Post your yard and pond visitors

[Lisak1]

I'm not a turtle expert @Gemma but that looks like it could be a Blandings turtle - they are considered endangered in our area. Not sure about the rest of the country.

 

[Gemma]

I'm not a turtle expert @Gemma but that looks like it could be a Blandings turtle - they are considered endangered in our area. Not sure about the rest of the country.

I looked on google I think you're right! I had never seen a turtle with all those spots before, thanks for figuring out what kind it is

 

[GBBUDD]

I really wish they would get together from state to state when I hear endangered that to me says this species needs all the help we can give it. Whenin reality the environmentalists look at it as dollar signs. For instance a timber rattler in New Jersey is considered endangered. When the only reason for its classification is it does not like the cold weather like all rattle snakes. but because it is at its furthest most extent of its territory they call it endangered an construction projects spends huge dollars to be compliant. I belive the bannif is one exception where its numbers are truly dwindeling

 

[Stephen T.]

Yesterday afternoon, I saw a flash of red and wondered what on earth? It kept landing outside the kitchen window, but very flighty, like a nuthatch or chickadee, here and gone in an instant. I never could catch it with the crest erected, but saw it several times, briefly. When up, the top of it's head has a brilliant red "mohawk". It's a Red-crowned Kinglet, about the size of a nuthatch. At first, I thought it was a warbler. This is the 1st time I've ever seen, or at least noticed one here.

 

[Stephen T.]

Well, I was in for a disappointment today, as the kinglet didn't show up. Oh well, the white-breasted nuthatch posed for me instead.

We do see a lot of house finches, they are quite attractive birds.

 

[RobAmy]

Red bellied Woodpecker by A & R Photography, on Flickr

Hard at Work by A & R Photography, on Flickr

 

[RobAmy]

enjoying the stream

Early morning at the stream by A & R Photography, on Flickr

 

[RobAmy]

Eating the watercress in the stream

Pine Siskins eating watercress by A & R Photography, on Flickr

 

[Stephen T.]

Hunting bugs on the lily pads.

 

[Stephen T.]

It's so nice to have the mountain chickadees back! In the last 2 years, we've just seen a very few, the 3 years before that, there were lots of them and also pine siskins. The chickadees are so seemingly cheerful and often very bold.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I couldn't start posting in here without sharing the turkey that drank from my bird bath a couple years ago. Haven't seen the turkeys around in over a year now. I think they've moved on.

My cat didn't know what to think. I bet she didn't know birds could get that big.

A balding Northern Cardinal

Ruby-throated hummingbird have become common in my yard since I started planting Mexican Sunflowers.

The rabbits loved eating my native plants this year, and it didn't help that they weren't scared of me at all. Sometimes, I'd be out photographing my garden and I'd hear one run up behind me, only to turn and see it laying down.

Robins love sitting on the woodchip pathways in the garden. Unfortunately for them, this path may be replaced with a boardwalk or small bridge next year due to flooding always washing the woodchips away.

Each year, Tree Swallows nest in one of the nest boxes I have. Each one has a mini native garden underneath it. This year, I expanded three of the gardens going from about 9 square feet to 30 sq. ft. Next year, I plan to expand two more.

In my main native garden, I have two smaller birdhouses that wrens usually move into.

...and of course, the frogs.

 

[corgi]

All of these were taken from inside with a Canon SX 60.
The pond attracts all kinds of wildlife.

Pileated

Indigo Bunting

Flicker

Kingfisher

Nuthatch

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

Barred Owl. I have a sequence of shots where this female perched overlooking our
pond and was looking at squirrels, a rabbit, and finally swooped in for the kill on a muskrat she
saw swimming on the edge of the pond. She just held in under water for a few seconds and it was over
with. She then flew back into the woods with it where she had a couple of owlets waiting. So awesome to have seen this.

Triple prime colors

Wood ducks

Her first triplets

Backyard bucks

Sometimes two heads are better than one

Turkeys

"If elected, I promise to ban Thanksgiving dinners."
Turkey stumping.

 

[j.w]

Wow @corgi, great shots of all the wildlife! We had a deer here who had triplets last Summer and was so fun seeing them off and on while on my walks.

 

[addy1]

Great shots! Lots of nice wildlife!

Love the triplets

 

[Stephen T.]

Everyone is showing some great images! I love watching various critters going about their daily lives. We regularly have bald eagles perching in the tree behind our house to have lunch. Yesterday, my wife came in to tell me it was snowing feathers once again.

Spaghetti anyone?