Serene Scenery Sunday Funnies

Hello, everyone!  If your last night was as loud as ours was, you'll understand why our post is so late today.  Yikes, it was crazy around Ao4 Headquarters!  Anyway ... having said that, Mags and I thought all of you might appreciate some smiles today!  Hopefully, these pix our mom shot on Friday will soothe all your worries away, put a smile on your face, and help you get into a serene state of mind!  Let's take a look!

She and her friend went out to Tuttle Creek State Park.  Parts of the park are currently under water - and I don't just mean the ponds and the river!

Not the most convenient spot for handicapped parking.  Unless you have a boat.
And you'll need a boat to get to the boat ramp.

Because of the flooding, Mom and Beth walked one of the roads, looking for birdies.  The big excitement for mom was nailing her first Cuckoo!

Yellow-Billed Cuckoo!

Apparently, they sound nothing like the ones who live in clocks in Germany. Who knew?  Anyway, these guys are very elusive and like to hide in the leaf-covered trees.  Mom was so happy this guy came out where she could photograph him!

Here is a shot of a Common Grackle and Baltimore Oriole exchanging pleasantries:

"Hey.  Can't you read?  No trespassing!"
"I have a permit."

Mom spent a good deal of time photographing a very cooperative Redheaded Woodpecker:

"Hi, everybody!"

Mom may have spent too much time photographing him.

"Are you still here?"

Mom said he was a tree-hugger.

"I love my tree!"

She meant that in the literal sense.

One more pose?

"I'm not fat; I'm fluffy!"

There were two Blue-Grey Gnatcatchers who kept dive-bombing him. Here's a look at one of them:

Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher, sitting on a branch above the woodpecker

Neither Mom nor the woodpecker knew what in the world he was doing here:

"COWABUNGA!!!"
"What the WHAT?!?!"

Strange birds, those gnatcatchers!

Mom saw this Great Blue Heron over in one of the flooded areas:

"You can't see me."
"Yes, I can."
"No, you can't.  I'm hiding."
"I can still see you."
"No, you can't."
"OK, whatever."

He was busy hunting for fishies and froggies and stuff, so he didn't want to be seen!

"Slowly, I turned---WAIT!  What's that?!!?"

You'll never guess where he was fishing! In the Dog Agility Park!!! It was totally flooded out! Who knew herons could do an agility course?!?! But check this out:

Heron agility course:  Through the hanging tire, up and over the A-frame, then catch a fish!

"Piece of cake!  ...or shad.  HA!  I crack myself up!"

Does anyone else remember that song "Shake a Tail Feather"?

Seriously?

Moving on to other birdies ...

Here is an Eastern Kingbird taking on a Turkey Vulture:

"Who's the king of the skies?  That's right - I AM!  Now buzz off, buzzard!"
"You don't have to get personal ..."

And here is a male Orchard Oriole, dive-bombing a female Orchard Oriole!

"Hi, honey!  I'm home!"
"EEK!"

I guess maybe he came home early and she realized she hadn't even started to make dinner yet?

Anyway, we hope these photos help put a smile on your faces!  Have a serene Sunday, everyone!

Cammie!