Backyard critters in August

It was early August and the hummingbirds were still coming to the backyard. There were at least two that I could see. They would buzz by each other on the way to the feeder. They were also both feeding on the shrimp plant hanging near the feeder. They would come to the plant early in the morning and then the feeder later in the day. The bottom picture is a young male. He was just getting a few red dots on his throat.

One morning I saw him fly up to the top of the oak tree. I ran upstairs and was surprised I could find him again up there. I could just barely see him sitting high up through the window.

A squirrel doing a sploot on the bird box and another one was eating what looked like an old pine cone.

A juvenile male cardinal was scratching around under the bird bath. Dad was close by and was feeding him. He was just starting to get that black mask around his eyes and beak like Dad.

I saw a lone doe across the fairway.

A little while later she was taking a break.

Since this is turkey week, I’m posting tons of turkey pictures. I was seeing them a lot in August. One morning they were on the golf tee out our back door.

I heard Harley, my cockatiel, screaming and looked outside and there was a hawk on the ground right in front of our door. He must have been hunting lizards. He saw me and took off.

We had an armadillo in the backyard one afternoon. The first shot I took with my camera through the window across the yard. A little later I saw him scratching around under the ferns near our door. I went out and took the 2nd one with my phone. He let me get pretty close, although I wouldn’t get tooooo close. I’ve read they don’t have great eyesight so he probably didn’t even see me.

I was taking the garbage out one morning and saw the above gulf fritillary caterpillar on the plant. Of course I went and grabbed my phone to take a picture.

The neighborhood eagles were back in late August. I stopped one morning and got a shot of one of them sitting on the nest tower. There was still some of the old nest left but they had their work cut out for them to get it ready for nesting season.

Late August brought some much needed rain although we are still in an extreme drought. We only had a few nights with summer skies. Both taken from the driveway.

an image of a red sports car with a lady caricature going at Vroom Vroom high speed, Senior Salon Pit Stop Vroom Vroom Linkup

All kinds of critters.

Tussock moth caterpillars are fairly common in late March but I’ve never seen this many at one place. I usually only see one or two. At the Florida Botanical Gardens the boardwalk was full of them. I tried to keep my distance as I was taking pictures of them. While they are pretty and cool looking, they can leave a nasty rash if you brush up against them. I kept checking to make sure one hadn’t fallen on my backpack.

They turn into these coccoons before turning into a moth. The leaves on the palm trees around the boardwalk were full of these as well.

White peacock butterflies are very common but I think they are pretty.

After leaving the botanical gardens I headed to nearby McGough Nature Park to look for migrating birds. I first stopped at the turtle pond and saw two turtles climbing a tree. They got about half way up before heading back down.

I also watched this raccoon climb up a tree and then head back down.

The bottle brush trees near the entrance were in full bloom. I stopped to snap this butterfly and then heard the faint sound of hummingbirds whizzing by.

There were 4 hummingbirds feeding on the two trees. They were only feeding on the back side that hangs over the lake so it was a challenge to get them feeding. They would rest high up on the front and then go back to feed.

After standing there for an hour I only got the above two shots of them feeding. It was very frustrating to watch them fly to the back of the trees and disappear.

They have several resident injured birds that live on the property, all taken care of by volunteers. This barred owl was watching his person talking to him. He seemed to understand every word she was saying. They were sitting outside in front of the turtle pond.

It was still a little early for migrating birds so I didn’t find any of them.

December at Bok Tower Gardens

Cool and pretty plants at Bok Tower Gardens in central Florida.

Little critters and flying critters. Hummingbirds were everywhere but I could not seem to catch them feeding. They would fly behind or into the bushes.

I love walking around Bok Tower Gardens. There’s always something different to see. I don’t get there often since it’s close to an hour and a half from my house (and that’s without traffic). I managed to get there a few weeks before Christmas but was wishing it was cooler than it was. Otherwise, it was a perfect morning.

On my way back to the main road, I passed a house that had 4 sandhill cranes in their front yard, along with a few ibis. I pulled over and quickly snapped the above from my car. It would be really cool to see these guys grazing in my front yard but it would be rare to get them that close to the bay.

Our World Tuesday Graphicimage-in-ing: weekly photo linkup

Big birds and little birds at Fort Desoto

The nanday parakeets are always goofing around.

A male and a female ruby throated hummingbird.

A great egret going by with a snack.

Little critters in the park.

A manatee cruising by the fishing dock.

Big boats going by.

From the fishing pier at Fort Desoto Park.

Our World Tuesday Graphicimage-in-ing: weekly photo linkup

Bok Tower Gardens birds

I see towhees here pretty regularly.

This was only my 2nd time to see bobwhites out in the wild. They were really fast crossing the trail and heading into the bushes. The 2nd one is an older juvenile.

A cardinal with a mouth full.

I think this is a pine warbler with a mouthful.

Downy woodpeckers are common everywhere but they are so cute.

The hummingbirds were very active when I first got to the gardens right at 8am when they open. By 9am they had all disappeared.

Birds from my trip to Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales in late December.

Our World Tuesday Graphicimage-in-ing: weekly photo linkup

Saturday morning walk at Lettuce Lake Park

DSC_1776

An osprey with fast food on the go.

DSC_1782

Only cardinals were going to the feeder at the nature center.

DSC_1798

DSC_1819

Hummingbirds were buzzing in between the feeder and the fire bushes.

DSC_1832

DSC_1834

Every once in a while they would stop to rest and clean their beaks.

DSC_1777

DSC_1843

The usual critters hanging around the boardwalk.

A few things on my Saturday morning walk in late April.

SkyWatch Friday

Birds at Butterfly World

DSC_9212 DSC_9227 DSC_9317 DSC_9319 DSC_9329 DSC_9351 DSC_9371 DSC_9373 DSC_9383 DSC_9404 DSC_9445 DSC_9474

There was an abundance of visual stimulation at Butterfly World. Besides tons of butterflies fluttering by you, there were tiny birds whizzing by as well. Lots of bright colors going by. The picture in the middle is of two birds that had landed on a lady’s head.  One had landing and was picking through her hair like he wanted it for nesting material. The other one landing and they were fighting over her head. After a few seconds, they both took off. She was just glad they didn’t poop in her hair.

Birds and fish at Bok Tower

DSC_3866 DSC_3867

I thought this bird was going to be something different but I think it’s a palm warbler in his non-breeding colors.

DSC_3968

I can’t tell what this warbler is. Unfortunately, I did not get any other pictures of him. I think this is a female black throated blue warbler.  The lady friend of the one below.

DSC_3981

DSC_3983

This male black throated blue warbler was staying inside of the bushes and being very timid. I rarely see these guys.

DSC_3870

DSC_3873

Female ruby throated hummingbirds were everywhere. I saw these at the bushes in front of the historic house.

IMG_3996

IMG_3983

The big fish in the pond in front of the carillon tower were looking for a handout. You can pay 25 cents to get a handful of fish food.

More fun stuff from my trip to Bok Tower in early November.

Our World Tuesday Graphicimage-in-ing

Pretty birds doing everyday things.

DSC_3743

A purple gallinule shining through the reeds.

DSC_3748

A pretty common yellowthroat in the shade.

DSC_3769

A cute grebe floating around.

DSC_3786

A little blue heron taking a gulp.

DSC_3797

A red-eyed vireo being shy.

DSC_3799

A downy woodpecker high up in a tree.

DSC_3804

A limpkin looking down at me from up above.

DSC_3808

A palm warbler reaching for the stars.

DSC_3820

A white pelican all alone.

DSC_3823

Moorhens imitating each other.

DSC_3827

DSC_3828

Tiny hummingbirds humming in the firebush.

Some of the birds on my recent walk around Circle B Bar Reserve.

Our World Tuesday Graphicimage-in-ing

Out on the beach at Fort Desoto

DSC_6159DSC_6157DSC_6161DSC_6230

There are several osprey nests along the beach at Fort Desoto. Osprey were flying all around me. Adding sticks to the nest and eating breakfast. It looks like to me that the osprey in the last picture is wishing he had some tartar sauce.

DSC_6227

This great egret was skipping the sushi and going for a little lizard tartare.

DSC_6190

DSC_6209

DSC_6262

DSC_6289

Several ruby throated hummingbirds were eating breakfast from an agave plant.

DSC_6366

DSC_6377

Noisy black hooded parakeets were screaming across the park.

The usual stuff at Fort Desoto Park in early May. Except the hummingbirds, those are a special thing to see only during migration.

Our World Tuesday Graphicimage-in-ing