Airlie cygnets have hatched

After weeks of waiting I was lucky enough to be in Airlie Gardens this afternoon while the cygnets (baby swans) were hatching!

Here is a picture a friend of mine took several weeks ago 

showing two eggs in the mute swan nest.

When I first got there this one kept peeking out!

Soon another little (still wet) head appeared.

Here are the twins.....

who were soon snuggling together for awhile!

By the time I had to leave the "older" of the two was checking out dad!

A family portrait (with one still drying out under mom)

Spring in Airlie Gardens

First two weeks of April 2014

Cedar Waxwings at my son's house.... three dozen flew in for a visit

my first picture where you can actually see the RUBY part of the ruby throat hummingbird

Looks like I have a bluebird in the birdhouse on my fence

sunrise at Wrightsville Beach

a line of pelicans greet the sunrise at Wrightsville Beach

A "trinity" wildflower called Virginia spiderwort at the beach

oystercatcher at Masonboro Inlet which has been ravaged my bulldozers

momma fox at Airlie Gardens protecting her den of newborn kits

spring flowers at Airlie Gardens