Beautiful Saturday Morning At Still Waters Pond

Today was just one of those Saturday mornings that was too beautiful to stay indoors.  We started the morning out with doing some yard work, which wore me out quickly, so I just decided to stop working and start enjoying the natural beauty around us while it lasted.  The birds were very active, probably because there's a big rainstorm coming tomorrow, so they are stocking up on "supplies" while they can, much like we do when there's a storm coming.  

Where to begin? Well, how about we start with the Bluebirds?  Guess what! They are starting to build a nest in one of the birdhouses, and surprisingly it is not the one I thought they would be using first!  Not sure if this is a different couple than the one that has been so diligently fending off intruders  from the one house all winter long...but whichever couple this is they've chosen house #2 and have already started moving in!

Here's Mrs. Bluebird now with a mouth full of grass to start building her nest! 

Mr. Bluebird stands guard and watches for curious onlookers (like me! LOL)...and will shoo them away if they get too close to the house...

He's a pretty good lookout!

He's cocking his head and trying to get a better look at me. Actually, I was taking these pictures from inside because if I stayed outside on the porch they wouldn't have stayed around. But he can still see me inside the glass doors and he's keeping an eye on me...

He's just daring me to come out there and disturb them...

And maybe he's a bit curious about me too...

I think this is a female...not as bright and bold as the male, but somehow this one has a more "youthful" appearance.  She must be a young bride...

This guy is looking all around...he's not going to let anyone sneak up on him...

Isn't he beautiful? Or should I say handsome?

Uh oh! This bird may be blue, but he's not a Bluebird! This is a Blue Jay...and I don't think the Bluebirds really want him around.  But still, he is rather handsome too, don't you think?

Not sure what this bird is, maybe someone can help me. I think it is a Pine Warbler, just not very yellow yet. What do you think?

Okay, postscript, some of my friends think it is a female goldfinch.  It could be, but usually they don't eat from my regular birdfeeders...only the finch feeder with thistle seed, which I do have one out there. So we shall see.  Time will tell! Thank you for your input!! I appreciate it!

Next I took a little walkabout the property, and on my way down to my favorite little lookout point...

there was a male Red Cardinal playing peek-a-boo with me. See if you can find him:

See him now?

How about now?  He was saying to me, "What are you doing here in my neck of the woods?"  Then he flew away.  

Here's his mate, in another tree later...

Now, while I was out in the front yard doing some yard work still, I had this visitor come calling:

Not sure why this Sand Hill Crane is alone, but we had quite a conversation...

I can't seem to upload my videos here to blogger, but if you are a Facebook friend, you can find the whole conversation there.  

Hello! Whatcha' doin?

"You don't look like my family...where did they go???"

"Well, gotta go...:"

And there she is, out on the marsh island, still looking for her mate.  

Not sure why they are separated for now, but I am sure they will meet up again later today and spend the night out there on the island as per normal.  I don't know if they are going to build a nest this time or not. By this time last year they were already building it, and on February 14th I remember seeing the first egg, and then another one.  Here is a link to that discovery last year!  So, if they are planning on raising any more babies this year, they'd better get a move on!

After a little while she decided to walk around the big island and come on over to our side of the pond:

Meanwhile, as soon as she left the little marsh island, this Red Shouldered Hawk showed up and then flew away!  I told you it was a busy morning! I hope you are still with me! LOL.

Here comes the Crane, and there's the Bluebird on top of the house, wondering what that huge bird is doing coming into her territory! LOL.

But she just walked on by and headed up the shore, where a Cardinal was having her morning "Tea Time"...

Doesn't seem to faze either one of them...

Hello!

Oh, look there's a Robin in the bird bath, having a chat with Bobbie the Squirrel. I wonder what they are talking about.  Bobbie doesn't say much. He seems to have a heart of stone...

The Male Cardinal and a Tufted Titmouse are having a tea party...

A little later, when the sun was fully bright out on the pond, the turtle family came up for their sunbath. 

Seems like every time I look out there, there are more turtles!!

Some are definitely smaller than the others, so I am guessing they are babies...

I can't quite decide if there are four or five...

But they sure seem to keep multiplying! No wonder they were after that poor duck!   If we keep getting so many, I may have to think about having some turtle soup one of these days... (just kidding...I wouldn't know how to even begin...but I sure don't like them messing with the ducks!)

Well, I guess I've taken enough of your time today.  But I thought you would enjoy this lovely morning here on Still Waters Pond.  While I was on my little "walk about" the property, I noticed the Carolina Jessamine is really blooming now.

You know, after taking so many pictures, it seems as though the flowers starting making faces at me:

Do you see it? That is a Carolina Jessamine bud, but it sure looks like a "conehead" to me! LOL. 

Here's some good "food for thought" from God's Word as we close out this lovely visit...

2 Peter 1:5-7

"5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love."

Happy Saturday and may God bless you and yours with His grace and peace and love. Amen.