I finally got a photograph of the elusive elk roaming the hay fields close to home.  Through the winter I saw five of them feeding at the hay bales stacked at the edge of the tree line.  It is not often that they are in the open but it was my lucky morning to see two of the five.

My yard has been taken over by five young bluejays that are 'getting their wings'.  Their commotion in the lilac bushes got my attention yesterday.  They tried jumped from branch to branch squawking at each other.  This morning they made it to the willow outside my kitchen window.  Needless to say, my breakfast was not quiet.

Three of the five fledglings flew, well fell more than flew, onto my deck.  They all looked up at the tree and at the deck railing.  Two of them made it to the rail and attempted to fly to the fence.  One made it.  The other did not and landed on the ground.  The third was still on the deck attempting to get onto the railing.  It finally gave up and jumped onto the bottom board between the balusters.  There was not enough space for it to open its wings so only managed to jump down to the ground.  It took more than one attempt but they all eventually made it to the top of the fence.  There were two that were not as brave.  They could be up in the willow tree for awhile.

There was a lot of noise in the yard this morning but the entertainment value was worth it.