From Outside the Bay Window

Two days ago, this was the first thing that greeted me, in the morning, as I walked into the livingroom and glanced out the bay window.

Beautiful.  We even made eye contact while I was taking her pictures.   She didn't seem fazed...I am wondering if she has encountered me out in the yard a few times.  After a little while, she did mosey away.

I have mixed feelings about the deer.  I am always thrilled to see them...but, as a friend pointed out, because they are overpopulated,  they are contributing to the depletion of native plants...and giving invasive species an even more competitive hold.  They used to be a rare, thrilling sight...perhaps things would be better if they were more rare.

---as I typed this out on the deck, I noticed my shrub dogwood [silky dogwood (Cornus amomum), I believe] was shaking.  Very odd.  Too much shaking for it to be just a bird.  I got up from the swing, trying to get a better look.  At that point, I saw, what looked, by the size, like a fawn running toward the front yard.  Too bad, no pictures.--

I do have pictures from the other day though:

Surprise Guests

Our last day of school was Friday, but it wasn't until Monday morning that summer vacation really felt like it began.  I visited a nearby state park... and got a half decent shot of a blue heron.

Upon my return home, I backed into my driveway, grabbed the camera, and opened the car door.  Before shutting it, I spotted a cedar wax wing on a bare branch near our serviceberry tree.  Without shutting the door and with camera in hand, I slowly began taking pictures.  I rarely have a chance to be that close (this is likely the closest I've ever been).

At first, I did not realize this was a juvenile bird; it was not until its mother (or father?) brought it a berry for it to occur to me.

Despite the blue heron, this moment and these shots were the highlight of my day.  My goal to create habitat for native plants and the wildlife they support seems much closer to becoming a reality.  :)