Day before yesterday, right at sunrise, Linda watched a family of ducks using the pond and berm. They were dark like the Blackbirds, but she was so shocked that she failed to get a good description. Another interesting bird is a small Red-naped Sapsucker (woodpecker) that has been here for a couple of weeks. He spends most of the day hanging on the mirrors of whatever vehicles are parked in the driveway, looking at himself and pecking at the glass. I tried to take a picture, but would have to be at least 3 feet away for a good one, and he isn't going for that. My brother said that it also spends a lot of time chipping away at the aluminum vent pipes that are on his roof. I also noticed a smaller dove in the yard this morning. The Ring-necked doves moved in a couple of years ago and seemed to - not really take over, but invade the community in ways that other species never have. This other kind is unusual in town.
I mowed all day again. I am determined to protect the dogs (and the kid from kindergarten - necessary no matter what super powers he may have) from snakes.