Birds

I came home yesterday to find three ibises in the front yard. By the time I got the camera ready and got close they were in the neighbors yard. I think they are juvenile white ibises and they must've gotten lost from their group because I've never seen them around here. When I walked out about an hour later I noticed the ibise

s flying overhead and in hot pursuit was.....a Bald Eagle. I had the camera with me, luckily, but he doesn't show up very well against the bright sky. If I zoom way in I can see his bright white tail and head. He was amazing. Huge and pretty. I felt lucky to see him!

This picture needs no words.

Monarchs! I thought our one monarch caterpillar had died but I was wrong. We found a chrysallis under the back porch and brought it in just in time for it to hatch. It came out not an hour after we brought it in the house. Then we went out back to find another one hatching at the same time. The kids got to see the butterflies emerge and we kept them inside for a couple of hours until they dried out and were ready to fly. Then we moved them out into the garden. Ultimately both butterflies hung around on a tree (after a detour onto Aaron's head) for a couple of days and then flew away! Yay milkweed!

Wicket and the duck

Someone dropped off a duck on our street. (Yes, there is a redneck joke in there somewhere, I'm sure!) Anyway, the duck is very tame and apparently likes dogs. Wicket chased him for a bit but then decided to play with him. Ducks and dogs both communicate by biting each others necks and faces so it worked out oddly well. It was very cute. Now Wicket goes out front looking for his duck to play with. The other three ducks haven't accepted this new duck, yet, so he mostly stands in our carport looking for company. Hopefully he will eventually move to the pond.

Aaron's first badge

Aaron got his first badge in Cub Scouts. The first is for learning things like the scout pledge and the law of the pack. For the ceremony they grab the boys getting the bobcat badge and flip them upside down. Interesting ritual. You can't really see his face because of his neckerchief but it's Aaron. He thought it was wonderful!