The Adoptee

Our pond draws all kinds of transient waterfowl. We've had everything from Wood Duck pairs to Blue Herons. Sometimes they stay for a few months, like the Wood Duck pairs and other times it's just a one time thing.

For the last week we've had a young Merganser calling our pond home. I thought it would only be for a day or two, but it appears that my Call ducks don't mind the company and have welcomed the little addition. I imagine at some point she will feel the pull to fly away and look for her own kind. But for now the Calls as well as myself enjoy her company. :)

The beginnings of Fall

As Fall is my favorite time of year, I will probably be doing a few blog entries on the subject. :)



Fall, here in the Northwest, is typically ushered in with rain and this year is no different.




It also seems fitting that I would have the "mother of all colds" at this time. It didn't stop me from getting out and taking a few pics around the homestead and also on the road to pick up some Emergen-C and Nyquil.

Here is one of my favorites on the way back home from town. This vine is one of the first to change color (and also lose it leaves). I KNOW Fall is approaching when I see this:

Here's a close up.....
These were all taken between raindrops....:)

Here is a tree that I love to watch the stages it goes through at a neighboring farm....

And now for a few pics around home, the one at the top of the blog is of the vine maples on the hill heading down to the barn. They grow wild all over and I just don't have the heart to cut them down, even though they block my view of my barn/pastures in the summer. If only they weren't so beautiful in the Fall......

I have quite a few Japanese maples I've planted around my pond this last Spring/Summer and I'm anxious to see their changes. This one tree is the only one so far to be showing any signs...
It's not the prettiest, but hey, I got it for a good price! :)

Of course, I had to take some pics of the ducks since I was walking around the pond.....
and then this dragonfly came by apparently with a death wish and buzzed the ducks......
You'll be happy to know he managed to survive, even though he made many passes at the ducks before he headed for safer ground (or airspace as the case may be).


I keep hoping for a bit of an Indian Summer, I'd like to be able to go for a hike and take some Fall pics and not have to worry about my camera getting wet. Not looking good today for sure, it's thundering, lightening, and pouring down rain at this very moment. Maybe tomorrow.....