Nature & Wildlife Thread

[Stephen T.]

We went out to the quarry for more rocks and took a sidetrip on a turkey track forest service road to one of our favorite remote streams. On the way back we noticed lots of mahala mat, Ceanothus prostratus, a native ground cover here. The leaves are holly like, but only about 3/4" long. Right now it's in bloom and there are large patches on the forest and scrubland floors. Many butterflies and other insects are as attracted to it as we are!

Here's what a patch looks like (tough to transplant, but I've had some success right in front of my greenhouse).

Here are a couple small butterflies that I caught on one of the patches.

I guess, including antenna, these little guys must be about an inch long.

 

[Mike in Vermont]

No pics but, I saw a barred owl fly through our woods yesterday.

 

[addy1]

Neat flowers, beautiful butterflies.

 

[KC Crook]

Lovely pics! I have so many hummingbirds at my feeders they buzz like flies, but I doubt my Ipad camera can catch them. I do have snakes that come visit and I love them! Heres just one of two on Mothers Day. Hes "snaking" his way through our humble pond.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

On my hike today, I saw more wildflowers than I expected!

False Rue Anemone

Red Trillium

Wild Geranium

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Virginia Blue Bells

Phlox

unknown

White Trillium

Spring Beauty

Yellow Violet

Bellwort

I was also lucky enough to see something I've only seen once before, an Eastern Bluebird. Even better, I saw two!

 

[addy1]

I started out with one nesting pair two years ago. We currently have 4 nesting pairs. Love watching them. So pretty

 

[pecan]

@JBtheExplorer Very pretty and looks a lot like our Western Scrub Jays who love hanging out in our yard, and teasing the dogs LOL

 

[JBtheExplorer]

@JBtheExplorer Very pretty and looks a lot like our Western Scrub Jays who love hanging out in our yard, and teasing the dogs LOL
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Those are very cool! I've seen them in bird books.

 

[pecan]

Those are very cool! I've seen them in bird books.

I have read they are EXTREMELY smart. I can attest that they do have a funny sense of humor.

 

[KC Crook]

@JBtheExplorer Very pretty and looks a lot like our Western Scrub Jays who love hanging out in our yard, and teasing the dogs LOL
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We have those all day long too, bouncing around. Those and Robins who love to bounce down my walkway snapping up any bug it can find. I watched a robin once, pull up a big old worm, set aside, then go for number 2. She ate the first one, then picked up the second and flew away (Im sure for her hungry young, lol!). Those are the days when I trully miss owning a smart phone.

 

[KC Crook]

My hummingbirds are so spoiled, when the feeders start running dry, and Im sitting on the front porch, they fly right in front of my face and just hover for several seconds before flying off. If Im not outside, they fly up to my picture window and hover for a few seconds. I tell them, "I know, I know, you need to be fed." Jeez! Just like my dog that looks at me pitifully first thing in the morning. Ugg! Now I have like 15 more kids to feed! Lol

 

[KC Crook]

Had a bird drinking out of my birdbath earlier tonight. Last night, the female was over on my neighbor's roof, then I watched it fly up into a tree. That was the first time I've ever seen one fly, and it was pretty cool!
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Is that a wild turkey?

 

[JBtheExplorer]

My hummingbirds are so spoiled, when the feeders start running dry, and Im sitting on the front porch, they fly right in front of my face and just hover for several seconds before flying off. If Im not outside, they fly up to my picture window and hover for a few seconds. I tell them, "I know, I know, you need to be fed." Jeez! Just like my dog that looks at me pitifully first thing in the morning. Ugg! Now I have like 15 more kids to feed! Lol

I don't get many hummingbirds on my sugar water feeders, but once my Mexican Sunflowers bloom in late July, I see them every day!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Is that a wild turkey?

Sure is!

 

[KC Crook]

Sure is!

Nice! We have wild quail that come and feed under my bird feeders in the spring. All I can think is yumm! But I love watching them feed. As a kid, my dad raised domestic quail. The wild ones are extremely skittish though. The only way I could snap a pic is through my glass door. Now Im sorry I never tried. Its amazing you got such a smart and skittish bird in your yard. Lovely shot!