The Birds Are Back, And They Are Very Welcome.

Spent a quite day reflecting on Easter and  visiting with family. But had some time to photograph some of my feathered friends who visit my backyard feeders.  My dad would throw out bread for them too and spent many hours watching them in his backyard. . We often watched them together. So it always brings back good memories when the migratory birds return in the Spring. I have a pair of robins who have established my backyard as their “territory” so hopeful they will build a nest nearby. The cowbirds and purple finches returned to the feeders and joined the many Winter residents who stay here all year.

 I also took my camera on my hike this morning and got some photos of the newly arrived turkey vultures, red winged blackbirds and a mallard duck. I was surprised to see the duck since many of the local ponds are still covered with a lot of ice.  I also saw an Eastern Towhee but couldn’t get a photograph. 

It won’t be long until the songbirds head north following the reappearing insects and blooming trees and plants. Spring is an exciting time of year. Every day some new animal appears, and soon the plants, trees and flowers will started bursting forth with new growth, And than there is another sure sign of Spring. Major League baseball!! Getting to watch the opening game shortly and cheering for the Chicago Cubs and their new manager, our own, Hazleton born,  Joe Maddon. 

This is the link to some more of the photographs I took ttp://keepyoureyespeeled.net/photographs-5/nggallery/blog-photos/birds-at-feeders-and-hikes

“The robin flew from his swinging spray of ivy on to the top of the wall and he opened his beak and sang a loud, lovely trill, merely to show off. Nothing in the world is quite as adorably lovely as a robin when he shows off – and they are nearly always doing it.”
― Frances Hodgson Burnett,