A very surprising visitor!

I could tell as soon as I looked outside today that it was going to be a pretty day.  The mornings have been lighter recently, but it was even more bright today because the sky was clear.

Not the greatest picture of Mt. Rainier this morning, it was pretty early here and the lighting was tricky.

Since I was heading to the pet store I went outside to check whether we needed rabbit food.  The sunbathing squirrel caught my eye.  He reminded of how our dog goes from room to room looking for a spot of sun to lie in.  I ran in to get the camera because he just looked so funny there.  I wonder if this is the one that has buried apples in all the planters?

Now that my attention for what I went outside had been diverted I looked just over to the right and noticed the pair of Chickadees on the birdhouse.  I've been noticing birds checking out the birdhouses over the last week or so, seems kind of early to me.

This is what really surprised me.  The Littlest Gardener and I were laughing at the squirrel still when this butterfly fluttered down and landed right in front of us.  After looking around trying to ID what type it is, I think it looks as though it's a Red Admiral butterfly.   I have never seen one this early, it's usually at least May before any butterflies other than Cabbage Whites are around, sometimes even later.  Maybe it's a symbol of an early and nice spring?

The Crows are never a surprise, but sometimes I wish they were.  They are always around and scaring off other birds.

There have been lots of birds in the waterfall yesterday and today, but I haven't been able to get any good pictures.  They tend to come early and the sun is still low in the sky making the fence cast a lot of shade.

I was sitting on the deck stairs just soaking up some sun (like the squirrel had been) and kept hearing a very angry hummingbird.  I eventually got up and walked to the other side of the deck and in swooped this hummingbird.  The Anna's hummingbird is a year round visitor, but it won't be long before the Rufous return.

There is just something about hummingbirds I love.  Now that they are regular visitors to our yard, I still get excited every time I see one.

I had to get a picture of the Cascade Mountains that can be seen over our side fence.  This is the view the squirrel was enjoying.  We are so lucky to have such beautiful views of the mountains around us.  If I walk to the end of our street I can see the gorgeous Olympic Mountains where the sun sets every evening.  These types of days make me love Washington and forget about the many gray and rainy days.

No wonder the butterfly was out early, it felt like spring today!  Maybe the Groundfrog knows something the groundhog doesn't?

All words and photos in this post are property of A Gardener in Progress.