We’ve had a plethora of species lately, it seems, traipsing through the yard, sauntering down the drive, meandering up the hill and just basically hanging out.

I’m fairly certain the large bird is the merlin who last summer had a few incidents with the bedroom window.  Luckily for her (I’m assuming the gender here because I’m in a girl power mood this morning), she’s got a hard noggin, as she’s still about and wreaking havoc with the local mountain chickadee population.  Speaking of which, you’ll see that we have created quite the relationship with our resident avian friends.  Gracelyn has become quite adept at getting them to take sunflower seeds from her hand.

The moose was causing our dear old chocolate Labrador some angst early one morning a couple of weeks ago.  When I went out to see what the hullabaloo was about I saw a strapping young bull moose standing just outside the fence, calmly perusing the ballistically barking canines.  At least I think he was perusing.  He was quite still and seemed to be pondering a thing or two.  I told him, ever so politely, to stay and that I would be right back, with the camera.  I dashed inside and fumbled around for the damn thing and by the time I got back outside, that young moose had decided he’d had enough of the cacophonous canines and headed up the hill.  So the best I could do was a shot of his backside.  Better than nothing I think.

The deer appeared one morning during school.  We looked out the window and there she was, as still as a statue.  She stood there for quite some time, deciding on something we think.  Finally she turned and headed back up to the cabin, and the shelter of the trees.  There was one other one with her.

The bird is an immature red-winged blackbird!  Isn’t he pretty?  Passing through with his buds as they move southward.

The owls are not eager to be photographed so you’ll have to trust me when I tell you we hear them at sunset, while out raking up the detritus of the autumnal blaze of glory.

Blessings be.