Speaking of birds, I just had quite an interesting encounter. I am trying to incorporate some very nice used carob bricks into my BBQ which is already built into some very large rocks adjacent to my pond. It is very challenging to try and meld the two materials together. I am totally engrossed trying to figure it out and out of nowhere comes a loud whoosh and a thud and an immature yet still very sizeable bald eagle flopping around at my feet. I'm not sure what attracted him, perhaps my koi but maybe he dove, saw me and tried to swoop out. He flew right into the glass rail of my deck and knocked himself cookoo. I calmly talked him through it until the cobwebs subsided and he was able to fly off to hunt another day. You talk about an adrenaline rush!!!!!! Here's a picture of the BBQ I was working on. I had just demo-ed the fake brick off the front when the eagle hit the glass panel on the deck stairs. Here is a link that might be useful:

Okay, they're back and in better light. Mystery solved, I'm being visited by a lovely pair of Lazuli Buntings, oh my gosh!! This is a first in my yard since I've lived here. Thanks all for trying to help me. I got a very clear look at these birds today, and saw that the blue extended across the back, and the head was even bluer than I had realized. I thought at first it might be a Western Bluebird, but it wasn't big enough. Such a pretty little bird and so glad to see it at my feeders!!

White crowned sparrows have been plentiful during migration this spring. We've had many reports here in MN and I had one in my yard the other day ... something I'd been hoping for the last 5+ years!

Kinda like this? I never saw this kind before until this weekend. He was hopping around in the bushes makin' a Tweet sound. I didn't post for an id because of the lame pic. Wouldn't that be weird if its the same kind?