Monsoons in May

We are finally through all the April showers, but unfortunately they've been replaced by the May Monsoons. About the only crop that I think will do well this year are watermelons and giant pumpkins. 

West Branch of the Susquehanna River at Mahaffey, PA.  From here you can canoe the whole way into the Atlantic Ocean.

Coltsfoot -- Tussilago farfara
Low dandelion-like plant with a single flower.

Chest Creek
The overflow from our spring runs downhill to Brubaker Run, which runs into Chest Creek, which runs into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, which runs into the Susquehanna River, which runs into the Chesapeake Bay which runs into the Atlantic Ocean.

Daffodil

A small flock of Purple Finches wait in a tree for their turn at the feeders.  The males are the bright red birds, the females almost blend in with the background.  We've cut back on the number of feeders since spring has arrived.   

Female Eastern Towhee

Male Eastern Towhee looking for insects among the rocks. 

Male Red-Bellied Woodpecker.

Male Cardinal. 

Two male Purple Finches 

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 
Don't you just love those yellow buds in the background!

Chipmunk with its jowls full of seeds peaks out from its hiding place between the rocks. 

Blue Jay 

I captured this cat looking out of a window in an alley in Ebensburg.

On Home Turf

With gas now at $4.85 per gallon I don't think I'll be out roaming to far from home for awhile.  Right now my plans are to only travel in the 7 counties that share a border with Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

There's nothing like a flock of flamingos to brighten up a back yard in early spring.

With the early morning sun shining above low lying clouds the contrails of criss crossing jets take on the appearance of a giant sword.

Saint Monica's Cemetery in Chest Springs looking out over Allegheny Township.

One of four male turkeys that passed by the house with a group of about twenty admirers.
If Benjamin Franklin would have had his way the Turkey would be our national bird. 

Bonanno Butcher Shop along the bank of the West Branch Susquehanna River.
The levee you see behind the building keeps the river from flooding the low lying land.

Quaker Sales macadam plant outside of Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania.

Muskrats  Love.

Red Squirrel caught in the act.

It's been eight months since we've had a visit from the Red-Breasted Nuthatches.

Red-Breasted Nuthatch in the sassafras branches.

Cattle along a back road on the way to Lake Glendale.

Once an active skeet shooting club this old building sits abandoned outside of Prince Gallitzin State Park due to new DEP rules.

Martin houses with Prince Gallitzin State Park office in the background.  The wind mill provides power to the park office.

Amish fishermen enjoy a day of fishing on Glendale Lake.