Two Baby Hummingbirds Sittin' In A Tree

Yesterday evening, Steve and I rode our bikes to the pond behind one of our local business parks to check out the beaver hut. We saw the two adults we knew were there -- one schlepping a willow branch back to the den -- the other skimming the edges of the pond, generally checking things out. No kits, though, which was a little disappointing. There was a pair of Canada geese, however, with eight goslings (or geeslings, as Oprah calls them), as well as a Mallard pair with two fuzzy ducklings.

Just as we were preparing to leave, the Canada geese swam over to the beaver hut and climbed atop it, the youngsters trailing behind. Steve said he thought they'd roost there, and seeing them settle in was a perfect cap to the evening. I wish we'd brought the camera.

Meanwhile, my neighbor, Laura VanCouvering, took this photo of a hummingbird nest, two tubby babies tucked inside. The nest is in a camillia in the yard of a friend in El Dorado Hills, and was taken in late March. Babies here are a little over two weeks old.

'Tis the Season to be Sneezin

The cattail fluff is flying. Every tree, shrub, and fencepost along the trail adjacent to the marsh is covered with the stuff – so much so, that some of the leafless branches resemble cocoons. As I was walking yesterday, there was a slight breeze blowing, stirring the fluff and carrying it through the air. Twice I had to shut my eyes as it floated in my direction, and if my mouth had been even slightly parted, I might have swallowed some. The cattail heads are almost comical, resembling bloated hotdogs on sticks, their sides split, their contents spilling out. From a distance the marsh appears in hibernation, but on closer inspection, new growth is cropping up – hardstem bulrush and cattail stems, fuzzy buds on all the willows. The first poppy appeared yesterday, too, and the mallards have paired up. Spring is on its way.