Birding / nature / photography ~ Older Asexuals for light walking and hiking nature adventures ~

[daveb]

6 hours ago, Tanwen said:

Advice from the RSPB (and I don't think American birds will be any different  

 

https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/284908-feeding-birds-in-summer-mythbusting

Thanks

I didn't see them mention suet specifically. So I googled and it looks like suet is good year round, but may need a non-melting version for warmer seasons.

[Muledeer]

Today, I have had visits, encounters or some other kind of interactions with a pregnant mule deer (twice), a curious bull moose (twice), a resident rock chuck (marmot) who was chirping all afternoon,  numerous birds, and a snake.  The snake was all coiled up under a metal pan I was picking up.  He just stayed there while I studied him and then he slithered into the rock wall.  It was a very plain, garden variety non-harmless creature, that extended to two feet long when he slithered off.  Through all of these sighting and encounters, not one dog chase or even barking!

[LVG]

I'm slightly jealous. My mom saw a chickadee fledgling this morning. She took a picture on her phone, and although it's fuzzy, the little bird is so cute. 

[Muledeer]

Today, I hung out with mountain bluebirds, robins, sparrows and a prolonged encounter with a red tailed hawk.  Watched it through the binoculars for 10 min or so.   He was perched on the uppermost branch of a dead lodgepole pine tree, overlooking the river, and was able to turn its head 180 degrees!   The beaks and talons of a hawk are surely built for battle! 

[Skycaptain]

A little light avian entertainment. Whilst on a tube train a pigeon boarded at one station, strutted around the carriage, and exited at the next stop, many a silent chuckle and acknowledging glances amongst passengers 

[daveb]

11 hours ago, Skycaptain said:

A little light avian entertainment. Whilst on a tube train a pigeon boarded at one station, strutted around the carriage, and exited at the next stop, many a silent chuckle and acknowledging glances amongst passengers 

One of those stunt pigeons we hear about?

[LVG]

I've heard about pigeons riding the Tube. Apparently stray dogs in Moscow have also developed this behavior.

[Myssterry]

I visited a nature reserve today, and saw beautiful dragonflies, the four spotted chaser and the broad bodied chaser.  There were quite a few birds around, notably marsh harriers and a garganey drake.  The huge skies of the fenland were beautiful, blue with wispy white clouds for most of the day.

[Blackthorn]

The blue-tits have been bringing their fleglings to the garden over the past few days - they like the suet coconut and the suet sprinkles.

I saw a male and female bullfinch in the garden yesterday - rare visitors for me.  They were perched on either side of the sunflower heart feeded.

[Autumn Sunrise]

We've had an increase in rabbit numbers over summer and autumn. We used to have a fox around here, but I haven't seen it for some months (wouldn't be surprised if someone shot it - most of the neighbours have chickens, and I think we're the only ones that keep the chickens in a large fenced field. The chickens on the nearby properties seems to roam free - in fact, I've seen them wandering on our land. I'd rather protect my chickens and leave the fox alone, but everyone doesn't see it that way . Anyway, in spring we had quite a lot of tiny, cute baby rabbits, but of course they do grow up, and now we have some pretty large, fat ones. Summer was a good season, with lots of rain and plenty of soft green grass: I don't grudge them a bit of grass, but I do draw the line at my veg gardens  (although we haven't lost much so far, and from the pattern of attack I actually think the kangaroos are more likely culprits.) Yesterday I spotted two fat rabbits lurking near the raised beds, so I wandered down the slope, and the rabbits made a leisurely move, a few metres ahead of me, then sat down to wait and see what I'd do. We went on like this, a few metres at a time,  until I finally saw them off the property . . . cheeeky little devils! 

[Blackthorn]

The Foxes in England may be safer for a little while at least.....

[Skycaptain]

Urban foxes are, rural ones no, because there's more way to kill a fox than an organised hunt 

[Myssterry]

The woodpeckers are visitng the feeders with a juvenile.  The young have a red cap and are very striking.  

 

Picture not mine.  Just added to show how stunning they are.

 

[Tja]

Hundreds of fire-flies put on amazing display, last night.

Went to go to a Dr. appt., and a kitten was next to my pickup. it ducked underneath, and disappeared.

I opened my hood, and there were 4 feral kittens on my engine! *Thank goodness, I didn't use my remote to start my truck!!*

They freaked, and jumped off, before I could grab any of them.

On the way back, a beautiful turtle was crossing the street. I set my flashers, walked it across, and lifted it over the curb.

 

[GeoAmy]

A bald eagle visits a park behind my subdivision.  I had seen it out on the islands, which are kind of far away for good photos.  Finally caught it up in the trees tonight and was super excited.

 

 

Edited June 28, 2017 by GeoAmy

[daveb]

13 minutes ago, GeoAmy said:

A bald eagle visits a park behind my subdivision.  I had seen it out on the islands, which are kind of far away for good photos.  Finally caught it up in the trees tonight and was super excited.

 

 

Wow! Great photo!

[Autumn Sunrise]

Fabulous photo, @GeoAmy - I love bald eagles  Do you follow the Decorah eagles? (I used to, but somehow I lost touch - I hope they're still going strong!)

[teatree]

I saw a black bear yesterday morning, on my drive to work. It was right in a neighborhood only a few blocks from my house--at first I thought it was a very large dog walking down a driveway, then saw that it was a bear! It went up on a porch, then ambled off again.I guess there have been lots of sightings of this (one?) bear over the past couple of weeks. I'm so glad that I wasn't out walking my dogs.... I have never seen a bear in the "wild" before! I swung back around to the little market a few doors down to alert them, and also called the police just to let them know of the sighting. The officer seemed very unconcerned ("Yeah, we'll send a patrol car, but that bear has been hanging around a lot") but geez, it was a very populated area. Thank goodness classes are out for the summer, as the nearest school is only a block away and it would have been the time the kids were walking there. Sorry, no pictures! 

[daveb]

I went for a nice walk along one of the local footpaths (paved, winds through some wetlands, along creeks/river, between residential areas - in some places there are apartments and house backyards right next to the trail). Spent over an hour walking, at least 3 miles, but probably less than 4. Other than the usual songbirds and crows and such the only other noteworthy wildlife I saw were several ducks curled up right next to the path at one spot. I was probably as close as a couple of feet/maybe a yard as I walked past. They watched, but didn't make any move to get away. Must be used to people walking past them (and even some dogs and strollers and bicycles as I saw all of those as I walked the path).

[GeoAmy]

@Autumn Sunrise Thanks!  No, I don't follow those eagles.  Do they have a webcam on the next?  I think my wildlife rehab friend in Perth has followed them. 

 

@daveb Thanks!  

 

I just started more serious photography last november with the purchase of a nice camera.  I find it is a good tool to get me off the couch!  And I just have to go around the corner for great birds.  I think i've seen over 2 dozen different birds in that park, which is great for an area that's primarily flood control.  They did a good job of turning it into wildlife habit with a nice trail around it the ponds.

[daveb]

1 minute ago, GeoAmy said:

 I think i've seen over 2 dozen different birds in that park, which is great for an area that's primarily flood control.  They did a good job of turning it into wildlife habit with a nice trail around it the ponds.

There's a park like that a few miles down the road from where I live, and I saw a bald eagle there, too. But it was much farther away. The only way I knew it was a bald eagle was I could see the white head when it turned certain ways. At that park/preserve they raise/lower the water levels at different times of the year to mimic the natural patterns.

 

Oh, I forgot! I also saw hawk sitting on top of a light pole while I was out walking, too. I walked right past the light pole so I got a pretty view of the hawk. I think it was an adolescent, but one of the bigger species (definitely not a sparrowhawk).

[Muledeer]

@Tja how kind of you to help that turtle across the road!  Why did the turtle cross the road in the first place?  And about those fireflies - what a spectacle.  I have never seen fireflies make fire.  Hell, I have never even seen a firefly that I am aware of.

@GeoAmy what a fantastic photo of that beautiful bird!  Such crisp details......

@teatree It sounds like living with bears is no big deal according to your authorities.  It is a big deal around here, and they usually get themselves shot for the smallest threat or misbehavior.  Bear mischief is simply not tolerated.   I live on the Bear River and I have never seen a wild bear around here.

[Tja]

5 minutes ago, Muledeer said:

 Hell, I have never even seen a firefly that I am aware of.

Here ya go...

 

[Tja]

10 minutes ago, Muledeer said:

 Why did the turtle cross the road in the first place?

To get to the other side, of course.

[Muledeer]

@Tja that firefly video was interesting.  I thought they just stayed all lit up and flew around - didn't know they just flashed random lights - it doesn't look like they can control when they fire up.  Not what I expected.   And *ding# ding# ding*, you got the right answer for my turtle question!

[Tja]

Actually, @Muledeer, the lights flash in a timed pattern. Though, I'm not certain how this pattern helps them find their mate.

It seems that oxygen is combined with a chemical in their cells which trigger the light.

Scientists aren't sure if the lights are turned on by their controlling the oxygen intake, or through nerve cells.

It is a controlled behavior, though.

*It's just past gloaming here, and they've started to come out*

[Muledeer]

1 hour ago, Tja said:

 

*It's just past gloaming here, and they've started to come out*

gloaming = the time between sunset and dark.  I had to google that one.  Thanks for a new word that I will actually use because that is one of my favorite times of the day.  In just a half an hour, it will be gloaming in Wyoming.

[daveb]

There's an old Scottish song, "Roamin' in the Gloamin'".

[Autumn Sunrise]

Awesome firefly video, @Tja  And I love the word "gloaming"!

[Tja]

Sorry. Off topic:

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