Swallows' Choice

Last year the swallows built a nest on our back porch's brick wall:

The chicks hatched and did all right for awhile, but the west facing location and radiated heat did them in.  

This year, since we were late in using the horse trailer, birds seemed to find the underside of the gooseneck to be a prime nesting area.
We had two nests there.  This one (type of bird unknown.  The nestlings were gone before we noticed.):

And this one, the swallows' choice for the season:

Unfortunately, hatchlings were still hanging out in the nest when we hitched up the trailer and went on our first ride. 

I didn't think the little ones would survive, but they hunkered down and did okay.  The nest must be as solid as a rock.  It lasted through travel over some very rocky dirt roads. 

When we returned home from the first day trip, we tried to park in the same location, and the parents quickly found the youngsters.  After the second day outing, we parked in the driveway, a hundred feet away from where they'd started.  Mom and Dad Swallow again found their chicks. 

After our third trip, four fledglings flew out of the nest.

This morning, we saw them sitting on the fenceline, probably waiting for Mom and Dad to return with bugs for breakfast.

All is well in Swallowland.  We'll see if they choose the mobile home option again next year. 

For more cute critters, click here.

Pasture Life

The birds enjoy sitting on the wheel line, keeping watch for insect movement in the tall grasses.  Above is a western meadowlark.
(Feel free to correct my I.D. on any of these.  I'm guessing from pictures in a bird book and could easily be mistaken.) 
This appears to be a western kingbird.
He didn't hang around long.
This juvenile Say's Phoebe stayed on her perch, watching us while waiting for mom and dad to bring lunch.

Nearby, a couple of ants were hard at work hauling home a grasshopper carcass.

 To see more cute critters, click here.

Fresh as a Daisy

Sometimes, through no fault of her own (if you don't count rolling in the dirt), a girl gets somewhat soiled.
But can't you tell she's wanting, willing, waiting to be clean?  Look at her sniff the air.  She's hoping to smell a bubble bath. (or maybe an elk, but we'll give her the benefit of the doubt.)
As soon as she spies a nice spring-fed water trough, she's in!
There's nothing like a cool swim to make your day, especially if you're a lab.

For more cute critters, click here.

On the Trail Again

Daisy loves any outdoor adventure, and finding an unexpected patch of snow is especially exciting.
After a long day of sniffing and running, she's pleased to relax in a cold creek.
Aaah.
Now that's refreshing.

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Love the Dove

Several Eurasian Collared Doves have been hanging around our bird feeder.  These birds are native to Asia.  They expanded their range across Europe during the 1900's, and have spread across most of North America since being introduced into the Bahamas, in the 1970's.  They're amazing survivors, and well adapted to humans, seeming to prefer living near houses and farms where food sources are abundant.

This particular dove is missing a claw and part of a toe on its left foot.  

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Deer Crossing

Deer crossing road.
Deer crossing trail.
Deer watching people crossing.

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On the Bunny Trail

I think I smell a rabbit!

I do!  I do!  And I see bunny paw prints!  Lots of 'em!

There's got to be a rabbit in here somewhere.

Well, darn.  Foiled again.

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Snow Queen

Daisy loves bounding through six inches of snow.  With rabbit tracks everywhere, her nose is in overdrive.  A blue sky and sun makes the day fun for humans, too.

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Is it Spring Yet?

I have always thought of robins as harbingers of spring, so I was surprised to notice that the robins are still here, even in the snow.  Apparently, robins are year round residents in Utah. 
This female is lucky to have a big supply of crabapples to keep her well-fed.

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Starlings' Party

The starlings congregated on the windowsill this morning.  Since the temperature was minus 10 degrees F, they were looking for a spot of warmth. 

"What's up in there," this guy wanted to know.  "Can I come inside?"

"No?  How rude," he seems to say.

"Can't you see it's so cold that my brother's beak is freezing?" 

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Berry Hawkish

We first saw this hawk diving into some bushes near the bird feeder, trying to catch a sparrow.  He didn't succeed.  Later, we found him perching on the crabapple tree, watching us watching him.  Our best guess is that he's a juvenile Cooper's Hawk. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coopers_Hawk
Do you agree? 

For more cute or unusual critters, click here.

Thanks very much to Oh My Goddess.  She presented me with the December 4th post of the week Goddess Award  for my recent post Very Berry.

Eagle Eye Daisy

"How come you guys want me to be still?" says Daisy.  "I see something down there.  So what if it's 5 miles and 1000 feet down the mountain?  It's my job to check it out."

To see more cute camera critters, click here. 

To see more pets to be proud of, click here.