Beauty of a Beast

This beauty ate one of my husband's apple trees (notice the apple for scale.) I've never seen such a big caterpillar. He said, "Did you kill it?" Of course not.

Robin eggs

Awww.

Diving and Dabbling

Many ducks on the Portage River in Three Rivers. This group is mostly grebes, but right in the middle are (tipped up, dabbling) two white domestic ducks. Miraculously, this pair has survived last fall and the winter. Most pairs of wild ducks and geese are cautious, one feeds while the mate keeps careful watch. The two white ducks enthusiastically and innocently feed at the same time - as in the photo. So far, so good.

Cardinal's in

Actually the cardinal is out there and I'm in here, with a cold. Snowed all day. Cardinal had no competition at the feeder!

Beastie

Inside the city limits, along a river, were these tracks. The webbed footprints are between four and six inches (10 to 15 cm) long, possibly slightly elongated from snow melt. I think I know what it is; any guesses? (Hint: not a duck.) (or goose.) (Hint #2: this wouldn't happen in California!)

Oh I'll tell although I would not have known if I hadn't seen him walking, enormous, low, and wide, rocking up the slope like a huge turtle - but with a deep rich brown coat and a long, flat broad tail... beaver! As weird as seeing an abinobabinabibble snow monster tanned alligator, a Kentucky monster crossed with bigfoot, or a swimfin wearing misguided icy river swimmer.

BirdieBirdie

Tragically, the cat passed away; but now it is safe for the birds to return to the feeder. This is a Downey Woodpecker, a tiny little member of the woodpecker family.

Backtracking my posts - didn't post the last few days 'cause I'm exhausted- a touch of something, combined with too many meetings!