The birds ... the birds ....
Back door motion alarm was going off this morning. It covers an edge of the patio & the adjacent landscaping. Birds set it off when they forage that area. This morning I was thrilled to see an Eastern Towhee pair. He is so handsome with that black, rust/orange, white combo.
Another bird has been traipsing down my gutter guard just under the (slate) shingle edge until it gets to the main house where it starts pecking. When it flies off, it has very dark feathers, does not look like any of the woodpeckers around here although it flies somewhat like one. The pecking is slow & steady, not a rat-a-tat-tat. Yesterday, I was chasing it off all afternoon.
No fake snakes to be had at the Co-op or Walmart (I have had success with them before). I did get a green lizard at Walmart - head is snake-y looking & will be staring the bird in the eye at the end of the gutter guard. Next stop was the fishing lure department. A blog post on woodpeckers said the one thing that does work are these shiny discs that hang, sort of like wind chimes - most birds hate them. They are used on houses, porches, in gardens, etc. I didn’t have time to order anything so I got some shiny silver jig spinners & strung them together. Using my jewelry making tool set, I got a little hole in the end of a popsicle stick, attached my shiny rig & the stick is taped to the gutter. All before the first cup of coffee, too. Will it work? I guess I will find out.
All trees in danger of falling down last night during a storm with high wind advisories are still upright, but a windy weekend is in store. If they make it to next week, they’ll be cut down.
One of the surprises at the new place as things bloom:
Sunlight shining through some ruby red baby maple leaves - my phone camera just doesn't show all the leaves & how beautiful the tree looks all 'lit up' like a jewel in the morning sunlight. 
Pole shed cleanup is underway. Fresh gravel will be put down once the debris is all removed.
*** Another bird has been traipsing down my gutter guard just under the (slate) shingle edge until it gets to the main house where it starts pecking. When it flies off, it has very dark feathers, does not look like any of the woodpeckers around here although it flies somewhat like one. The pecking is slow & steady, not a rat-a-tat-tat. Yesterday, I was chasing it off all afternoon.***
Do you have the Merlin Bird ID app? It has sound ID now, which makes it easier to find out what birds are out there that you might not get a glimpse of before they take off again. Sometimes it only “finds” birds that are likely in the area, not unlikely ones, so it’s not perfect, but they improve it every year. It’s very helpful to me.