Feeling a Little Birdy Today

I was out fishing at the lake today on my boat and the Great Blue Heron was fishing the shore. I caught two dozen Crappie and one Perch but the bigger fish are not in and biting as of now. The water temperature was 50 F.
The Great Blue Heron have a beautiful color. I also saw an Egret that had a black body with an orange tail that went flying by, no picture this time. It was in the shadows but check out the reflection.
I had to get a little too close because of the Sun and he left for a quieter place. Sorry for the blur but this camera I take fishing has no image stabilization.
I saw this Red Wing Black Bird in a pasture where I captured the new colts.
I found this Robin in my back yard.
A Woodpecker was thumping into a hollow tree behind my yard, I think it is called a Flicker.
The Canadian Geese have been putting on a show.

The Canadian Goslings are everywhere I go.
My grandson was making these Geese get off the ground. Can you see his foot?
These two Mallard Ducks where in a ditch beside the road as I drove to work. They were just enjoying a little stroll along the road.

Sky Watch Friday 5-23

It's Sky Watch Friday and it's your chance to post your Sky pictures and go to Wiggers World to join. I went back to the two trees I photographed in early Spring to see how they were doing. They were doing fine and from a leaf from the tree I was able to determine they are either Yellow or White Birch.

While I was there a Black Squirrel ran up the tree on the right side. I went around the back of the tree and about 30 foot up I was able to capture him looking down at me. I can see him saying "Hey, what is going on Fishing Guy?"
Then to my surprise a friend showed up.
Here is a close-up from the above picture. The Grey and Black Squirrels have set up a family unit.
I hope you enjoyed my extra animal photos. I have found out, don't miss the moment, it may never occur again.

You Make My Day Award

Jedijawa, my mentor, at This Is Not My Blog has given me a You Make My Day Award blogging award. I feel honored to receive the award from his sight.Here are the “rules” of the award:

1) Write a post with links to 5 blogs that make me think and/or make my day

2) Acknowledge the post of the award giver

3) Tell the award winners that they have won by commenting on their blogs with the news!

I am passing this award along to:

1: Carletta - Round the Bend - She always puts a smile on my face with her pictures and music.

2: Stacey - A Focus in the Wild and Mike "Hawk" - High Country Archer Huston -
A family affair (Words and Photos) with both doing super
blogs. I truly enjoy both sights in different ways.

3: Salty - Country Captures - A very special sight with some great outdoor pictures.

4: Tom Wigley - Welcome to Wiggers World - Tom does beautiful posts England surroundings.

5: Michele - The Rocky Mountain Retreat - Canada shown at it's best.

I have many more great sights on my side bar that are also very deserving but I was limited to five.

Backyard Capture

The Squirrels were playing on my Maple Tree in the back yard. I caught this Black Squirrel as he was coming down the tree. They are eating the seeds of the tree at this time. The Grey Squirrel jumped onto a log and was showing off.
He did some neat poses, this was a great pose but not that great of a picture.
I saw a flash of yellow in the yard and started taking pictures. I never saw this bird before. Visit Aunt B's Backyard to see some other great bird pictures.

It turns out that it was an American Goldfinch. Lin at Sandpipers also had a photo this week. She does a great job with nature photos. I don't know if new birds are coming into the yard or I am just more observant with the camera at hand.
Our state bird, the Cardinal, finally let me get a picture. These birds are very skittish and flit in and out of the yard.
He stayed for two photos and was gone.
A boat tailed Grackle was nice enough to pose for me. I love the iridescent blue head.
This is an add on, Jake my Pomeranian going to the groomers.
Here is is on the trip home a much happier dog to be done with the torture and looking pretty handsome.

Story of the Giant Blue

The weather has been very bad for fishing but the Giant Blue Hostas thinks this is a great May. It has been responding to a cool start. It sits on the North side of the house in the shade. This weather has helped it grow. My first shot was 4/29 when it emerged from the ground as small shoots.
On 5/3 it's starting to unfurl its leaves.
If you check on 5/6 it is really starting to spread.

This was take on 5/15 on a cloudy wet day and the development is proceeding. It catches the water for a good drink.
I guess I was feeling a little artistic with the droplets on the leaves. Click on this one and notice the way the rain water is directed to the roots.
That brings us to today on 5/19 when the Giant Blue Hostas leaves are starting to spread out. It's not done showing its complete size but it's growing very well. The remainder of the Hostas are doing well also, this is on 5/6. There are a Pink and White Peonies at the end of the Hostas.
My front Hostas are coming alive. The Yellow and White Variegated Hostas is also growing. It also has large leaves and will continue to show off its size.

Academy of Country Music Awards 2008

ACMA show was on tonight. It was a great show with a lot of special performances. Garth Brooks was honored for all his record sales.

The winners are as follows:

Song of the Year: 'Stay' Sugarland - Now playing first on my player because it's a great song.

Top Video: 'Online' Brad Paisley See the video here.

Top New Male Vocalist: Jack Ingram

Top New Female Vocalist: Taylor Swift

Top New Group: Lady Antebellum

Top Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley

Top Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood

Entertainer of Year: Kenny Chesney - Voted by Country Fans - I'm going to the 'Poets and Pirates Tour" on Saturday so expect to hear more about the show.

And now the surprise: Album of the year: Miranda Lambert 'My Crazy Ex-girlfriend' Blake Shelton's' girlfriend. They sing together on 'Home'. Blake is a funny guy and introduced Miranda. He said he didn't want her as his crazy ex-girlfriend.