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Reports from at Home and Away (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter snowyowl
- Start date
Well, I'm glad the identification mystery is taken care of.....now if you can just get the story that goes with this bird!
Good luck, Sara!
I tried to 'get' as many stories from my mom as I could before she died.....and I am so grateful I did! I can still remember stories from her father from when I was a little girl, and they are fascinating tales to share with MY grandchildren! Don't wanna lose 'em!
Good luck, Sara!
I tried to 'get' as many stories from my mom as I could before she died.....and I am so grateful I did! I can still remember stories from her father from when I was a little girl, and they are fascinating tales to share with MY grandchildren! Don't wanna lose 'em!
snowyowl
Well-known member
Yesterday, I followed up a tip about a Great Horned Owl nest. both birds were present when I got there with one, the male, standing guard close to the nest while the other one incubated the eggs. The male wouldn't turn for me to get a good shot so I tried to move to the other side of the tree. As I got closer to the tree the guardian bird swooped down and darn near parted my hair. I felt the swish of his wings as went over me. Mama bird was undisturbed by the whole affair.
I will be going back and will attempt to reach the far side of the nest without getting attacked. I've heard of GH Owls drawing blood under similar circumstances.
I will be going back and will attempt to reach the far side of the nest without getting attacked. I've heard of GH Owls drawing blood under similar circumstances.
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snowyowl
Well-known member
It is snowing very lightly here this morning. I'm sure it won't amount o anything.
Yesterday, my dog and I walked back to the river at the back of my property. Things were pretty quiet in the woods, just a Hairy Woodpecker and a lot of B.-c. Chickadees.
The tide on the river was very high. There were 5 C. Mergansers on the river, 2 males and three females, a male Mallard and a male C. Goldeneye. There was a flock of about 50 Ring-billed Gulls in the field on the other side.
On my way back through the woods I could hear a Ruffed Grouse drumming and then a second one joined in. It was nice to hear. Just I as reached the edge of the woods I realized just how close the one grouse was and sure enough I spotted him on a log drumming away. This was only the second time that I've seen this so I was pleased. I watched him for a little while until he stopped drumming.
Yesterday, my dog and I walked back to the river at the back of my property. Things were pretty quiet in the woods, just a Hairy Woodpecker and a lot of B.-c. Chickadees.
The tide on the river was very high. There were 5 C. Mergansers on the river, 2 males and three females, a male Mallard and a male C. Goldeneye. There was a flock of about 50 Ring-billed Gulls in the field on the other side.
On my way back through the woods I could hear a Ruffed Grouse drumming and then a second one joined in. It was nice to hear. Just I as reached the edge of the woods I realized just how close the one grouse was and sure enough I spotted him on a log drumming away. This was only the second time that I've seen this so I was pleased. I watched him for a little while until he stopped drumming.
snowyowl
Well-known member
What kind of snake?
I saw my first Great Blue Herons of the year today, 6 of them, plus my first Double-crested Cromorants, 3 of them.
I paid another visit to the GH Owl nest and once again saw both birds. The male was in a different spot but still manages to sit where it's really tough to get a good picture.
I saw my first Great Blue Herons of the year today, 6 of them, plus my first Double-crested Cromorants, 3 of them.
I paid another visit to the GH Owl nest and once again saw both birds. The male was in a different spot but still manages to sit where it's really tough to get a good picture.
Lucky you, Sara!! Hee Hee! That looks like it might be a black ratsnake....the ones that hung out in my garage the last few years, looked pretty similar. They ARE harmless....eat mice....are supposed to be good guys. And I'm sure they are.
However, I was always on edge when I entered the garage as they liked to hang out in the open rafters, and I was certain that one would someday lose his/her scaly grip and fall on me. And I would have stroked out!
The garage is not attached to the house, by the way! I did not see any snakes in the garage last summer. I don't miss them. Call me mean and crazy.
Mrs. Carolina is continuing to sit on her 5 eggs, and she is very good about it. She has stopped flying out of the nest in a frantic frenzy when I approach, but I don't get terribly close. All you can see when you look in is these 'mad' looking little eyebrows! Ha! She's a cutie.
A volunteer Virginia bluebell plant appeared under an old apple tree this week! I am delighted! There are many in the nearby woods, but it's a trek to get there, and they don't last long. They are just beautiful wild flowers, in my opinion.
I believe spring has, indeed, come to Indiana! Woo Hoo!
However, I was always on edge when I entered the garage as they liked to hang out in the open rafters, and I was certain that one would someday lose his/her scaly grip and fall on me. And I would have stroked out!
The garage is not attached to the house, by the way! I did not see any snakes in the garage last summer. I don't miss them. Call me mean and crazy.
Mrs. Carolina is continuing to sit on her 5 eggs, and she is very good about it. She has stopped flying out of the nest in a frantic frenzy when I approach, but I don't get terribly close. All you can see when you look in is these 'mad' looking little eyebrows! Ha! She's a cutie.
A volunteer Virginia bluebell plant appeared under an old apple tree this week! I am delighted! There are many in the nearby woods, but it's a trek to get there, and they don't last long. They are just beautiful wild flowers, in my opinion.
I believe spring has, indeed, come to Indiana! Woo Hoo!
Try as hard as I can to 'like' snakes, but those old habits and opinions die really slow and hard!
Snakes are just grand,.......as long as they're not in my vicinity!
Perhaps part of that old thinking has to do with how startled I always am to come upon a garter or ratsnake unexpectedly.
I have often said if they just wore little bells, it wouldn't be so bad. Hee Hee!
I don't like the idea of rodents under my house (crawlspace), and I know it's full of chipmunks who can be terribly destructive, but the thought of a big old ratsnake bothers me more.
I'll keep working on my attitude.
)
Snakes are just grand,.......as long as they're not in my vicinity!
Perhaps part of that old thinking has to do with how startled I always am to come upon a garter or ratsnake unexpectedly.
I have often said if they just wore little bells, it wouldn't be so bad. Hee Hee!
I don't like the idea of rodents under my house (crawlspace), and I know it's full of chipmunks who can be terribly destructive, but the thought of a big old ratsnake bothers me more.
I'll keep working on my attitude.
)I believe that all five of the Carolina wren eggs hatched today. Mom is sitting on the nest.....but I was able to peek in when she was out for a moment, and there were little pink naked bodies. I hope they do alright. It looks very snug in there!
Last year, something 'got' the first brood.....and left only one chick, dead.....the rest were just gone. That brood was in a roosting pouch-turned nest also. The parents went on to raise two more healthy broods which fledged sucessfully .....these nests were in hanging flower baskets.
This just seems a bit early.....and I see no evidence of any chickadee nests this year....THEY were always the early ones!
I'm not complaining!)
Last year, something 'got' the first brood.....and left only one chick, dead.....the rest were just gone. That brood was in a roosting pouch-turned nest also. The parents went on to raise two more healthy broods which fledged sucessfully .....these nests were in hanging flower baskets.
This just seems a bit early.....and I see no evidence of any chickadee nests this year....THEY were always the early ones!
I'm not complaining!
)
