Tag Archives: feral hog

January visit to the “Bar”

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I was finally back out at Circle B Bar Reserve in late January. I hadn’t been since the middle of December. I missed the trails.

The “hot” bird to get at that time was the male northern harrier (or gray ghost as some people called him). I had gotten some extremely far away pictures in December (pin dots really) and was hoping to get a little closer this time. He still stayed far out in the marsh this trip as well but made a few quick passes closer to the trail. He’s cruising along the marsh looking for food (lizards, etc).

I could see a few hogs out in the marsh as well. I call them Oreos since they have the color pattern of Oreo cookies.

I’m not sure what this was. Some type of insect nest on the bushes?

The usual birds were there: woodstork, night heron, blue gray gnatcatcher, yellow rumped warbler and a pied grebe.

They were spraying some type of chemical to get rid of invasive plants. I hate seeing this. Especially here.

Cute squirrel in the parking lot when I got back to my car.

The same ole things

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The welcoming committee at the entrance to Circle B Bar Reserve wasn’t doing a very good job. They were too busy stuffing their faces. Pigs.

It was a generally quiet morning for birds in late December. A sparrow, a downy woodpecker (making that landing), an anhinga posing and the usual black bellied whistling ducks.

Across the lake anhingas were hanging out in a bald cypress tree. The tree was losing it’s leaves for the winter, although this one looks like it’s been broken off at the top.

Far across the marsh I could see a northern harrier and an eagle. After standing there on the trail for an hour hoping either would get closer, I finally gave up and headed home for lunch.

This little piggy went to Circle B Bar Reserve

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I know they are just pigs. When we see the adults at the reserve we think yuk. They tear up the landscape digging for bugs and leave big holes on the trail. But those little piglets are so cute. I think there was 7 when they were first sighted. When I got to see them a week later there was only 4 left. We rarely see the feral hogs near the trails during the day. They usually hide but this Mom was not shy about parading her babies down the trail.Everyone was enamored by how playful and curious they were.

Mom wasn’t quite as close as my zoom lens makes it look like here but she was still aware of what everyone was doing.

Off they went down the trail sticking close together and following Mom. I caught a tree swallow flying by in that last picture.