What Have We Here?

No, seriously. My sister helped me figure out what this plant was a couple years ago and neither of us remembers for sure, though we think it might be a Northern Wild Raisin.

I admire the sprouting burgundy leaves and snowy flower  buds every spring. The tree/shrub stands at about six feet tall, or maybe a little more.

Does anyone recognize this plant? I'm hoping to get a definite identification and also hoping that it might stick in my brain this time!

I thought I had some pictures of the fruit from last fall, but I can't seem to locate them for help in narrowing the search. Maybe it was the year before... I may have to dig through some old files (or try to be patient until fall rolls around again).

What It Is Wednesday

So, to recap our puzzle pictures from Monday, here's the spruce grove near the entrance to our family property.

 

This first picture is really hard to see anything in, but it's there and presents a good contrast to the second picture where you can see something catching the light in front of the second spruce from the right. That's how I noticed that there was something going on that merited closer inspection. I saw the light reflect off something and realized what it was.

I should have reminded you that you can blow all these pictures up by clicking on them. Hmmm... Too late for the earlier clues, but you can still take advantage of the feature. 

Then, the picture above was Tuesday's clue. Zooming in was a pretty serious giveaway to some. 

Finally, here we have the reveal.

It's a male ruffed grouse displaying for a female that's very well hidden under that same second spruce from the right.

He danced and displayed for her, dipping, turning and showing off his beautiful tail feathers in the sunlight.

Then, he raised his head and fluffed out his ruff.

How could any girl resist such a magnificent specimen. Not only that, he appeared to be a very good dancer, a talent that is bound garner all kinds of admiration.

(I particularly like the feathers at the base of his tail that all look like they have tiny grouse versions of peacock-style eyes on them.)

It's always a special treat to witness something like this - it's rare and wonderful.

Tuesday Teaser

Okay, so here are the pictures from yesterday, just so you can have them all on the same page.

 

It's really hard to see, so here's the next picture.

Pretty awesome camouflage, don't you think?

 

Monday Mystery

Here we have another mystery to keep us occupied for a few days while I hunt for a new camera. I took these pictures a couple weeks ago and was waiting for a good time to share them, so here we go.

 

This is part of the spruce grove that the night ghost bunny was hopping through on Trail Cam Tuesday a couple weeks back.

It's much easier to see in the light of day - this is just the row closest to the trail, but it's several rows deep. The trees have grown so thick that they've become quite popular with the rabbits, deer and other critters looking for cover. 

Someone stepped out of hiding here, though. Two someones, actually, but one of them is all but impossible to see. 

This one's really hard - harder than I really intended, so there will be another clue tomorrow. :)

 

Photobomb

 
There I was, merrily taking pictures of some beautiful wild turkeys when a whitetail doe trotted into the frame just as I snapped the shutter.

It made me laugh and I thought it might make others snicker a little, too. 

The poor tom turkeys are in full display mode trying to impress the hens, their plumage shimmering in the sunshine, while the hens seem far more interested in snacking on freshly hatched bugs and new rye sprouts. 

Blushing Beauties

While some house finches stay through the winter, others are flying in from warmer climes for nesting season and they're enthusiastically joining the lineup at the bird feeders.

 

 

A few of them usually find a place to nest nearby and will visit the feeders all summer long, adding their cheerful color and voices to the back yard chorus.

 

Isn't he a handsome fellow?

Madam house finch is a little more shy, as well having a more muted wardrobe. She likes to keep to the lilac bush interior between visits to the feeding stations, but she's a cutie, too.

Let the Chips Fly Where They May

The chipping sparrows, that is. They've been hanging around my feeders for a little while now and I'm hoping they decide to stick around.

 

Their trilling song is delightful to hear.

Not only that, they're just really cute.

I do have a soft spot for the migrating sparrow contingent, though.

They have been taking advantage of the lilac bush, too, striking poses, hiding among the branches and tempting me to take lots of pictures.

However, I won't be taking any pictures for a while.  At least, not any close-ups - I only have my phone to work with. My camera died and finding a suitable replacement is proving more challenging than I expected. I guess the good news is that I took a lot of pictures over the last couple weeks, so I should be able to winnow through them for blog material for a while, anyway. 

And here you thought you might be spared! Hah!