Animatronic robin.

Just kidding.

We went for a walk at Arnold Arboretum in Boston on Saturday and so did this big old snapping turtle.

It crossed the paved pathway, traveling from one pond to another, while about 15 people stopped to observe and wonder.

“That is the prettiest color,” said my daughter Laura. We were in town to celebrate her graduation from MassArt, BFA in Painting.

The nest, featuring robin’s-egg-blue eggs, was down low right next to the path.

This Red-winged Blackbird has a distinguished and distinguishing shoulder patch of red and yellow.

Tree Swallow on a nest box.

Yellow Warbler in a thicket by a pond.

Close-up of the Tree Swallow. Such a nice deep blue iridescence on its back and head.

Over by the bonsai collection, a Common Grackle feeds its kid.

Is that a potato chip or a moth?

Ahhh!

Chipping Sparrow hopping around in front of us, sort of camouflaged yet not.

So this is where some of my winter friends have flown to!

In the artist’s palette of bird colors, this bird is Catbird Gray.