Theme Day: Outdoor Cafe

The theme for June is Outdoor Cafes.  

There are several restaurants with outdoor seating in Raleigh, but what's better than ice cream?

 

Nest mates

The heron children look full grown already. They're still hanging out at the nest together though.

 

Red shoulder

A red shouldered hawk checking out the park.

 

Not so baby ducks

The baby ducks are teenagers now, but Mom still leads them around.  A turtle wached them pass by.

 

Spooky Dog

His eyes were a brilliant blue.  The camera couldn't catch the right color.  He looked spooky but was very friendly.

 

Happy Memorial Day

Fort Macon, Emerald Isle NC.

 

Grazing Geese

It looked like a field of little feathered cows in the field.  

 

Garden

This garden seems to overflow.  These people must have very green thumbs.

 

Red Wagon

Not quite an old Radio Flyer, but a red wagon nonetheless.

 

Siblings

All siblings fight.  Even herons when the nest gets too small.

Those long bills look dangerous.

 

Crow

The crow was just enjoying the view.

 

Mommy Eagle

One of the two fledgling eagles was below the nest squawking to mom.  She just looked down sternly.

 

Empty pond

No baby ducks today.  

 

Not a strawberry

This cute little berry is really an insidious weed.  You can pull it, you can mow it, but it keeps coming back.  It is a mock strawberry, not a real one.  It was introduced from Europe but was introduced to Europe from Asia.  It plagues gardens all over the world.  (See here)

 

Rhododendron trail

It looks like a magical trail but it's a path to the neighbor's backyard.

 

Challenge

A friend challenged me to post a picture of a blade of grass.  So here it is...

 

Swampy pond

Just a quiet swamp.

 

Pink Flamingos

Twelve plastic pink flamingos are suddenly visiting the neighborhood.  They are celebrating a high school graduation.  One for each year?

 

Busy

This Pileated Woodpecker must have found tasty bugs in the old log.  He was very busy digging them out, and didn't mind an audience.

 (See a video here)

 

Growing up

The eaglets have fledged, but this one was back visiting the nest.  

 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all.

 

Heron

Mr. Heron perches in his favorite spot.

 

Friends?

An Eastern Kingbird and female Red-Winged Blackbird share a branch.  

 

Yellow flag Iris

The irises are blooming everywhere, even in the swamp.  This lovely is actually an invasive plant brought from Europe.  How disappointing! (see here)

 

Teenagers

The baby ducks are getting bigger, but momma still has a watchful eye.

 

Off he goes

The heron gave a squawk when the eagle landed on its beach.

The heron didn't scare the eagle, but a splashing goose did.  Off he flew.

 

Fish dinner

This eagle took off with its prize, a nasty half-eaten fish.

 

Coming in for a landing

The eagle flew to a nearby stump.

 

Breakfast with the Eagles

One of the eagle pair was munching on a fish on the mudflat.

Its spouse came in for a bite.

The first one moved away.  I guess they don't like to share.

 

Family photo

The duck family posed for me on a log.  Those little guys have BIG feet!

 

Ducklings

The duck family was too busy eating to put their heads up for a photo.