Hubby was out moving manure from the lots and found a mother Killdeer guarding her nest for all she was worth. He left it and cleaned all around her so she could finish what she had begun. I took my bike out there to get a snapshot of her eggs -- just three right now. Usually they lay four, all points facing inward. Mama Killdeer was there, but elusive so I couldn't get a pic of her. I plan to keep checking on the nest in hopes of spotting her chicks. Once they hatch, they take off running. They are born with their Nikes on! I've seen them a few times on horseback; they are so cute with their long legs and heads bobbing. Check this out.
Speaking of all this lovely nature, have you been watching the Discovery TV series, North America? It's fantastic. I'm recording it. If you love nature, you'll love this.
Your flowers are incredible, Jody! I used to have blue flax. I'd forgotten about it!
ReplyDeleteThose eggs are a delight to the eyes. I'm crazy for eggs of all kinds!
Have you seen the book, An Egg is Quiet? I bought it for the Grands to read at my house. Beautiful egg illustrations and fun to read.
DeleteI don't know what's more beautiful--the flowers or the eggs! I've always wanted to grow bleeding hearts. Maybe next year, when I really get on top of things and start seeds inside in February. Fingers crossed!
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I love it that my bleeding heart comes back year after year. I had one start from seed further down stream of the mother bleeding heart. I hope you try one. Bleeding heart flowers are fun to press and make into cards.
DeleteWow, your flowers are beautiful! And thanks for the link to the video. It's so amazing to me that the babies can hatch and be off so soon -- just like the Canada Geese we had here at work. I laughed in the video -- it sure seems like those babies were too big (at 15 days!) to still get under their mother's wing!
ReplyDeleteGosh, those little birds are amazing! Up and about the next day? Wow!
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are really beautiful and I recognise a few that we have too. :) xx
Gorgeous photos! ! You know how much I adore nature.
ReplyDeleteLove all the blooms and those birds are amazing.
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are beautiful and how wonderful you
ReplyDeletegot to hold one the eggs in your hand....beautiful photos!...Corinne
Bleeding heart is one of my favourite flowers. Thanks for the link to Discovery Channel - that looks like a great series!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the bleeding heart...so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI think killdeer are one of my favorite birds. I love your photos. I was home this weekend and took lots of photos of the blooms on the prairie. I looked for our gumbo lilies, but dad said they had already come and gone.
ReplyDeleteI love the description of the bird guarding her nest and seeing the eggs of the Killdeer and learning about what happens when the chicks hatch out. You have such interesting nature all around you, Jody.
ReplyDeleteI too have an affinity for blue and bleeding heart. And I find Killdeer the funniest things, coming upon a mama on her nest in just the oddest of places. I often wonder if they give any thought at all to where they will lay or do they just plop when the feeling strikes them? :) I hadn't even heard of North America but it's right up our alley! Thanks for the recommend. :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Debbie
Beautiful, Jody. I wonder if blue flowers are so captivating because there aren't that many of them and they are like a bit of sky on the ground. Love the killdeers, too, those tricky birds. I would love to have an egg shell collection, esp interesting ones like the one you are holding.
ReplyDeleteGoing back to the tropics soon, and I'm going to be living vicariously through your beautiful pictures of flowers and birds!
ReplyDeleteLovely show of flowers you have Jody, Bleeding Heart are one of my favourite flowers as well. Our fields look so pretty with the blue forget me nots that are in bloom at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the link for the Kildeer chicks, they are so cute. x
Beautiful post, Jody.
ReplyDeleteThought of you today when I picked up this book at the library:
http://www.amazon.com/Its-Head-Came-Off-Accident/dp/0762780649
Not sure what the title means but it looks right up your alley (maybe too much so. Reading about life on a cattle ranch wouldn't be escapist reading for you!)
Angie, I looked this book up and I think it sounds like an excellent read. I especially noted the first reviewer of the book. Not only did he appreciate the story, but he understood the frustration many of us in agriculture have with trying to pass down a ranch to the family. Death and taxes. Thank you for mentioning the book. I'm going to try to find it. I really like reading about ranching heritage.
ReplyDeleteThese are all so beautiful and so many I don't recognize from being around here. I do recognize the killdeer and we have had a family down by the creek. I can hear it fly over ever morning. They are *really* loud birds!
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