Friday, October 22, 2010

Left-overs from my Iowa trip....

I just realized that I had a few bird photos from our trip to Iowa that I had not used, and since I have nothing new from at home, I will post them here!
The family we stayed with lived on the edge of a golf course and in the early morning and late afternoon there was often bird activity going on along the edge of the golf course and on an empty lot next door.These smaller birds were chasing this large one, but it was so far away, I couldn't tell what it was. We saw large crows in the area, so I think it may be one of them.
Two large birds flying away....again, crows?

That flight activity was going on over those trees you see in the distance. Closer at hand, the Canada Geese would come wandering up the golf course in the early morning.

"Does anyone know where my ball landed???"

"How many strokes was that? It took so long to get here, I lost track."

I was watching birds in the side yard and this Downy landed on the roof.

A combination of Starlings and Robins spent a lot of time in the empty lot next door. Once in a while they would gather in a small group like this. One would land, then several more, then several more. Even with binoculars I could not tell what the attraction was! The only worm in the yard??? Maybe they were fighting. I don't know.

Some of the Robins in the sunlight.
This one came fairly close.
A young Robin....still all spotty looking.

He was pretty curious and came near the property line where I was standing on the deck.

Potter, the resident dog, liked the sunshine and birds, too.
Starlings on the light pole.
(I've been busy and there hasn't been much bird activity at home, thanks to my hawk, so I just haven't had anything to post. Will get back to "normal" one of these days :-)

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Waiting for the mail.....

"Did I get any mail today???"
"Are you sure???"
(Mike took these photos of a woodchuck sitting on the edge of the road as we were driving into town. It didn't seem to realize that we were coming from behind it and there were no other cars around, so we stopped for a photo or two.)


Monday, October 18, 2010

A few birds....

Not much to offer today.....I was busy all week and will be busy a lot of this week. Don't seem to be taking any photos right now.The Mockingbird is still guarding the feeders out back.
The Nuthatch is always welcome. Checking out the suet for just the right spot.

Right here....in this little dented area.

A very pretty bird :-)

Mrs. Cardinal checking out the fountain.

Titmouse peeping over the branch.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Autumn color.....

"This is the day that the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"












I took all of these at one of the local cemeteries where there are a lot of trees and no electric wires to interfere.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Weird, very weird......

Last night we went out to get in the car and this little creature was turning circles on the pad in front of our garage....over and over. Mike took a broom and nudged it off into the grass. When we came home hours later, it was back on the pad again still turning circles! I suspect it is diseased.All my life I have found these lying around dead after a cat has killed them and left them. The cats never seem to eat them. I always thought this was called a Vole. After looking it up on-line, I think that it is really a Short-Tailed Shrew.
I think this particular one is sick. I hope that my cats don't find it. Maybe the hawk will get rid of it for me. It seldom stopped turning, so it was hard to photograph it. Below is a video of it turning in circles. Has anyone else ever seen this before??