival of northbound migrants during the next few weeks. 

Eastern Bluebirds are exploring both of the nest boxes in the back yard. All my photos are taken through the windows so they are a bit soft.

The female perched atop the roof of the box at the rear (west) edge of the lawn:

The male bluebird flew over to join her as she entered the nest hole:

The other nest box is to the north. That male alighted in a nearby tree and then visited the suet feeder:

He flew to the nest box:

The female then chased after him:

The Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Juncos are departing. We had only three visitors Instead of over a dozen:

One of the two White-throated Sparrows we saw today had molted into sleek breeding plumage:

There was a single Song Sparrow at the feeders, but they breed locally and I heard one singing:

 

American Goldfinches are turning yellow:

Northern Cardinals are whistling their spring songs:

Black-capped Chickadees softly sing their "fee-bee" love song:

Tufted Titmice will be competing with the bluebirds for nesting holes:

This one is working to extract the meat from a sunflower seed clutched between its two feet:

House Finches are singing vigorously:

White-breasted Nuthatches also breed locally. They favor the suet:

With earlier light, warmer mornings are conducive to walks with the grand-dogs along the shore of Diamond Lake, its surface stilled in the calm air. Along the Lake, a chalk message on the pavement greeted the arrival of spring (those are the two Tibetan Mastiffs and the poodle with MaryLou and our daughter):

The sunset has crept ever nearer to due west, so evident from the windows of our daughter's Great Room, upstairs from our suite. Bird species exhibit a predictability of their plumages, however varied between the species, sexes and seasons. Yet,  like snowflakes, no two sunsets are ever the same.  We never tire of the gorgeous views of the setting sun:

But... sub-freezing temperatures and light snow are predicted for tomorrow!

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Linking to:

Garden Affair

Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Natasha Musing

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World

Timeless Thursday

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Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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