8 May 2013 - It is all Amy's fault

I have been talking with Jack about dethatching the lawn. He is not convinced. Then the next time I was talking with Amy, she mentioned that Dutch had just put the fingers on the tractor and was dethatching the lawn.

Turns out there are some inexpensive generic models that will fit most yard tractors. Well! Jack and I sat in front of the computer and looked at options and ordered one.  Ha!  Jack thought that if he got the dethatcher for me, the least I could do was was get a cart for him. Life is all about compromise, so naturally we ordered both. 

The cart showed up in a couple of days, and of course it came completely disassembled. 

The instructions were challenging. Not a single typed word of description. Nothing but pictures. Forty screws that we had to put in piles based on pictures. Okaay. 

You wouldn't think it would be a big deal to put it all together...but it did take a certain amount of head scratching. The instructions were for a slightly different model than the one we got.  But we did get it all figured out.   He is busy contemplating all the things he can use it for.  And he is even happier because it has a dumping function. Good grief! But, check out this happy camper!

A couple of days later the dethatcher arrived--also in many many little pieces. We got it all together to discover it was missing the last operating piece.  Humph!  A phone call later, and the missing piece was on its way to us. 

And speaking of tools,  I found the perfect tool for me!  I bought one, and it was so great I went back and got another one. We tend to have full sets of tools here-- his and hers. Some tools we have three or four duplicates.  One can never have too many tools. 

This great new tool is a dandelion digger. For years, I have been wishing someone would invent a better digger. And someone finally did.  Check this out. The curved piece acts as a fulcrum and makes it really easy to use. I just love it. I also love that the garbage can is full of dandelions. 

In the bird world, I had another great sighting in my own yard. This time it was a Western Tanager. I haven't seen one of these in years.









 

3 May 2013 - It May be snow

May 1 and we woke to snow. Not a lot of snow, mind you, but snow just the same. It was sticking to roof shingles, cars, and some plants. We had fits, starts and flurries all day, with sun in between just to confuse us all. The snow didn't accumulate, but it did bring a cold snap and two nights of hard freezes.  In May. sheesh. The average last frost freeze date here is April 26, but still.

On the other hand it was rather interesting. I went out to bring the paper in and noticed that snow flakes were being captured in spider webs in the yucca plants. I have seen raindrops in spiderwebs, but not snow. It looks like it is hanging in mid-air.

 

The hummingbirds are back with a vengence. Good thing I got the feeders out when I first heard that tell tale zip. During the two day cold snap, the feeders were really busy.  We seem to have males and females of two different species. This one is a black-chinned hummingbird. When the light is right there is a tiny red violet line at the bottom of the black chin. Stunning. They are already chasing each other away from the feeders and establishing their territories. Mostly it keeps us from getting anything done because our noses are pressed to the windows. The other variety is the broad-tailed hummingbird. The males have a bright red throat.

Last  year we kept seed and suet feeders out all year. We were thrilled when birds started showing up-- towhees, black-capped grosbeaks, warblers, pot-fulls of finches and other birds that I hadn't seen around here. Since most of these birds migrate south for the winter I wasn't sure if they would find their way back.  In the last two days, along with the hummers, a pair of grosbeaks have shown up along with a Steller's jay and even a lazuli bunting.  And even more interesting, the juncos have not left yet. Last winter, they left when the snow melted and we didn't see them until the next snowfall. This group is still with us. Don't know how long they'll stay, but it sure is fun. 

The yard is busy and loud with birds. Can't complain about that!

Meanwhile the yard is really greening up. We are seening lots of leaves now, not just green swelling buds, but actual leaves. The plums, crabapples and ornamental plums are all beginning to open, and the quince is in full bloom. The peonies are over a foot high with marble-sized buds. The lilacs hanging over the fence from next door have deep purple spikes.  I have even seen a couple of yellow and black swallowtail butterflies. Now where did they come from? Did they hatch out this early?  


I got up really early this morning and headed for the GSL.  My original destination was Antelope Island but today through Sunday it will be filled with people on bicycles for road races. Change of plans.  I took the frontage road along the lake then hit Lee Kay ponds before heading back home to get to work. 

Yes, I had some fun. Saw new birds. First was a pair of ducks that I have not yet identified. Check out the green bill on the male.  My bird books say nothing about a green bill. Calls for more research. 

The phragmites were filled with yellow-headed and red winged blackbirds. The males get extremely territorial and lock beaks in mid-air, then pretty much fall with fluttering to the ground. It is really something to see. Today's surprise was orange coloration on the yellow-headed blackbird. I know I've posted pictures before of this bird, but I keep taking more-- they are beautiful. So here is the normal yellow-headed blackbird. 

He is very yellow with some gold on his head. In the sun the yellow glows. 

So you can imagine my surprise to see this new bird a little further down the road.  And it was even more surprising to realize that it was a dark morph or orange morph of a yellow-headed blackbird.  I first saw the orange, and was sneaking up on him to get a picture, while wondering what on earth is this! So interesting!


Next on the list for me were a bunch of Ruddy ducks. Another bird to add to my list. The males were in full breeding plumage and putting on quite a display for the females. It was fun for all of us girls. Yes, that bill really is bright blue.

  The males also raised their head feathers so it looked like they had horns. I'm thinking horned ducks?  Never heard of that, but it is display behavior, not normal plumage.

 




 I spent too much time watching this group, but it only happens once a year. I think the female below on the far right saw something she liked. Check out her tail!

The Canadas were busy with babies. Lots of Canadas and even more babies. Mighty cute little yellow puffballs, though. 

 I left the GSL and moved on to the Lee Kay ponds. Probably 50 pelicans out there. And what a hoot. I swear pelicans invented synchronized swimming. Either that or they are telepathic. I was watching a group of seven and they did everything together at the exact same moment-- and all the exact same movement. 

Here is my group. Notice the cormorant at the rear?  I think he is the coxswain (yep, mixing metaphors) and is calling out the formations.  Okay, line up and swim!

   Circle formation and get those toes up, ladies!

Heads up! Beaks down and swim.

 Beaks forward, get ready for the circle.

Exploding wing formation!  Sloppy, ladies, sloppy!


Try it again!  Much better, but tighten up that circle.

Okay, so it is a bit fanciful, but it surely seems probable. That cormorant was never more than a foot away from the pelicans. Maybe he wanted some of what they were finding. Who knows.

And finally, here are some Franklin gulls. Another new bird for me. Another three new birds today! 

 
And because I can't help it, yet another picture of an avocet.