It feels like spring has finally arrived here in Bellville!
The temperatures have been almost at the norm for this time of year. The spring peepers are “peeping” at night, the birds are singing early in the morning and the grass is beginning to look green instead of the winter brown.
I love to watch the wildlife out here … it’s always entertaining!
The bunnies are daily, or I should say, evening visitors. I’ve been saying “she” comes every night but a couple of nights ago, there was an all-out, drag down fight so I assume it was two males.
I put carrots out every night for them and when I saw them arrive, I at first thought it was a pair until the fight started. They were both standing on their hind legs as they “pawed” at each other, scratching and biting. My cute “bunnies” had turned into Mohammed Ali and George Foreman!
One now has a half chewed off ear! He seems to be OK and none the worse for wear.
The chipmunk knows I put carrots out by the side door and he also shows up every evening to have whatever he can munch before the bunnies arrive!
The birds are beginning to do their mating songs and rituals. The male cardinals are feeding the females and signing beautifully early in the morning. I have bird bottles and wren houses around the house under the eaves and they are all being checked out by different birds. The chickadees seem to really like the wren houses; this is the second year they have nested in one. The sparrows like the bird bottles and build the messiest nests I’ve ever seen! They gather anything they can find; leaves, weeds, moss and feathers.
I have decided they must have GPS devices because they bring white chicken feathers from my neighbor’s farm. The farm is about a half mile away! She’s the only one around here who raises chickens.
The male sparrow proudly arrived with some dry grasses that he gave to the female. Without even flipping a wing, she unceremoniously threw his grasses down to the ground as if to say, “Are you serious? This junk?”
They continue to work on building their nest.
Samson and Delilah are so happy to be able to go outside. It’s fun to watch them as they run around their pastures, meeting at the back gate where they nuzzle each other between the bars of the gate and then take off again. Pure joy at being outside.
Delilah
Samson
A friend of mine has Sammy’s mom and another miniature donkey and said they look like 50-gallon barrels with legs! Perfect description of Sammy and Delilah! They haven’t lost their winter coats and they have put on a few pounds. I wonder if Weight Watchers has a plan for miniature donkeys?
We have had some gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, the sky red glowing.
Sunrise
Sunset
And my witch hazel is finally in full bloom. It normally blooms in February, but the last two winters have been so cold, it didn’t bloom until late March or early April.
The jonquils were in full bloom for Easter Sunday….
I hope spring has finally arrived!
