NESTS

Another expedition—okay--walk, to learn how to use my new camera.  This time instead of following the jogging path I opted for the brushy area at the end of the airport runway.

Our winter snowfall and cold weather is ‘way overdue.  

The ice on the river should be solid and the snow should be knee-deep.

More deer tracks on the mud.

The view wasn’t real scenic with all the gray skies and naked trees.  

Then I realized without tree leaves the summer homes of the birds were much easier to see.

Some nests were very artistic.  I’m guessing this one was built by a robin. 

It is so well designed and has survived a multitude of wind storms.

The orioles build these highly engineered and fastidious structures.

A posh home of the bird aristocracy.

In contrast there are magpie nests.  Magpies are some of nature’s hoarders.

  They can’t throw anything away and love to bring home shiny things.

I’m glad this hornet nest is very high and empty.

 Nests under the bridge built by swallows one-mouthful-of-mud-at-a-time.

  Swallowing might be a bad idea.

Then I came across this large and odd construction 

thirty feet up in a cottonwood tree.

The same viewed from below.  I’m guessing it is unfinished because somebody’s mom found out where all the lumber from their fence was going and wasn’t too keen on spending an afternoon at the emergency room.

The only thing sort of exciting was a whiff of stink from a wandering skunk.  No deer.

At least I didn’t see the deer, but I think I scared the crap out of him.