Animal Wednesday for the Merry Month of May

I witnessed a wonderful thing at the Palace of Fine Arts!  No, the Cygnets are not born - yet.....but, when I arrived there, Blanche (the Momma-to-be) was in the lake having a bath...and Blue Boy (the Poppa-to-be) was actually sitting on the nest, keeping the eggs warm!

Blue Boy sitting on the nest

Blanche coming ashore after her bath - and doing some Swan-Yoga!

Enroute to Blue Boy and the nest...  (the *Keep Out* signs have been put up for the Swans protection).

A little greeting!

Changing places....  look carefully and you can see a few of the eggs!  There are still five - so I have hopes the Cygnets will be born!

Blue Boy decided to add some plants to the nest - I loved that he has a flower in his mouth... an *offering* to his lady!

Blanche is back on the nest and Blue Boy is preparing to stand guard!

I did also come across some Ducklings!

I love how the one has veered away from his Siblings and is swimming towards me!

It was warm for SF - almost 70 - and these Ducks decided to nap in the shade!

Look at this *Beast*!  A Snout-nosed Turtle!  The largest I have ever seen!  This fellow is HUGE!

Falling Plum Blossoms.....  so lovely...

Happy Animal Wednesday!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday...Words Fail Me!

Normally I am not a fan of dressing animals in costumes.... but, you can clearly see that everyone in this video is having a great time! Enjoy!

HAW!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Springtime.... Birds do it, Bees do it....

This week - everywhere I go, I see babies!  (Or soon-to-be babies!)  The weather has been gorgeous...everything is blossoming....

Baby Ducklings at Stow Lake

Mama Duck with her brood....  look how wonderfully they are camouflaged!

Love the Violets and her nest of Pine Cones!

At the Palace of Fine Arts...baby Goslings!  Look how adorable!  They are so busy concentrating on finding pieces of grass to eat - they and their parents allowed me to come this close!

Then, the whole family took to the lake...

Those of you who read me on Face Book know that my beloved Palace Swans are expecting more Cygnets! Here are Blanche and Blue Boy....they have not chosen the safest place for their nest...so the Park Caretakers have added some *caution tape* to block people from harassing them. 

Here's Blanche - looking like a Queen atop her nest!

If you look closely, you will see five eggs!  The Cygnets are due in early May.

Blanche in the Lake - she goes once a day - for about 15 minutes and refreshes herself....while Blue Boy keeps watch on the nest.

Ah.....feels so good after sitting in the sun all day!

 Back on land....time for a quick dry-off - then to the nest!  (I did bring her some oatmeal and fed her while she was in the water.)

Settling in again....

Here's Papa-to-be - Blue Boy....keeping watch.

Okay...I trust Robin....so am going to nap for a bit!

Ending with....the first Roses of Spring in the Rose Garden at the Park.

I know Spring has still not reached all of you.... and with the sadness and of the Boston and Texas tragedies...I hope these photos of new, young life with buoy your spirits and fill you with hope and peace.

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

The Anglers Lodge - and Beyond to Animal Wednesday

Last week, I *discovered* a part of the park I never knew existed.....the Anglers Lodge and Pools.  It's three pools of varying size, where one goes to practice *Fly Fishing*...no...not bzzzz...bzzzz flies... think of Brad Pitt's flim *A River Runs Through It*. It's a very cool part of the park - not many people...but on the day I found it, the two men who run it invited me into the old lodge.... a real thing of beauty. The club that currently occupies the Lodge was organized in 1933, as an offshoot of the San Francisco Fly Casting Club, which dates back to 1894. The original location of the club was Stow Lake, but moved to its present space when the facilities were completed in 1939.

I didn't take this one....it came from their website.

This one I did take....you can see one of the casting pools....

Dragonfly Stained Glass Window

Wooden Shutters with *Fishies*.  I was just there at the right time to catch the Sun shining through them.

Fish (of course) are everywhere throughout the building - even on the floor!

I was invited back to try my hand at *Fly Casting*.....free lessons on Saturdays!  Perhaps I'll give it a try one day! A-ha-ha!

After I left the Lodge, I continued my wandering through the Park...and of course, met some more *Friends*!

The Red Winged Blackbirds have returned!  I missed their electric red feathers and *purr-like* calls during the Winter.. This little guy actually ate out of my hand.....but I couldn't feed him and take a photo at the same time...

Feed me!  I love bread!

Thank you...yum-yum!

These two were serenading me with their sweet voices!

The Koi like to eat bread too.....these two were scrambling to get some!

Hmm.....Turtle Love?

Managed to catch Mr. Gopher  enjoying a bit of Salad!

Happy Animal Wednesday to everyone!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

p.s. Blogger informed me this is my 301st post!  Who would have ever thought....

Over the Rainbow...

We are having the first dose of *April Showers*!  The weekend was extraordinary....  Rain, Sun,  Clouds and......for those of us in San Francisco, a rarity.......

I was thrilled to see this gorgeous Rainbow in the East!  I did not enhance the colours.

At the same time, looking towards the North - and the Golden Gate - more storm clouds on the horizon!

Finally, to the West, the Sun emerged from the clouds and glowed as  it set into the Pacific..

May April bring you all the glories of Spring.

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

P.S.  My FIRST April Surprise - (but NOT an April Fool's Joke)...*MY* Mockingbird chose today to return!  I am truly looking forward to those 3:00 a.m. *Concerts*!

I shot this video last year...but you can clearly hear *Mr. Mocker* singing away accompanied by Fog Horns!