Daily Pics vol. 11

Here it is again.

and I know this isn't a bird but to make it legal this racoon was dining on the bird seed I had sprinkled on the window sill lol! I was doing something on the computer last night when I suddenly realized that my two cats were staring REALLY intently at the dining room window (which looked black to me). I turned the light in the room off and then I could see a large furry lump on the window if I squinted hard. I got the camera and when the flash went off there was the reason for the cats' interest!

this racoon seems totally unfazed by the presence of the cats or me! Here it is looking at my finger tapping on the window to get its attention. (we need a good photo after all lol)



This message was edited May 17, 2007 5:46 PM

here are "the girls" actually sharing the chair so they can both watch.

Great shots Lily! Now THAT's a close up of a racoon!

Janet

Here it is again watching me twirl the cord from the blinds around wildly so I can get another picture of its face. It didn't seem aggressive at all. Its not showing its teeth in a snarl, it's just having to turn its neck so far to see what the crazy lady is making such a big commotion about.



This message was edited May 17, 2007 2:08 PM

one last picture... I decided to quietly open the kitchen door and go out on the deck. It was a lot faster at getting away than the possoms were that visited 2 winters ago. I did get a shot of its tail before it hopped off. Believe it or not, it was back 5 minutes later.



This message was edited May 17, 2007 5:47 PM

Here is a very pristine looking goldfinch.

Here is something I've never seen before, the armpit of a tufted titmouse lolol!! Seriously, I have seen hints of rufous feather color along its sides but never realized just how reddish their sides are until I saw this picture.

Got within about 20 feet of the post this eagle was on - he was then also up above me, but it's the closest I've ever come to one. He was out on the dock, and the tide was really low so I walked down the boat ramp, little by little, until I got too close - then he left. But I got photos first!!!

Sorry that's so big - thought I'd chosen a smaller one.

One more.

Awesome photos!!! My Goodness you were close!!!

Janet

Thanks, Janet! The eagle was on top of the pillar that is 4th from the water end. I was standing below the pillar that is 6th (the pillars are further apart than they look in this photo).

Great pics Murmur! They are so incredible looking!

Wow, look at that beak and those talons!!

Mourning Dove

Beautiful shot Pelle! Love that turquoise ring around his eye. I don't think I ever noticed that before on the ones we have here.

Janet

That shot is so crystal clear! It looks like I could reach out and touch the dove!

I got a few pictures of a thrasher that visited one of my garden beds this evening. They are no where near as good as that dove shot though. I shot them through a window with the telephoto and didn't have time to set up the tripod so I used the cat tree as a camera rest. Most shots were pretty blurry.

Yah, yah, you've all got pretty indigo buntings and eagles… but I'VE got SPARROWS! ;) Mom and Dad share the feeding duties.

there is something about brown thrashers that reminds me of roadrunners. I guess because they have such long legs and can run so fast with that long tail sticking out.

Lilyfant,

Yah, I think those are road runner-like too. I get those in my lawn very rarely and I love the way they thrash around in the mulch looking for bugs. Plus, they have the nicest song. We had a pair last week pass through.

Here's a Chipping Sparrow on the finch feeder. I think these little guys are so cute.

This message was edited May 18, 2007 7:16 PM

Yes he is cute! I don't see those very often here. What a nice clear shot!

Pelle, great shot of the dove - it has the sweetest expression!!

Lily, you did good using a cat tree for a tripod - lol - I've tried that kind of thing before, too . . . believe me, you did better than I!!!

And Mrs. Ed, marvelous, marvelous shots of dual parent duty - I love that!!!

Wish I could get a picture of our road runner. He will sometimes watch me in the garden and if I stay still he hangs around for a while. Cute as the dickens and makes a funny little growly noise. No beeps! lol

Those are all excellent photos. I rarely use a tripod outside. Just not enough mobility for me. I pay for that in my shots. :-( I'll have to be more diligent about setting it up.

Kaperc, I've acquired 2 small roadrunner statues in the past year. One is wooden and one is copper. I'd love to see the real thing live, but I'd settle for some photos though. (insert waybigo grin here) So keep on trying. :-)

Janet

Hey UniQue,

Have you considered a Monopod? They seem more mobile but offer some stability if you need it. They are also nice for nature walks in the woods because they double as walking sticks.

Lily, I forgot to tell you how adorable your cats are!

: D

Hi Mrs Ed. I found a monopod at Goodwill recently. I've tried it but haven't gotten the hang of it yet. I'll have to get it back out and try again. Thanks for reminding me. :-)

I love those sparrows. I have a family in my birdhouse. It's actually a bird apartment complex that my hubby built. Unfortunately, they chose one of the "suites" that faces my back alley. The city mows back there and the grass is ungodly high. I'd have to take a 10' ladder back there to get any good shots. Thanks for sharing yours with us.

Janet

photo of the birdhouse

Wow you guys!!
I am so busy with insects in my garden, I havn't had time to chime in. Seems a lot of the birds are teaching their babies where and what things to eat in my back yard these days.
Here I hear the Robins first thing now... cheap cheap! These babies are big birds themselves.. still the babes learn a lot of safety tips from mom and dad.
Dad birds are so sweet... If men knew their secret there would be no such thing as post partum depression.

This message was edited May 18, 2007 9:55 PM

A baby Downy came by pecking up through a Maple in back..

Great pics everyone!

Janet thats such a nice bird building your DH built!

deb, Love those those little ones!

Thanks Pelle.

He got the plans from an old geezer (he just loves it when I call him that!) that lives down the road. I am pleased to say that it withstood Huricane Rita's force. It's been there about 3-4 years now. It weighs a ton. Hubby needs to take it down so I can clean it out once this family moves away. It needs a new roof. I'm hoping Connie and I can come up with a copper roof for it. (she doesn't know that yet though)

Janet

Aw, Deb, darling pic . . . and do I ever agree about the post partum thing!!! The baby Downey is adorable, too - I have Downeys around, but have never seen a baby.

Janet, that bird house is awesome!!! (Can't wait to see the new copper roof!)

I agree those baby pictures are adorable!! I have never seen a young downey that I'm aware of either! This sure is the most exciting of seasons!

What a beautiful bird house Janet. Your husband is so talented!

Thanks Lily. I think so too. :-)

Janet

Thanks Lily Pelle and Murmur! There are sparrows and finches doing the same. Mockingbird babies are at the nest I suppose, bc I see several Mocks coming for a beakfull of mealies and taking off in a B line. It is an exciting time Lily! I have to watch close and save the caterpillars that I can find. The birds obviously get some cats of BSTs, Frits, and Whites... I might save at least half of them at best.

Janet the birdhouse DH built is a masterpiece, as usual you guys can turn out nothing but. A copper roof would be very nice.

(:>

Thanks Deb. When he built it, he worried and worried about that roof. At that time, Connie and I were not "doing" copper, but I remember he did suggest how pretty it would be with a copper roof.

There are some other irons in the fire though, so it will have to wait. Gotta wait on the families to move out too.

I tried to get some photos of the babies today. I just downloaded them. Will check them out and post some after while.

Janet

These photos were taken through a square of the lattice. My arms were killing me from holding the camera up and trying to focus and actually get something worth looking at.

Hope you all enjoy these. :-)

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