I looked out the window yesterday to see something moving through the brush and watched until I realized that it was a group of quail. Scurrying along, scratching around near the water pans probably eating a few sunflower seeds and then disappeared back into the brush. They only fly into the air if I am

The photo is of a cat I happened to see enjoying a nice long drink of water. He wasn't chasing any birds and he didn't stay long and has not been back again. A few weeks earlier, I happened upon a big black cat but he ran away as soon as I came into sight.

But since those times, we've had a good rain and the animals are not so desperate for water. There are still a lot of goldfinches around but not nearly as many as through the winter. I cleaned the hummingbird feeder yesterday and will put it out this afternoon. We're still due for a hard freeze tonight but the hummers often appear before the last freezes. I like to note the date of appearance so I can be ready before they do show up.

Some bird or squirrel had managed to pull the little flowers out of the nectar feeders so now the better feeder has yellow flowers instead of red but I doubt the birds will mind.

There have been some of the big hawks flying about. They always know when the population of rabbits is up and ready for snacking. When I was out last night tending the doggies, a very tiny baby bunny ran across the pathway. They are sure cute when they are little and not yet trying to eat up the garden.

No scissortails yet to tell of the beginning of spring. Our weather today is cloudy with a strong north wind to keep us with winter cold. But the forecast says that we'll warm up starting on Saturday. This could be our last days of freezing for the season. Today is the usual last freeze of the spring.

There are still lots of the little birds; the wrens and the sparrows. Lots of blue jays but they don't stay very long after it starts getting really hot.

One problem with the window and taking photographs is that it is dirty and gets that way often. The seed table is outside and under the window so priority became getting a long handled window washer. We bought some glass and surface cleaning cloths that were said to leave a streak free shine... no they don't. It is a mess and in need of cleaning again.