Finding new buds popping everywhere and even saw the resident hawk

 All this week Dallas weather is set with blue skies no rain and mid 70s to low 80s. Spring is happening  in Texas!

 Yesterday was free admission at the Bush Presidential Center and Museum. The crowds were a flow of people into and out of the center. While I have not yet visited the museum and center inside the beautiful architectural walls, my mind decided that I would go around to the side entrance to the nature trails. Spring and Fall are my two most favorite times there. I love the nature. I am a grand supporter of natural planting programs that return native plants and wildflowers to the urban settings. And, having said that, finding wildlife in a high density urban setting is the grand slam for me (first day of Spring training for the World Series Champ, the Texas Rangers, got underway in Arizona yesterday) so, I had to put that "grand slam" tick in there, don't you see. 

Upon entering the trails, I looked for my favorite bench to sit down and pull out my camera gear. It had not been a hot 10-minutes before I spotted the resident hawk riding the thermals and looking for lunch. I guess that I had suspected that I would see him when I didn't see my rabbits that are usually found around the path that I take to the bench. Now, I know why they were not seen. They were hiding from the hawk. 

Green shoots are appearing in a lot of the bushes and plants that are native. In Texas, you can pretty much count on seeing green shoots by March 1 each year. I noted quickly upon moving to the Great Lakes that April 15th was the time frame for that local as green-up follows the same path in reverse order as fall colors moving south at about 20-miles per day. 

As my grandfather had taught me about weather from an early age most of his "weather"man characteristics were right on target. One example was that he taught me that the morning temperature could be calculated to be a base line that you could add 20° to that baseline and pretty much get the high for the day. Yesterday, for the first time ever, I heard a TV weatherman mention that same point. The other rule of grandpa was, "when clouds are high and thin, a weather system is moving in". Bingo on that one too, grandpa. 

So, for the first time in a long while, I shot over 100 images yesterday. Even I was surprised at the number.

The hawk is best at 100% enlargement. (detail in feathers)

On Saturday, I got some very good shots of a cardinal calling to his mate. while Yesterday, (Monday) I saw a pair of blue jays nesting in a mountain cedar. 

Check out the history of meanings in sighting cardinals and blue jays. They are interesting and have a good accuracy history, as well.