Bird Dropping

This sweet little sunflower is growing under the bird feeder.

Likely a seed dropped by the birds and missed by the chickens.

A miracle.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge

On the very small section of Rt 16 to get to our home on the Broadkill Beach Bay, we drive on a strip of road that takes us through one of the wetland ponds of  Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

It is a quietly beautiful place and a wonderful spot to see great sunsets.

Bringing home dinner one night, a variety of white waterfowl were just packed along the road area.

I was lucky to have no cars come for minutes as I drifted down the wrong side of the road to capture a few photographs.

Finally the birds had enough of my presence and flew to another area, and I got dinner home.

Broadkill Beach, Milton, Delaware

We had a busy first day in Delaware, and really didn't have time to appreciate the beach because of the storm that greeted us shortly after we settled into our house. 

The next morning began the twice a day walks on the almost empty Broadkill Beach. 

If you like a crowd, this place will not be your thing. 

Unobstructed walks...

Beach combing...

 

A little room to toss a ball...

 

And the music of the waves to read a book by, and sleep by, was the norm.

Video:Waves and terns on Broadkill beach

Gentle bay waters and,...

..blue, blue skies greeted us for the rest of our stay.

 Home sweet home. 

 

Cultural Diversity Skips the Nest

Just a short and late follow up to the blue egg in the chicken coop. 

I'm afraid the dream for a robin born in the barn under the tutelage of eight hens was short lived. On the third morning, the egg was fractured, though still in the nest between hens eggs. By evening, most of the evidence was gone. 

Accident? Sabotage? One can only guess.

Only Time Will Tell

Last night I thought perhaps we had a pullet egg, but no, that egg was definitely blue, and way too small.

The barn swallows are back, rowdy, and nesting like mad. But they have white speckled eggs. This sure looks like a robin egg. I'm leaving it in the nest to see if another shows up and also to see if the hens hatch it.

Oh! Yes. That is a golf ball. It is to remind the hens where to lay. Otherwise we find eggs all over the barn.

Empty Nest

Three...

Two... One... Flight! I actually got to see this last robin fly from the sill, to the fence rail, bounce off, and hit the tall grass in Jake's old field. I was so thrilled to be outside at the right moment. Here he hid while mom checked up on him. Finally I left him alone and went to find my next garden project, when suddenly I felt eyes upon me.
Robin Two!

In the VIDEO BELOW YOU HEAR THE MOTHER ROBIN CONSTANTLY chirping in the background.

With all the calling, the parent robin is not hard to find, so therefore neither are her babies. And without the window screen, we can finally see the details in these newest farm members.

Another Family Moves In

Here comes the moving van.Our driver Brian gets ready to unload.
What a smart uniform he wears.
Ah! Its actually our new Game Warden.

VIDEO OF PHEASANT RELEASE

A new family of birds again no less.
These birds are ready to nest and are part of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's breeding and hunting program. We are not a regular place for them to stock, but it seems there were some spare birds, and we have a suitable spot for them to nest. Lets hope for some happy pheasant families to join the robins.This is the male who seems to have claimed the left side of the hill. This fellow has the right hill, and I think the majority of females.
They flew and ran so quickly I lost count, but I think eight females were with the two males.There were a few eggs in the crates although they are slightly damaged.
If the membrane is still okay, I wonder if we can incubate them.
Twenty one days from now we could really confuse the hens with baby pheasant.