Daddy Robin, ever vigilant, constantly tracking our movements. Even when one of us is on the porch, he flies over to the big maple to keep an eye on us. Bless him.
And he needs to keep vigilant because there are babies! I mowed a bit yesterday and as I was unlocking the shed – the nest is just to the left of the door – I quickly took a peek and I could see the top of little feathery heads, moving back and forth. There are at least two of them, maybe three. Congratulations, Mom and Dad!
(I took this photo from far away, with my telephoto lens.) He was in a tree near the shed. Watching me.
This morning we saw the groundhog, a chipmunk, and – of course – Daddy Robin.
I mowed as quickly as possible yesterday because I was mowing the corral and the area of grass to the left of the shed. I had just discovered the babies and I didn’t want to prolong any parental stress. So I tackled the area near the shed first and moved further and further away from them – until I had to wheel the lawnmower back into the shed, but I did that very quickly.
The Dude.
Ever laid back and zen, he just hangs out and enjoys the view. He is our role model.
Today is take it easy day. Mowing outside is always tiring, mostly because of my allergies. Pollen is crazy right now and I’m allergic to grass pollen. But I really like mowing and I’m not about to give it up. It’s so satisfying! It’s also great exercise.
It’s another beautiful day. I find myself longing for a little rain, but it looks like we won’t have any for a while. Ants have appeared in our kitchen, looking for water. This happens every spring, but if it’s especially dry, they become more of a problem.
Stay safe.
Happy Tuesday.
I like the picture of the father robin! Nice to see such protectiveness! It’s also nice that you are so respectful of them, and all the animals on your property! I hear raccoons sometimes at night, as well as an occasional opossum. Most of the birds I see in the backyard are jays and mockingbirds. I never see the bluebirds out back, but occasionally see them up the street….the other birds may keep them away! I’m also ready for a little rain….and I’m also tired of all the pollen, my ears have been so congested! Have a nice, restful day!
Thanks so much, Barrie.
Stay safe.
that sounds (is) wonderful … respect for and enjoyment of nature, finding fun in a task, a day of rest, the dude …glad for you!
kathy
Thank you, Kathy.
Stay safe.
The Dude does indeed live a life of Zen. I really like him. Can’t remember where he is situated….is he near the secret garden?
Enjoy your day! ;)
Yes, he’s part of the secret garden.
Stay safe, Donnamae.
The dude is certainly an unusual garden gnome; he’s a keeper. Does staying outside all winter begin to deteriorate his condition? What’s his composition?
Love that you’re loving all the wildlife around you after so much dormant winter.
The sun around here barely came out yesterday and it’s really getting to my husband. He said at one point yesterday to me, “I don’t want to be here. I want to be somewhere where there’s sun.” I said, “Do you want to take a drive inland and try to get out of the coastal muck?” Nah, day was too full for other things. But he’s been a ‘Californian’ for a long time now, off and mostly on for probably 45 years; he knows the drill; this is late spring; ‘May Gray’ (we get it every year); we’re inundated with fog-haze-low clouds-marine layer; it lifts a little later on in the day, sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, and then we will be SO hot with it gone by July 4.
We’re all seasonal creatures, though; endless days of dreary, damp monotony can definitely affect mood. The key is to just keep busy; turn on lights inside the house, make it bright; press on; enjoy the cool because, when the sun does break through, it’s Very Humid and uncomfortably warm (at least for me) which gets to my asthma. But even at the beach yesterday at 11am, I couldn’t walk the shore; forgot my jacket; it was too cold outside at the water’s edge.
I think I’m on repeat and need to stop talking about weather! Maybe I need a bear sighting around here to shake things up!
He’s made of cement. He’ll be fine.
Yes, I lived through June Gloom in my San Diego days. I’m not sure if it’s the same there now. So much has changed.
Stay safe, Vicki.
I love that you have babies! I don’t remember if I mentioned yesterday at Wrennie is back and they are building their nest in the Bird B&B outside Lizzie’s viewing window. I think he is the slightly larger one of the two, though they look identical apart from that. They’ve been moving in sticks and bits of fluff. Last year I never saw babies, and in fact, they even dissembled their nest so who knows? But it’s good to see and hear them again. I hope you get to see the fledging.
It’s another lovely day here, too. No rain expected till the weekend (of course) — although I have to say, at this point in life the weekend is mostly just days (one with Masterpiece on PBS!). It does mean more time with Rick as he’s still working for a bit more. Enjoy a day off now!
Are you heading out to the cottage yet, or is it too soon?
Stay safe, Jeanie.
Rick’s up there now, opening. I guess he encountered quite the Mouse Fest (that’s what happens when a house is shut up for six months!), a broken water pipe, decided to paint the bathroom and install a new toilet and said he cleaned out tons of dust and such that accumulated over the winter. I’m glad I’m home! I’ll go up sometime in mid/late June and stay most of the summer apart from PT appointments.
xoxo
Fun to see the Dude going all zen. We should all try to be like him. Nice to see the robin babies. We have a robin’s nest with babies on our front porch. We don’t use the front door as we don’t want to distress the Mama bird. Enjoy the rest of your day. Hugs, Elaine
Thanks, Elaine!
Stay safe.
It’s actually another beautiful day outside, sunny, blue skies and warm, but not hot. Daughters are still isolating. Both are coughing but I notice not as much, though they don’t seem to think so. Their bodies are aching from the prolonged coughing. One has laryngitis and the other has congestion. Fingers cross d I don’t get COVID from them. But I feel badly that they are bored out of their minds!
Nice to have baby birds on your property! I had baby hummers for a couple of seasons, but I haven’t seen any adults around all year.
How do you deal with the ants inside, Claudia?
I hope you avoid Covid, Wendy.
I use ant baits by Terro. They are the best that I’ve found. I’ve tried natural deterrents but they really don’t work, much as I’d like them to.
Stay safe.
We also tried lots of things but Terro was the best for the little ants, and Combat for the carpenter ants. Every year we try to invent a Rube Goldberg-style machine (in our heads) which would deliver the ants straight to our robins haha, of course without the bait poison. Still trying to figure that one out! It would be a potential win-win, right? Stay well you two.
That would be a perfect solution and if you come up with a good one, let me know!
Stay safe, Naomi.
Those robins are relentless, aren’t they. I’m relieved none built a nest on our front porch this year. Makes the front of the house pretty much off limits since they dive bomb continuously once you go out the front door.
It’s a good thing you like to mow. With all the rain this spring you’ve sure had to do it lots. To my shame I’ve never had to touch a mower. Never. With Dean leaving the 28th for business trip to Asia for almost two weeks, that may change. He seems to think I can handle it but I’m secretly thinking of offering to pay the kid down the street who has had his own mowing business since he was in fifth grade.
Take care,
K.
Gosh, I think you’re missing out on a lot of fun, Kay! It’s so satisfying!
Stay safe, Kay.