Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Purple Martins and Frogs

A typical late spring morning around here. A green frog sits on a floating plant in the small pond while a tadpole below sprouts legs on the other side out of the way of the goldfish.
A male and female Purple Martin sit outside their apartment that is probably a lot neater than the swallow nest under our porch (middle shot below). That messy nest is less tidier than the house parents created a few years ago (bottom). It's the same nest they use each year, but probably not the same adults.


Monday, May 24, 2010

Marvin the Plecostomus

Marvin, the fish tank cleaner is now enjoying solitude (left). We got him about two years ago when he only a few inches long (middle pic); now he's about six inches.

The two gold fish that stay inside over winter are back in the small backyard pond. In addition to algae tablets, Marvin likes cooked zucchini and Romaine lettuce.