Phenology: baby theropods, and flowers

[redbird]

This morning, we saw three ducklings following behind their mother; they're small enough that they were probably only hours old.

This afternoon, seven goslings near their parents, yellow and fluffy and again looking very new.

Orioles are back in the park, and we think we know where a pair are nesting.

The wild geraniums are blooming bright yellow all along the base of the hills, at the western edge of the soccer field. There are purple violets in front of them, a fine effect; a few white violets are blooming in the patch where we've seen them in the past. On the edge of the woods south of that field, we saw some impressive purple flowers that I haven't seen noticed before, which I think may be spring larkspur. There were a few clusters, quite impressive.

This is also the first day this season that I've gone out in a sleeveless top; the weather report made this seem sensible, but it had gotten a little cooler since that measurement (confirmed by cattitude, who'd already been out this morning).

Comments

[pameladean]

Oh, wow, yellow wild geraniums. Ours are pink or mauve or lavender.

P.

shiney things

[angeyja.livejournal.com]

You prompted me looking for spring larkspur which I don't know. I still don't I found something else on the ways (of course) and got distracted http://angeyja.livejournal.com/175881.html?mode=reply Second weekend in a row and thought I'd note it.

I've a couple of new roses that need tucking in now that the light can come in under the clouds. I am in thermals up in Albany today I'll have to remember to try later to find these. Curious about what they look like.

Baby birds

[bschilli.livejournal.com]

The other day some people were herding a mother and eight ducklings across the street. Mama would move along, the ducklings would follow, one duckling would get tired and sit down, the herder would get them going again, repeat until they got across the street. I don't know what happened after that. Just another afternoon in Madison. Corner of West Washington and Regent for those who care.

Ben