Skywatch Friday: Birds and Cows

 My husband complained that I haven't blogged in weeks.  It's true, but there's a good reason why.

Two weeks ago I had surgery on my foot...a plantar fasciectomy to be precise.  After a summer of having to keep my hiking to 3 1/2 miles or less while working in Yellowstone, I finally agreed to have the surgery.  I had been trying conservative methods of treatment for a year and a half with little to no success.  

I had to have a Covid test and self-isolate one week before the procedure.  Since then I've left the house once and that was for a post-op check.  I'm following the doctor's orders to the letter because I know how important it is for my foot to heal properly.

Anyway, I've been stuck at home for three weeks so I've not had inspiration to blog about anything.  We did have a couple exciting things happen at the farmstead this week though.

In September 2019 my husband put up a  raptor roost in our pasture.  (Click here to read about the roost.)  Since then it's had few visitors, but in the last couple weeks we have a hawk that visits regularly.  Still no nest being built, but he perches on it throughout the day.


He doesn't let us get very close to take photos, but my telephoto lens does a decent job of capturing him.


If you get too close he takes flight.


What is it about the birds of prey that make them so mesmerizing?  They are just beautiful and amazing to watch.


Since he's become a regular resident I think he needs a name.  I think Hank is a good name for him.  Anybody have any suggestions?

We had other visitors this week also.


Our security camera caught a whole herd of cows making their way onto our property in the middle of the night.


They were having a great time being out on their own.


Although we live in the country we have something that hardly anyone else out here has--a front lawn with lush green grass. 


We have a trail cam that we put up in various places on our property to see wildlife especially the mule deer that like to hang out here.  I never really thought we'd capture cows with the trail cam.


In the middle of the night my husband woke up to eyes looking in the bedroom window.  The dogs went a little crazy, but what are you going to do about a herd of cows in the middle of the night?


They hung around until about 8:00 the next morning when their owner came by with a truck filled with hay.  They were eager to follow him home for breakfast.  They came from a ranch a couple miles down the road.  By my estimate, about $100K worth of cattle were living the free range life that night.  I thought the finders keepers rule should apply so we could have beef for a year, but who am I kidding.  A cow at our place would be another pet and mouth to feed.

What crazy shenanigans have gone on around your house lately?

Linking with Skywatch Friday.







Comments

polcat24 said…
Yep, very optimistic that "Hank" might find a mate and build a nest. And I had a good time rounding the cows up off my property until a big huge brown one decided she didn't want to leave and charged me. then i said i would just let the owner get them. Two old to F--- with cows on foot. My wild cow milking days are over.
November 12, 2020 at 1:34 PM
Spare Parts and Pics said…
I would totally freak out waking up to eyes looking in my bedroom window! A fun post, and hoping your foot heals and you can start getting out again.
November 12, 2020 at 2:07 PM
Yogi♪♪♪ said…
Hank needs a girlfriend it seems to me.
Those freeloading cows are wild. They must be Republicans looking for another handout.
November 12, 2020 at 7:25 PM
Small City Scenes said…
Always interesting to find stray animals in the yard.
I hope you heal well
MB
November 12, 2020 at 8:14 PM
Carol On The Lake said…
a fun post - thanks for starting my day right
November 13, 2020 at 4:25 AM
fredamans said…
Wishing you a speedy recovery!
November 13, 2020 at 1:32 PM
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