Post your yard and pond visitors

[Burd]

Winter is when they need water most, when it’s warm they can find it all over. I never got the closing of a bird bath.

 

[CountryEscape]

I totally agree, Burd! When our pond was completed in July, 2020, it was shocking how many birds, mostly sparrows, flocked to the bog to drink. It’s like they had never witnessed such fresh running water before.
The neighbor’s honey bees feel the same way. It is by far their favorite place to drink in the hot summer months.

 

[addy1]

The neighbor’s honey bees feel the same way. It is by far their favorite place to drink in the hot summer months.

Mine are in the bog by the hundreds during the summer. They tend to stay out of the ponds, love the shallow smelly bog plants and water.

 

[CountryEscape]

Addy, the bees love the edge of the bog rocks/plants. I’ve also seen them gingerly land on the lily leaves that are partly out of the water. I’ve saved several that were in the water, too.

 

[addy1]

I’ve also seen them gingerly land on the lily leaves that are partly out of the water. I’ve saved several that were in the water, too.

Same here but just a few. They also like the moss along the side of the bog, streams pond edge.

Crazy bees can't swim, they fall in the water they are dead. I put a lot of floating items into my hot tub pond, a lot of bees drowning. Water is so clear they think the plants on the bottom are on the top and can be landed on. They then die, then a bird comes in and goes from floater to floater to eat the dead bees.

 

[j.w]

I empty our bird bath for winter and turn it upside down so it doesn’t freeze. But the bog ran all winter last year, planning to do the same this year. Birds love getting drinks from it, especially now through spring. Once the plants get big, they feel more of a threat from predators that they can’t necessarily see, so then they use the bird bath.

I empty some of mine that might crack but the stainless steel ones w/the big round pavers I leave in. We don't get cold enough for the birds feet to get frozen to the steel thank fully. I see the squirrels out there getting water also and I have some at ground level for the bunnies. Hubby brought a ton of these steel things home from a work job a long time ago as they were throwing them out!

 

[CountryEscape]

Those are really nice, JW, but couldn’t be used in winter in colder temps, as you have mentioned.
The squirrels in our yard also go to the bog to drink water. Sometimes they get a drink from the pond edge, but since the pond is in the lowest part of our yard, that’s more dangerous from a predator perspective than up in the bog, which is on top of the waterfall.
I just love all the critters that come for a drink in our pond. They are all welcome, big and small. The deer never jump out fence, though, which I’m thankful for since I have lots of day lilies and hostas. The foxes seem to stay out, too, although we saw one in the yard last year in the summer. Didn’t realize he was in the yard until I let the dogs out and they chased it to the corner, where the fox promptly jumped the fence and took off.

 

[Burd]

More graham crackers.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

 

[j.w]

View attachment 148505

Did they leave you any prezzies...........Easter Eggs

 

[bagsmom]

Here is a cutie little common brown snake. I think he was sunning on a rock and I scared him down into the water when I came outside. He is very small. Not even as big around as my pinkie.

 

[j.w]

Here is a cutie little common brown snake. I think he was sunning on a rock and I scared him down into the water when I came outside. He is very small. Not even as big around as my pinkie.
View attachment 148522

Neat little fella and boy look at your plants coming up!

 

[bagsmom]

I empty some of mine that might crack but the stainless steel ones w/the big round pavers I leave in. We don't get cold enough for the birds feet to get frozen to the steel thank fully. I see the squirrels out there getting water also and I have some at ground level for the bunnies. Hubby brought a ton of these steel things home from a work job a long time ago as they were throwing them out!

View attachment 145135

View attachment 145136

Those are so cool! And FREE! Amazing!

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Here is a cutie little common brown snake. I think he was sunning on a rock and I scared him down into the water when I came outside. He is very small. Not even as big around as my pinkie.
View attachment 148522

jealous

 

[CountryEscape]

The squirrels keep our Boston and mixed breed dogs busy trying to keep them out of the yard. It’s just a fun game they play. The dogs have actually caught a squirrel twice, but both times I intervened and made them let it go.

The feral cat roams our neighborhood. He’s been around as long as we have lived here and survives even with foxes, coyotes, and red tailed hawks also in our neighborhood!