Feathered Friends

I'm a bird nerd.  Yep, it's true.  I spend a lot of time creating habitats for my feathered friends.  Not only my much loved chickens, but for all birds.  I have feeders out everywhere, in both the front and back properties.  I have bird houses for them to nest in.  I have planted plants to specifically attract them, and have provided clean water in bird baths for them to drink and keep cool.  This afternoon I set a chair in the grove, equipped with my telephoto lens, and I waited.   I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the wren I suspected had taken up residence in one of the bluebird houses I put in the grove.  The nest is built up nice and high, and when I stood on a chair and peeked in today, I could see two tiny white eggs nestled in the very bottom of the cozy nest.  When Mama Wren is finished laying the eggs, she will begin to sit on the nest, keeping it warm to incubate the eggs, leaving only long enough to gather food.  Never letting the eggs get cool.  My patience paid off, and soon I heard the familiar whistle of Mama Wren, with a dinner in her beak.

I watched as a male and female House Finch shared a bit of grape jelly and reamed the orange slice set on the feeder.

In nearly every species of birds, the male is the prettier, more colorful one.  The pretty red breasted one is the male.  With the plain gray female on the left. You can see her pointing to the nest where he will be sleeping on the couch tonight!  I think I heard her say, "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?  You said you were flying to the corner to pick up a few worms and flying straight back!!!!!"  I was really hoping my much loved Oriole would hop onto the feeder to let me take a picture, but he was too shy, and wouldn't come close enough. 
This handsome Goldfinch came close enough to say hello.

And this guy too.

My little fat hens were happily rummaging about for worms and bugs.

Sammy  coming by for a quick hello with food still in her beak.

If  you have chickens, then you know what the term "fluffy butt" means.  I had heard other chicken farmers say it, and didn't know what it was.  I do now!!!

They have so many different layers and textures.

My son says that chickens "creep" him out!  He says that they are so prehistoric looking.  I think that they are beautiful!!!

This is one of their favorite grazing spots right before dusk.

My grape iris' are blooming everywhere!  I just love this time of year with the awakening of my yards.

They are stretching tall above the poppies that are scattered willy nilly beneath them.

The roses that I dug up from my parents yard when my Mom sold their home following my Dad's passing.  He had planted these just before becoming ill. 

Every year I wait for them to bloom, and each year they seem more beautiful than the last.  The velvet red, and brilliant yellow, together with the purple iris' make my heart leap when I glance to that side of the yard.
If you are not a bird fan, or a chicken fan, I apologize for boring you.
XO  Kris