Mute Swans

I cannot  resist visiting the swans, that come to stay for the summer, where my Dad  lived in Aurora.  These are pictures of 3 different Mom's on 3 of the 5 ponds around the property. No one was out for a swim with this Mom, so am not sure how many babies hatched.

Looks like we can see at least 3 balls of fluff.

On the second pond, only one baby appeared.  Mom is showing him  how to feed.

A little swim time.

Look how many eggs she had and only one hatched.

Mom, I am ready for my closeup!

Is this what we get to do all day??

On the third pond, Mom has at least 5 hatched eggs.

The little guy on the left had been out exploring and was the last to enter the nest.

I think a couple of these guys had just been hatched.

They are beautiful.

Mom, what do I do now?

You can see there is at least one egg that did not hatch.

It is nap time of everyone.
I am so fascinated with these magnificent birds. When I visited the second pond, Mom and Dad were making noises that sound like a dog barking.  This was to alert me that they were watching.  They are strong powerful birds.

Flowers and Wild Flowers

Iris

wild Rose

Dames rocket

Broad-leaved Spiderwort

Siberian Iris

unknown

Yarrow

Moth Mullein

Clover

Purple Cone Flower

Ox-eye Daisy

Iris, that are in a marsh area

Siberian Iris

Coopers Hawk

The other day the Cooper's Hawk cam to visit. The smaller birds did not want him around, so they  made him go away.

He landed on one of the lights in the parking lot  across the way.

I was able to get these pictures.

Looking good!

Hawks don't seem to appear out in the open as much this time of the year.  The trees are in full  leaf, nests and babies are hidden.  This hawk does frequent my yard. I must provide the treats he likes.
Mary

Great Egret

After having dinner out this evening, we decided to take the long way home and go along the Fox River to see if there were any egret's getting ready to bed for the night.

We usually find at least one tree were they roost.  This time, when we went past this tree, I thought  there were 2 plastic bags hung up in the tree.  Wrong!  We turned around and this is what we saw.  I got out of the car so I could get a better look.  I have never seen them with their feathers sprayed out like this.

Several of them were doing this 

They do nest in colonies of up to 100 birds.  

One was just landing.

The egret is a protected bird.  They were hunted to near extinction for their long white plumage.    The plumes are grown near the tail during breeding season.  They make a platform nest, and both male and female build it.  They have one brood a year  They are beautiful. Interesting to watch when they are looking for small fish to spear with their long bill.

Spring is here

According to the weather report, there is a strong possibility of storms coming through tonight.  I decided to take a few pictures of what is blooming in my little yard.  The first and maybe only poppy.  It is a beautiful orange.  Love those ruffled edges.

The first rose of summer.  It is not the most gorgeous looking, but I will take it.  In the past we have tried to have a small rose garden.  I did all the things you should do in the fall to have them come back in the spring.  I kept loosing them.  Two years ago, I decided the heck with it. I just leave them alone in the fall.  I don't even dead head them!  I now have 4 bushes that keep coming back.  Trust me, I do nothing for them.

Columbine is in full bloom.  I have these deep blue ones, that I love.  See I have a hummingbird feeder, in the mad  hopes that one will come to my yard.  I have some a couple pink, a white, and a wild columbine blooming.  None are the beautiful ones with the tails and multi-color. I have planted the, but for some reason they do not come back.  

We transplanted these four peony bushes from our old house in Roselle. They never grew as big there as they do here.  We have had a lot of rain, and they have bent over.  All four bushes are at least three feet or more tall.  Two are a beautiful peach color, one is two shades of pink, and one is white.  The white has not bloomed yet.  You can see some are already shedding their blooms.

This one is a peach color.

Here is the two tone pink.  I love this one, as  the flower comes in several sizes.

This is the other peach one.

Look at all the different sizes of blooms on this plant.

Here is the rhododendron that we bought in Elma, New York and  transported it  to this house.  It is so nice to be able to drive to visit family.  Then I can bring home just about any plant I want!

Mary