Monday, November 6, 2017

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Fast Food

Cardinal feeding fledgling

Our bird feeder has been a fast food restaurant this week with the female cardinal doing the take out. 
She grabs a sunflower seed to go, and flies up to the big hickory tree overhead to feed her fledglings, 
who do everything in their power to attract her attention. 
They fly and hop from branch to branch, positioning themselves to receive their version of an Egg McMuffin.


Cardinal feeds fledgling

Their incessant twittering imparts a sense of urgency. Mom can have no doubt about how hungry they are.


Cardinal feeds fledgling

Yum!


fledgling cardinal in tree

A young male waits.


cardinal feeds fledglings

He is joined by his sister...


cardinal feeds fledglings

...and the girls win!

In years past, we've watched a male cardinal do the feeding, but in this family, it was all the mother's job.



"Did somebody say this was a BIRD feeder?



Linking with Wild Bird Wednesday


Friday, August 11, 2017

Raspberry Breakfast



She looked at ease in the garden, as if she belonged there, relishing her raspberry breakfast...



...checking to make sure she hadn't missed anything.


The small raised garden is west of the house, just a few yards below the deck off the kitchen. 
Don built it years ago out of railroad ties, and over time, it has had many productive seasons. 
This isn't one of them. At least, not for us.

Seeing a deer in the garden was not a surprise, but it seemed rather bold of her to be there in broad daylight.
I stepped out on the deck, and she paused mid-bite and looked up at me, as if to say,
"Just whose garden do you think this is, anyway?"

You know, she might have had a point, which raises the age old question:

Does a garden belong to the one who plants it,
or the one who harvests it?


Linking with Saturday's Critters






Thursday, July 27, 2017

Evening Encounter


Raccoon mother and babies

The last couple of evenings, Mama raccoon has brought out her kits.


 

Last night, they were minding their own business (that is, eating)...



...when two of them suddenly scrambled up a nearby tree.



Their anxiety came from the appearance of a doe, 
and they peered back timidly from the side of the tree as if to say, "Is it safe?"



Deciding to risk it, they sidled back down, but after a few tense moments, the raccoon family retreated to the woods.


doe profile


"Was it something I said?"


Linking with Saturday's Critters





Thursday, July 13, 2017

Early Rounds




At the close of a summer day, the sky holds its breath as a bright golden ball hangs on the rim of the horizon, waiting to drop into the net. Hummingbirds are making their final attack on the feeders, and deer and raccoons are waiting for the cover of night to raid the garden. I can live with giving up the beans and some tomato and cucumber greens, but if they mess with the cantaloupes, there's gonna be war.




Mama Raccoon made her rounds early last night, before the light had faded. As she sipped from the birdbath, climbed the stairs to the deck, and vacuumed up the remains of the bird seed, she appeared to be on familiar territory.




 More than likely, she has a nursery tucked into a nearby treetop. If she'll bring the kits by for a visit, a few greens and some sunflower seeds will be a small price to pay.