Goslings in High Point, N.C. They never fail to make me smile. #birds

A female black-throated blue warbler last week at Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge in Anson County, N.C. #birds

An indigo bunting last week at Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge, Anson County, N.C. #birds

This wasn't on my Bingo card yesterday: a small flock of black-bellied whistling ducks paid a rare visit to a park in High Point, N.C. #birds

A lovely surprise yesterday at Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina: a female common merganser. #birds

A red-wing blackbird at the Guilford County Farm in Gibsonville, N.C. #birds

I don't often see a snapping turtle basking in the sun. This one was at Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge last month.

A yellow-breasted chat at the Guilford County Farm in Gibsonville, N.C. #birds

Squirrels are so goofy.

A female downy woodpecker (left) teaches her offspring how to find food in my backyard in Greensboro, N.C. #birds

Look what showed up in my yard today in Greensboro, N.C.! I thought most of them had already passed through this area. #birds

A yellow warbler in High Point, N.C., last week. #birds

A royal tern bearing gifts in Hampton, Va. #birds

A nice surprise Monday afternoon as we prepared to leave Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge: a beaver carrying leaves to its lodge.

One more from yesterday's tug-of-war. #birds

A great blue heron and a water snake fight over a fish. The heron plucked the snake and fish from the water. Spoiler alert: the snake won. #birds

Happy Mother's Day! #birds

Snowy egrets in Hampton, Va., last month. #birds

This very small rabbit at the county farm is only about 4 weeks old but it looks like he's already formed an opinion about the world.

A groundhog at Piedmont Environmental Center in High Point. It looks like it's posing for its senior portrait.

This was incredible. There were 3 families of Canada geese with 17 goslings at Bur-Mil park this morning. 16 goslings crowded under the wings of one goose to take shelter from the rain. The 17th gosling (right) kept trying to push its way in. The 5 other adult geese were foraging nearby. #birds

More oystercatchers! #birds

One reason this is my favorite time of the year. #birds

An eastern kingbird at the Guilford County Farm in Gibsonville, N.C. #birds

Brown pelican, Fort Monroe, Hampton, Va. #birds

A yellow-crowned night heron in a yard in Hampton, Va. #birds

Laughing gulls. Hampton, Va. #birds

This female osprey landed on the narrow strip of sand in the background and slowly walked into the water to bathe. Fort Monroe, Va. #birds

A brown pelican flies over Fort Monroe in Hampton, Va. #birds

A snowy egret in a pond off Mercury Boulevard in Hampton, Va. #birds

Fort Monroe, Hampton, Va. #birds

Oystercatchers mate as cargo ships sail out to sea and military jets fly overhead. Fort Monroe, Hampton, Va. #birds

The orchard orioles have returned to the Guilford County Farm in Gibsonville, N.C. #birds

Two young squirrels playing in the yard at the Guilford County Farm in North Carolina.

A water snake in its element in High Point, N.C.

Just like clockwork, the rose-breasted grosbeak pays a visit to the Piedmont Environmental Center in High Point. They always show up at the end of April. #Birds

A male osprey flies into the nest and commences mating with the female. Jordan Lake. #birds

An eastern phoebe in High Point, N.C., earlier this week. #birds

An especially handsome fox squirrel in Anson County, North Carolina.

I think this is the fiery hunter beetle. We found it when we were planting flowers, which is fitting since it's good for gardens because it keeps caterpillars in check.

A cackling goose in High Point, N.C. #birds

The tree swallows have taken over one of the bluebird boxes I monitor. They were interested in another box but the bluebirds there are standing their ground. The nest now contains five bluebird eggs, and the swallows seem to have lost interest. #birds

A zebra swallowtail in a field at Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge last week.

A female red-winged blackbird at the Guilford County Farm in Gibsonville, N.C. #birds

Happy #Caturday from Simon.

A cackling goose showed up at a local park yesterday. At first glance it looks like a Canada goose. But look again: It's about half the size of the Canada goose and its neck and bill are shorter. It's a rarity for this part of North Carolina. #birds

A turtle tête-à-tête Monday at Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge.

An osprey with a fish at Jordan Lake in Apex, N.C. #birds

This green anole turned brown when he noticed us, trying to blend in with the fence. Once he knew he wasn't in danger, he climbed on top of the post, turned green and fell asleep. Jordan Lake Educational Forest.

A squirrel doing squirrel things in my backyard in Greensboro, N.C.