A Dearth of Snakes

We have a dearth of snakes so far this spring. 

A friend has already posted pictures of several large black snakes around her area.... but so far, I have seen none.  I thought the presence of chickens in the old hen house would mean some would be drawn, but despite my checking the rafters, etc., I have seen none.  So far. 

This big one is from July of 2012, helping himself to an egg. 

These big black snakes are our friends... they keep the rodent population down. 

It may still be too cold... we are going down to the thirties tonight. 

The tulips are almost finished. 

It did get up into the seventies today, and the dogs had a good run, and 

then enjoyed a good fresh fortex of cold well water. 

Lilly was hot, too. 

The starling hordes have two more weeks, and then I'm pulling the plug. 

I watched the red-bellied woodpecker try to eat tonight, and he was muscled out. 

There he goes! 

The hairy woodpecker had the suet all to himself, though. 

Here are two red winged blackbirds... a male on the right with his red and yellow stripe... and the female on the left, with her yellow. 

This, seen through the screened window in our tv room.... is a yellow-headed blackbird. 

See his white stripe?  This is a male. 

I have only seen one other one, about two years ago, at the old house. 

Supposedly, they breed in Kansas in the summer.  

He is a beauty! 

He was here again this evening, too. 

This turkey girl was all alone this evening, and we saw her about a mile and a half from the house.  I wanted to scream at her to HURRY UP.  I even stopped to take the picture and she still meandered. 

Until, thankfully, she disappeared into this thicket. 

Here are two of our turkeys in the old henyard at night, 3 years ago.  One is still alive, 

down the road at my friend Roxanne's farm.  the other, sadly, was lost to a predator. 

Turkeys are wonderful birds to raise.