Critters and wildlife in your area - post your pics
- Thread starter Oh Little Oji
- Start date
jazzies mum
Hot Topics Subscriber
After the big wet season we had there are some unusual visitors. Pelicans have dropped in!
LifeofRubie
Moderator
Stepped out of the side gate today while I was watering stuff and noticed this coyote was standing about 50 ft away, just watching me. He/She carefully crossed the street and continued on their way down the side walk. Wonder if it's a momma out looking for food for pups/herself? There was a coyote spotted in the same spot yesterday about the same time from a neighbor. Not super usual to see them out and about in the middle of day.
I’ve posted in the past we have a pair of ring neck doves that spend May and June in our maple tree. This is their 3rd or 4th year I think, same pair.
They are pretty comfortable around us, dogs included. Dogs well motion at them on occasion when they feel like it, other times they just let the birds peck around in the ground.
This year as always they had a pair of chicks,
Yesterday morning bright and early I say them fly for the first time.
From their nest tree to the tree by our tool shed, to the neighbors chimney and back to the nest tree. Repeat. A triangle basically.
I did some morning watering, pulled a few weeds, pruned a few plants.
Went inside to get more coffee.
I see motion outside but both dogs were inside, waiting patiently for their “coffee treat”
It was a bird.
Couldn’t get the pic through the window so had to creep around the side of the house.
Still didn’t get a great shot. Sparrow hawks are fast lil f
s!
Haven’t seen dad or the other chick since, which is pretty par for the course.
Soon as they are flying he takes them off into the world and mama sits on the nest making 2 more, which she appears to be doing right on que.
Bitter sweet, watching the hawk fly off, circle of life and all that. I’m sure a baby hawk chick is pretty cute too, and needs to eat as well!
They are pretty comfortable around us, dogs included. Dogs well motion at them on occasion when they feel like it, other times they just let the birds peck around in the ground.
This year as always they had a pair of chicks,
Yesterday morning bright and early I say them fly for the first time.
From their nest tree to the tree by our tool shed, to the neighbors chimney and back to the nest tree. Repeat. A triangle basically.
I did some morning watering, pulled a few weeds, pruned a few plants.
Went inside to get more coffee.
I see motion outside but both dogs were inside, waiting patiently for their “coffee treat”
It was a bird.
Couldn’t get the pic through the window so had to creep around the side of the house.
Still didn’t get a great shot. Sparrow hawks are fast lil f
s! Haven’t seen dad or the other chick since, which is pretty par for the course.
Soon as they are flying he takes them off into the world and mama sits on the nest making 2 more, which she appears to be doing right on que.
Bitter sweet, watching the hawk fly off, circle of life and all that. I’m sure a baby hawk chick is pretty cute too, and needs to eat as well!
LifeofRubie
Moderator
Not the critters I like to see...
I always take my socks off after a hike and put sandals on. Found this guy a couple hours later on my inside out sock. My husband found one on his leg while we were sitting down to lunch immediately after our hike. As soon as we got home, I did a full check and was like front fine, legs fine, arms fine... turned around and one was already working it's way into my shoulder. I NEED HELP I'm pretty sure I yelled
Unfortunately the pups weren't allowed at this location to hike so they luckily (?) stayed home. I hope this is like last year where we saw 3 ticks early on and then nothing the rest of the summer....
I always take my socks off after a hike and put sandals on. Found this guy a couple hours later on my inside out sock. My husband found one on his leg while we were sitting down to lunch immediately after our hike. As soon as we got home, I did a full check and was like front fine, legs fine, arms fine... turned around and one was already working it's way into my shoulder. I NEED HELP I'm pretty sure I yelled
Unfortunately the pups weren't allowed at this location to hike so they luckily (?) stayed home. I hope this is like last year where we saw 3 ticks early on and then nothing the rest of the summer....
My neighbor with the bullmastiff said on one of her walks she pulled 7 ticks off of her dog and her! Seems to be the year for ticks!Not the critters I like to see...
View attachment 118496
I always take my socks off after a hike and put sandals on. Found this guy a couple hours later on my inside out sock. My husband found one on his leg while we were sitting down to lunch immediately after our hike. As soon as we got home, I did a full check and was like front fine, legs fine, arms fine... turned around and one was already working it's way into my shoulder. I NEED HELP I'm pretty sure I yelled
Unfortunately the pups weren't allowed at this location to hike so they luckily (?) stayed home. I hope this is like last year where we saw 3 ticks early on and then nothing the rest of the summer....
Over the weekend my husband and I were mowing grass all the way in the back of our property when I saw something in the grass. Couldn't make it out right away until I got right up to it. I was very sad to see that it was a full grown owl! It look like it had just died or maybe died overnight and the cold temperatures kept any bugs away from it. It was not eaten and it wasn't until a little while later that I actually saw the first fly on it. It was beautiful! My husband thought perhaps a strike of lightning? We did hear a very close one the night before. But I just can't imagine there wouldn't be more damage to the trees. Old age? I don't know what it was. I'm always saying I would love to see an owl. But I want to see them alive! 
I showed the pictures to my kids and I knew before she said it that my daughter-in-law would want it. She home schools and she said they had just done a study on owls! She was so excited for me to keep it for her. So we brought it over.
Those talons! Yikes!
The eyes looked alive!
And the wings were just gorgeous!
My husband picking it up. You can see how big it is compared to him.
I showed the pictures to my kids and I knew before she said it that my daughter-in-law would want it. She home schools and she said they had just done a study on owls! She was so excited for me to keep it for her. So we brought it over.
Those talons! Yikes!
The eyes looked alive!
And the wings were just gorgeous!
My husband picking it up. You can see how big it is compared to him.
Oh man I hate to see that. They say that many owls are on the decline so it's sad to see a dead one.
The ticks are bad here too this year. Not the dogs but on us. I've pulled at least a half a dozen stuck ones off so far and they're far from being done yet.
So sad, no telling how it died. From the first photo it looks like a fledgling, all those fluffy downy feathers. They are such magnificent creatures. Let us know what your daughter-in-law learns. Also, it might be good to report it to Fish & Wildlife, just in case they get several reports, that's how they find out if there is a disease or poison in the area.
Nope, nope, nope.
Marinegeekswife
Hot Topics Subscriber
A little early morning excitement here today. She must have been stuck in the garage all night. Dehydrated and exhausted.
LifeofRubie
Moderator
I've only seen them on the side of the road in TN... Armadillo soup...
@Marinegeekswife poor guy! looks like it ended well?
guys... we have a robin that built a nest on top of our solar panels panel on the south side of the house. She has been COOKING in the heat for weeks because there's no shade over there. I think her eggs are scrambled because of the four that are in there, I'm pretty sure 2 have been around since mid-May. I thought I read their eggs incubate for 2 weeks before hatching?
I'm half tempted to remove her nest and ease her of her burden before she cooks. Am I worrying too much about wild animals? Should I just let it go and not interfere? There is a birdbath maybe 30 feet away in the front of the house that I try to keep clean and full but when we're on the patio, you can here her panting to an exhaustive degree.
Oh, man, I would be tempted to do the same thing! That poor thing. I don't know why she picked that spot! If you think the eggs are not viable, I would remove them. Can you call a Nature Center or something for more advice?
I know we have a little birdhouse for my Wren. Years ago I realized it was in a bad position and in the afternoon was in total sun. She would come to the door with her beak open! I felt so bad! I finally gently moved the bird house to a better location with some shade! Now the trees are even bigger and providing better shade but there are times when it is in part Sun. She needs a little air conditioner in there! Today is ungodly hot and humid! And this year a chickadee claimed the bird house before I even saw a Wren! Usually the Wren is the only bird that fits through the hole but this chickadee was pretty tiny. I miss my Wren though.
