A New Bunny, A New Cat, & New Birds

I know - more bunnies? Yep, more bunnies.

This is called "Ribboned Rabbit". The design is by The Cricket Collection.

Pickles the Cat decided that since I'm not going anywhere, he'll make due with my second-rate services.   

Pickles has finally stopped hiding under the bed. While he will not have much to do with me, he now hangs out in the same room with me, and has taken an interest in my stitching efforts. He still very much missed "His People".

The last couple of days have been grey and showery.

The weather does not bother the birds at Delta Ponds.

The ponds are just a ten minute walk away and a great place to bird watch.

I saw several different birds I was not able to photograph including Killdeer, Violet-Green Swallows, Barn Swallows, and Red-Winged Blackbirds.

I took a walk in the late afternoon, not the best time for bird watching. 

Nonetheless some of the "Waterfowl Regulars" were out and about...

...including Canada Geese...

...and Mallards.

I am not totally certain about the ID of this pair of ducks.

I am leaning toward Gadwall, a dabbling duck.

And as duck hens tend to all look alike, I won't even speculate as to who these hens and ducklings might be. 

The dark stripe across the eyes makes me think they are Mallards.

I was rewarded with two new-to-me birds.

First off a very cool wading bird.

It's a Spotted Sandpiper.

It nests in gravelly areas along streams, lakes, and ponds.   Sandpipers eat insect and tiny fish. This is a highly territorial bird so does not appear in groups or flocks.

But here's my most amazing bird!

A couple of Wood Ducks!

Are they not the prettiest ducks ever?  I've never seen Wood Ducks before.  They are so colorful and have the most interesting nesting habits.  They nest in cavities and nesting boxes well above the ground.  The ducklings then must jump out of the nest on to the ground or into the water almost immediately after hatching. If you'd like to see a video click here.