Hai (Flying) Ku

  Hai (Flying) Ku

Familiar things

Disappear in swirling mist

The Earth is hiding

No rabbits, squirrels

Where did the animals go?

Is the fox about?

A new visitor

Waddling by the bird feeder

Colorful wood duck

Glance out my window

Squint into the murky night

Four deer in the yard

Scanning the backwoods

Catch a glimpse of a white tail

Attached to a deer

Except for his tail

Deer blends into the background

Almost camouflaged

Birdseed on the ground

Squirrels eat so much of it

Someday may sprout wings

One duck now grazes

The other alert, stands watch

Wood ducks are good mates

Colors pierce the dark

What is that in the shadows?

Wood ducks have breakfast

Trees filter the light

Rabbits in the violets

Beautiful sunrise

Frequent visitors

Waddlers: mallards and wood ducks,

Nest on backwoods pond

Seemingly fragile

Yet strong in the brisk breezes

Spider webs sparkle

Squirrels and rabbits

All eat the fallen birdseed

Will birds eat today?

Squirrelly rabbit

Racing, racing back and forth

Tries to impress her?

At the forest edge

Shades of blue in morning light

Pair of mated jays

Turkey trots and struts

Displaying his tail feathers

Female not convinced

Maple tree buds out

Yellow leaves color the sky

Goldfinch blends right in

Downy woodpecker

Loves to peck at the suet

Fuel for the day

The wood ducks appear

Walking like an Egyptian

“Pharaoh” and “Cleo”

We name male Pharaoh

Female named Cleopatra

In their wood duck robes

Wild meeting tonight

Deer, turkeys, wood ducks, mallards

Grazing together

Despite the cold nights

You can almost see them grow

Green-gold maple leaves

Yellow maple leaves

Green grass and blue violets

Red bird drinks it in

He’s always singing

And dapper in his red tie

Rose-breasted grosbeak

A leaf that has wings?

Camouflaged in yellow tree

Goldfinch, there you are

The wood ducks approach

Their bellies floating like boats

In the sea of grass

Five in the morning

Me, I’m frowsy and drowsy

You look great, wood duck

Mountainous body

Stack of feathers, tiny head

Turkey in the yard

They got the memo

Seven squirrels in the yard

Eat fallen birdseed

The middle of May

Where is the deer herd today?

My grass needs cutting

Yesterday yellow

Maple buds are turning green

The color of life

Cardinal, goldfinch

Colorful birds peck at buds

In the green branches

A brilliant red

With wings of contrasting black

Scarlet tanager!

Approaches slowly

A dramatic appearance

It’s Old Tom Turkey

Legs bending backwards

Flexible feet flop forwards

It’s the turkey trot

Doves, no need to mourn

If squirrels leave you alone

There’s lots of birdseed

Here he comes again

How much birdseed does it take

To feed a turkey

Today’s morning show

Ducks, deer, orioles, turkeys

Grazing in our yard

No sunshine today

Tsunami of rain coming

Three inches, they say

The middle of May

Backwoods trees bursting with green

And birds on the wing

Trees now gleaming green

More leafed-out every day

Rain begins to fall;

Rain-spattered turkey

Thick feathers a rain poncho

Built-in umbrella

She is more daring

Her mate very vigilant

The female turkey

Chipmunks dart and zip

Squirrelier than squirrels

How, without caffeine?

Glamour queen squirrel

Flashes her honey-blond tail

Male goes on eating

Fierce-looking grackle

Blue-black head and piercing eyes

Struts around the yard

The turkey takes flight

What happened to startle her?

Oh, here comes the fox

No-Mow-May is here

Wild violets, dandelions

Bees buzz in the yard

My neighbors wonder

As my dandelions grow long

But bees are happy

Spring’s migrating birds

I wonder where they wander

Thanks for stopping by

Ingenuity

Woodpecker, seed in his beak

Breaks it on the tree trunk

Daylight is breaking

Soon I’ll see the animals

Outside my window

Woodchucks and wood ducks

Backyard an animal world

Squirrels chase chipmunks

Lady cardinal

Dark eyes, buffy brown body

Mate gives her a kiss

Dark, scarlet house finch

Eating the dandelion seeds

My lawn needs a flock

Fireworks exploded

Not on Memorial Day!!!

Triggers PTSD

Just before sunup

What’s that dark hump in the lawn?

The masked one, racoon

Early morning light

Lady wood duck by herself

Meal break from nesting

It is so green now

Our yard is bursting with life

Trees wave in the wind

Early morning rain

The Earth drinks in the downpour

Sun breaks through the mist

Another cloud burst

Sky’s gift to the spring green Earth 

Life-giving water

A sudden wind gust

Raindrops fall from the maple

Surprises the finch

One raindrop sparkles

Tiny prism on a leaf 

Flashes quick then gone