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Rain is expected this weekend, and I’m not sure how that’s going to affect the bird sanctuary and wildlife refuge that my yard has become since it got mowed a couple of weeks ago. And it’s not just the crows, who always like to walk the field when it’s newly cut down. I’ve seem more new and interesting creatures in my yard lately than ever before. Of course, it probably helps that I can actually see my yard. There are way more lizards than I ever thought, and I always knew they were plentiful.
Don’t expect pictures, because all of the creatures I’m talking about are wild things that go away as soon as they see me move toward the door, much less open it. But as long as the jackrabbit that keeps coming by doesn’t know I’m watching, it provides a lot of entertainment. It could be that I’m easily entertained, but I’m not used to rabbits. Deer, yes. I’m used to those, and they’re back at about the same time as the jackrabbit, usually late afternoon just before dusk.
When I first saw the Great Egret that’s been hanging around the yard, it was at the end of the driveway near the drainage ditch, which makes some sense. At least there’s some water out that way. But it’s been coming more and more often into the yard, at times perching on the point of the garage roof. There’s no water in the yard, so I’ve been a little concerned about the bird, but it seems healthy. It would be better off if the crows didn’t attack it, though. They just kind of buzz around its head and then fly up into a tree. I’m sure it’s annoying, but not enough to make the egret leave.
Turkeys have made my yard part of their daily rounds over the years, and there are several that I’ve seen in recent days. One, a big tom, I even heard today. Its gobble startled me out of my concentration on a spreadsheet. I think it had wandered right up to the open screen door and had seen me (or something; with a turkey it doesn’t take much). It let out this great throaty gobble and then moved on, into the yard to peck at the ground. |
