Animal Visitors

[nagev]

All sorts of 'fun.' :)

I hope it's all getting sorted out. You stated before that you have several out buildings correct? Are the skunks living under one of those? Or have you found any burrow holes?

I've come across a number of rattlesnakes, but where I live now they do not. Well, it's too cold here I guess, but there are ones within 30 miles or so.

[Bowwowmeow]

I check for the snake each day around this time, since it's the time of day I encountered him, and he has not been back. The skunks were frolicking every night, til I put Seymour's used kitty litter out there. I just put a bunch of Daisy's poop out there too. The skunks have not been back. :skunk:

Hehe, the meter reader isn't going to be very impressed when he sees the mess out there. It's right in front of the electric meter. I left him a spot so he doesn't have to risk stepping in poop. :poop:

I do have the well house and a shed I am going to keep on this side of the house. They can't get into the well house because it is on a stone foundation. I am going to pour a solid concrete floor under the shed, and practice my stuccoing skills on the exterior. I would like to stucco my house and garage, as that is a more fireproof exterior, but I have never done stucco before, so I want to practice on my outbuildings first.

So they could be nesting under the shed. And just not coming near the house since I sprinkled the nasties on the ground.

[Gliondrach]

One of my great-grandfathers was a stuccoman before he joind the Army. I probably have the ability to do stucco work in my genes. If you need any advice, just ask.

Last week I evicted 4 moths and 4 flour beetles. The week before, 11 moths and 5 beetles. I have them on the run.

There have been 997 moths evicted from the house since I started counting them in late May. I don't expect to see many in the house next year.

[Bowwowmeow]

Maybe you should put a pot of flour outside for them. Then they won't try to get in.


It's laundry time, and as usual, one of my laundry pals was hanging out in the garage while I did my washing. This time he obliged me while I went inside to get a dime to put next to him for this photo :p :

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/4985124637_17d231916a_z.jpg

[Gliondrach]

He has a metallic sheen, like the dime.

Using a dime is not much use to those of us who don't know how big a dime is. :no:

[nagev]

Wow, that really is a tiny frog. :)

Using a dime is not much use to those of us who don't know how big a dime is. :no:

:lol:

[Bowwowmeow]

Sorry I was all out of pesos.

A dime is about 18 mm.

[Gliondrach]

Speaking in Eurometric is no use to those of us who speak in Imperial. :tantrum:

[Bowwowmeow]

Ok a dime is ~ 11/16 of an inch.

Here is another, showing off the sticky toes of a proper tree frog, by clinging to the trim I have not yet installed on the patio door opening:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4131/4992145046_a49de941db_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/falafelzebub/4992145046/)http://l.yimg.com/g/images/spaceball.gif (http://www.flickr.com/photos/falafelzebub/4992145046/)


I can't help but laugh now at how I despaired last spring of ever being able to see any when I heard them singing near the creek. They really are so tiny I wouldn't stand a chance of seeing them in the trees. They sure do like the patio. :)

[Gliondrach]

Damn! Depite all the care I've taken to keep pigeons from starting families on my balcony and fire escape there is now a tiny pigeon on the balcony. I have heard a young pigeon calling for food the last couple of days. I assumed the little devil was on next door's balcony. I've chased an adult one a couple of times today. I looked out again earlier to see who was making a noise and saw the baby pigeon. I don't know how it got there. Much too young to fly. I didn't see any eggs nor any pigeon nesting.

I wonder if the person next door put the pigeon on my balcony? Pigeons are often there and she doesn't seem to chase them. In fact, I chase them when I hear them next door.

I won't be able to go on the balcony for the next few weeks until the pigeon has fledged. I'll open the door a crack later and put some bread and water out for the parents. They need to produce as much pigeon milk as possible to get the young one ready for the colder weather. They are daft for breeding this late in the year.

[Gliondrach]

I'd say the little devil is aged somewhere between the ages of the pigeon in the link below - between 22nd and 26th May. Closer to the 22nd. Four or five days old. Possibly six.
http://www.wysinfo.com/Pigeons/Life_of_baby_pigeon.htm

But another site has a picture that suggests this one could be 9 or 10 days old.

It's all very quiet out there. The baby pigeon was squeaking about 40 minutes ago. And an adult was cooing. But it sounded as if the adult was trying to attract a mate or encourage his hen to lay an egg. Babies squeak when they are asking for food. If the baby came from next door, the parents might not know it is here.

I put a slice of bread and some water out for the parents. I don't want to open the door again in case I disturb any adult who might be there.

[Gliondrach]

Little Bally is still out there. I was wondering if he might die last night. I wasn't sure if he was being fed. I think Bally is a he. Too quiet to be a female. :whistle:

He is alone there. Haven't seen or heard any adults since about 7 o'clock this morning. I heard one then and heard Bally squeaking. He is preening his feathers as I type this. Now that I've had a better look at him through the slightly opened door (and I have to turn my head sideways to look through and get both eyes to see him) I think he is more likely to be about 8 days old. More like the one in the video of the 26th May on that link.

I want to see him being fed so I can then leave them in peace for a few days.

[Gliondrach]

There are two babies! I watched an adult feeding one an hour ago. Then I saw another pigeon and thought it looked very young. It still had down on the feathers. Then all went quiet after a few minutes. I went out but couldn't see the baby. There's an old wooden box on the balcony. It is not pushed right up to the wall. I looked behind it and there was the baby. And another one. Two of the blighters. I was going to take a photograph of them but my camera has no more memory. I need to get rid of some pictures all ready on it to make room.

At least I know they are being fed.

[Gliondrach]

I went on the balcony earlier because I heard a noise. I noticed that the two babies are of very different sizes. One is tiny, without tail feathers and the other is nearly fully grown. The two eggs usually hatch out within a day of each other but the bigger one is many days older. Unless the small one is not getting a fair share of food.

I had to move the bigger one who had managed to get into a sort of wire cage contraption which is meant for bin bags. He tried to peck me but I eventually overpowered him after a vicious struggle and dragged him out. I don't think he would have managed to get out by himself. I closed the door to stop him getting back in. Even the small one tried to peck me. The small one might be a female. I read that the first one to hatch out is often a male.

There's a terrbile mess out there with droppings and feathers everywhere.

[Gliondrach]

Should I kidnap the bigger one for an hour or two so that the little one can be fed properly? The bigger one looks big enough to be on solid food now. The little one still needs the pigeon 'milk'. I will watch tomorrow to see if the little one is being fed, and if the big one is getting more than a fair share I might have to do something.

[Fauxmage]

I've hand raised three orphaned mourning doves. I would guess pigeons aren't very different. They have been amongst the easier baby birds to rear successfully. I wouldn't interfere right now though. The parents will always be able to find their babies, and they are accustomed to having babies of different ages to care for, due to their reproductive habits.

They do nest in very strange and precarious places. They are known to lay eggs right on bare windowsills.

[Gliondrach]

Yes, I'll wait a bit.

[Gliondrach]

To my knowledge they've only been fed once today. And that was about 5 hours ago.

Blackbirds and bluetits feed their young many times an hour. They have more than two but, going by their rate, the pigeons should be feeding theirs about once an hour.

[Gliondrach]

One or both parents have just been back. I think one saw me. The other one didn't. This other one jumped down and was near the small baby for a few seconds and then moved off. I saw the small one pecking at the adult's tail. Then the adult moved out of sight. Possibly to where the bigger baby is. Then it all went quiet. I don't think they fed them. If they did, it wasn't enough. It is starting to get into twighlight. I don't think they'll be back today. They are clearly not good parents. I will make sure they never breed here again.

[Gliondrach]

One of the parents came back a few minutes ago. I couldn't see clearly through the slightly opened door but some feeding was going on. Both babies were crowding round the parent so I'm not sure which was one was being fed. I think the little one might have got a bit of food.

A few minutes before this, I heard some cooing. I thought it might be the older baby calling for food. But even at that age they still squeak so might not have been that one. You can often see a nearly fully grown pigeon flying from place to place, chasing the parents and begging for food. They squeak when they do that.

Perhaps one parent was calling to the other.

The babies are now sitting side by side. The smaller one is preening. This could be a good sign. I don't think a starving bird would bother with preening.

[Gliondrach]

There's a torrential downpour and the balcony is flooded where the smaller pigeon was sitting. I've just looked out and saw that both of them have had the sense to move to a drier part.

[Bowwowmeow]

Birds in serious trouble sit very still, with their feathers all puffed up, and their eyes tightly shut. You are right; they don't bother to preen.

Unfortunately, once they get this far, it is often too late to help them.

[nagev]

The ladybugs are collecting again on the back deck. They did last year and many overwintered there. There was a hose coiled up, but it's been moved, they used that last year. I've been thinking about putting some wood and containers for them to congregate in for winter. I felt bad at all the ones which died over last winter (there were hundreds if not many more).

[Gliondrach]

The birdies have been fed quite a few times in the last two days. I haven't looked out since Thursday, though. I hope the cold nights stay away for a bit longer until the little one is fully grown.

We've had yellow and brown leaves on the trees for about a month and now quite a few have fallen.

[Bowwowmeow]

It was 92 degrees F today here. I saw a lizard on the front step. Seymour saw a junco on the grape arbor.

[gabbles]

How are the baby pigeons?

[Gliondrach]

They've been fed a few times today. The little one is looking quite a bit bigger and was fed whilst I was watching. The bigger one was also fed. The little one was sitting on an old piece of carpet I put out there a few weeks ago. It had been left in a cupboard and I think it was one of the breeding centres for the moths. I didn't want to throw it in the bins until all the moth larvae have turned into moths. At least it provides a bit of insulation for the little pigeon from the cold concrete of the balcony floor.

The mess out there is much worse. I had to wear outdoor shoes to go out there today. And their soles are covered in bird droppings.

[Gliondrach]

I've just looked out on the balcony for the first time in 2 days. The little one is perched on the piece of carpet and looks much bigger. About 2 weeks old now, I'd say. I couldn't see the older one and didn't want to go on to the balcony to look in case I disturbed the little one. The bigger one has probably fledged now and will be following the parents, pestering them for food.

It's a bit warmer today than it has been recently. I hope the warmer weather lasts for at least another 3 weeks.

[Gliondrach]

About an hour ago I heard strange noises coming from the balcony. I thought the baby pigeon might be in distress. It was dark outside so I put the sitting room light off and slowly opened the door to the balcony. I heard the beating of wings as a pigeon flew away. It must have been one of the parents. I didn't think they stayed here at night. I couldn't see the baby at first but then saw both of them huddled together near the wall of the balcony. They were on the concrete floor instead of the carpet.

[Bowwowmeow]

Using a dime is not much use to those of us who don't know how big a dime is. :no:
Ok, here is Laundry Frog next to a Roman coin of unknown denomination. I hope that makes things clearer.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_M8aAcoQrumc/TKKc9K4WQ2I/AAAAAAAABsA/16Wf_oXdK50/s512/Picture%20009.jpg

[Gliondrach]

Ah yes, a quadrans. But I didn't know the Romans had reached California.

Is 'laundry frog' your name for them. Or is it the Roman name?

[Bowwowmeow]

Laundry Frog is this particular fellow's name, because he is always hanging out in the garage near the clothes dryer. I never fail to see him when I go out to do the laundry. :p

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_M8aAcoQrumc/TKKc8s34cGI/AAAAAAAABr4/2m2lTtesJb8/s512/Picture%20007.jpg

This is the back of the dryer. Laundry Frog sleeps by day, and tends the clothes dryer by night.

[Gliondrach]

He might like the heat or humidity.

[nagev]

We had some mice move in to our house recently. I felt bad, and I tried talking with them to ask them not to make such a mess and poop all over everything and in the kitchen drawers. I even offered that I would make a place for them to live and we could share the house, so long as they didn't poop everywhere and crawl all over inside the kitchen cabinets. I relocated them away (they did move in from outside, I suspect they hitched a ride since right now it's the end of harvest time for all the wheat and whatever else is being grown in this area).

I really wish there was some more interspecies communication possibilities. I really wouldn't mind if they kept to themselves more and didn't crawl and poop everywhere. I wouldn't even mind buying some extra food for them. :shrug:

I don't like the kitchen cabinets, and maybe this winter I'll tear them all out and build something else and fix any holes if that's how they came in.

I actually feel bad about the whole thing though and I've been thinking about it all and seeing if I can reevaluate my lifestyle so this isn't an issue again. I've been reflecting on my actions and wondering if it's really at all different than that news article I posted about the beavers. :( Another case of human superiority, I guess.

[Gliondrach]

It's true that other animals lived in the area before your house was built. But mice don't naturally live in houses. Beavers naturally live in rivers. The mice probably came from miles away. You can't negotiate with mice because they are mischief makers and delight in breaking promises made to humans. But a mouse promise to another mouse is binding. If you feed them, you will encourage them to breed more than they would if you didn't. They will also put up signs for other mice to learn that you are an easy touch.

For now, just block up any holes in the cabinets. If you can get your hands on any lion droppings (but wear gloves) you could put them in the kitchen cabinets or around the outside of your house. If there are no lions nearby, you could use the products of cats or weasles.

[nagev]

It's true that other animals lived in the area before your house was built. But mice don't naturally live in houses. Beavers naturally live in rivers. The mice probably came from miles away. You can't negotiate with mice because they are mischief makers and delight in breaking promises made to humans. But a mouse promise to another mouse is binding. If you feed them, you will encourage them to breed more than they would if you didn't. They will also put up signs for other mice to learn that you are an easy touch.

Yeah, sneaking bastards.

For now, just block up any holes in the cabinets. If you can get your hands on any lion droppings (but wear gloves) you could put them in the kitchen cabinets or around the outside of your house. If there are no lions nearby, you could use the products of cats or weasles.

Well there are mountain lions around here, but they're not easy to find droppings for. At least for me. There are a lot of cats around and their droppings seem to be easy to come by. Luckily I just use my own droppings and store them in the cabinets and around the house now. :D

[Gliondrach]

Well, I won't be coming over for dinner.

[gabbles]

We had some mice move in to our house recently. I felt bad, and I tried talking with them to ask them not to make such a mess and poop all over everything and in the kitchen drawers. I even offered that I would make a place for them to live and we could share the house, so long as they didn't poop everywhere and crawl all over inside the kitchen cabinets. I relocated them away (they did move in from outside, I suspect they hitched a ride since right now it's the end of harvest time for all the wheat and whatever else is being grown in this area).

I really wish there was some more interspecies communication possibilities. I really wouldn't mind if they kept to themselves more and didn't crawl and poop everywhere. I wouldn't even mind buying some extra food for them. :shrug:

I don't like the kitchen cabinets, and maybe this winter I'll tear them all out and build something else and fix any holes if that's how they came in.

I actually feel bad about the whole thing though and I've been thinking about it all and seeing if I can reevaluate my lifestyle so this isn't an issue again. I've been reflecting on my actions and wondering if it's really at all different than that news article I posted about the beavers. :( Another case of human superiority, I guess.

Would one of those electronic-ultra sound mouse deterrent devices work?

[nagev]

I thought about that, but I haven't purchased one. I've been living here for over a year and a half and this was the first time they came in (so I'm hoping I'll seal up the entrances for them and it won't be a problem).

I am a little concerned about those things, because I am a bit more sensitive than the average person to those kinds of things (smells and sounds). I've been bothered by some devices emitting ultrasonic sounds to deter certain critters.

I guess in a way it might work, since it could deter me too and then I won't go in and it'll kind of solve the problem (just not how I expected). :D

[Gliondrach]

You could jack the house up and put it on stilts. Or dig a moat round it.

[Bowwowmeow]

I had two more stray dogs come visiting yesterday! Why me? I don't know how much more I can take!

At least they had tags. They live across the highway and up the hill. Dakota, a great big doofus St Bernard, and Buddy, a nice black lab mix. I got them into my van with great difficulty, took them home, put them inside the driveway gate, and chained it up.

Came back to take more pictures of the praying mantis and the sweetpea (the mantis was gone) looked up, and here comes Dakota down the hill, across the highway, and right up the driveway, all happy to see me. This time I rang the doorbell, and his grandmother was home. :dizzy:

This is Dakota:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5098729034_04a8f549f8_z.jpg

[Gliondrach]

It's lucky they had tags. Where's the barrel of brandy?

How is Rufus?

[Bowwowmeow]

It's lucky they had tags. Where's the barrel of brandy?
He probably drank it all, the big doofus. :p

How is Rufus?He finally looks like he is putting on a little weight. His ribs aren't quite so prominent. He continues to lie on his bad side too, and rarely cries out in pain. he gets really excited when he hears the van. Really wants to go for a ride I guess.

I still haven't heard from the county vet about the address to send the x-ray to. I guess I will have to contact the rescue myself.

[Gliondrach]

It seems as if his leg isn't bothering him that much. Let's hope it continues to improve.

[Bowwowmeow]

I am giving him lots of supplements for his joints and his gassy tummy, but I mix them into wet food so he will eat them, and now his diarrhea is back. I hope it clears up soon, as he gets used to the wet food. I don't want to give him a medication if I can help it, and he won't eat plain dry kibble any more anyway.

[Blueshark]

You could jack the house up and put it on stilts. Or dig a moat round it.

I saw a program about that. Only in America.:o

[Gliondrach]

The pigeon on my front balcony woke me up at 3.41 yesterday morning. Then three more times before 7 o'clock. I had to go downstairs to chase him twice. Strangely, he doesn't make much noise once I am up and about. He rarely makes a noise after 9 o'clock.

The one on the fire escape is behaving himself and I only hear him when I get up.

[Bowwowmeow]

Here's a woodpecker eating some of my grapes. Sorry for the quality. I had to take the photo through the window screen, so it looks a little soft-focus, and the wind was blowing the clump of grapes a bit too, not to mention his pecking action:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_M8aAcoQrumc/TQvLAgWGJ0I/AAAAAAAAB-M/K09qLEWZ2CI/s512/DSC_0247.JPG

[Gliondrach]

Have you harvested any for yourself?

How is Rufus?

[Blueshark]

The quality looks good to me.

[Bowwowmeow]

Have you harvested any for yourself?
Oh yes, I've had plenty. I like to leave some for the birds though.

How is Rufus?
Well he had a urinary tract infection, but it is clearing up. Otheriwse he is just fine.

The quality looks good to me.
Thank you.


I can't identify this woodpecker. None of the ones I have seen online have red chins as he does. And their chests are much whiter.

I've seen a bird watching group advertise their activities in the local paper. When the weather gets better maybe I will join, and will be able to learn more about the local species.

[KRITER]

Squrrels go to teesing the dogs.Thay driv them them plum crazy.A couple hunting dogs been shoing up.Them poor rascals are reel skiny.I meen bony.Hunters keep them that way so the lite on thair feet.But thay rite pitiful and thay act scared.Had to put my crew in the fenc so I cood feed the visitors.Thay was reel hungry.Iv turned in folks for treeting dogs like thay do.Its not proper atall.

[Bowwowmeow]

This little guy was running around on the kitchen counter. After I was done taking his picture, I set the camera down on the counter. Later, when I went to pick it up and get the photos off, he was sitting on it. :p

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/5397045928_fb103ccae5_z.jpg

[Gliondrach]

He looks surprisingly sweet. For a spider.

[Bowwowmeow]

He is a cute little one. Very defensive though. He was looking right up at the camera. He turned around quite abruptly to face any move I made. I can't imagine what must have gone through his head, seeing I must seem like an asteroid compared to him. I could see him raise his head when I bent over to look closely.

[Gliondrach]

He looks as if he could be a jumping spider.

[Bowwowmeow]

Yes he did do a bit of jumping.

[manzana]

Nice capture :photo:

[Bowwowmeow]

Thank you. :)

[Gliondrach]

We have some very talented photgraphers here.

[Bowwowmeow]

I was in the garage scooping kibble when Daisy startled a baby lizard, and he ran straight toward my foot and took shelter under my instep. :p

I always marvel at tiny vertebrates. I remember finding a baby salamander where we were raking leaves. It was a miracle I saw him in time. He was only an inch long. I will never forget the amazement with which I regarded his tiny fingers and toes, thinking of the tiny bones inside, and the veins and arteries, and his tiny eyes.

[Bowwowmeow]

Oh I forgot to mention, there was another tiny jumping spider running up the side of my monitor. He was black, and even smaller than the other one in the kitchen. I got his attention with my cursor, and he followed it onto the screen. He even pounced on it four times. :D

[Gliondrach]

I wonder if he was a search engine spider?

[Bowwowmeow]

:disbelief: :p

[KRITER]

Im geting more visits from stink bugs.They havnt gone away since last year.But Im thinking more coming out of thair hiding places with it being warm.I almost drank one last nite.I do beleev these here are visits I could do without.

[Gliondrach]

What are stink bugs? Never heard of them.

I had 2 moths in the house last week and 4 so far this week.

[Bowwowmeow]

Hehe, I just saw a wild turkey gobbler walking up the hill behind the wellhouse, outside my bedroom window. Of course by the time I got my camera he was gone.
:turkey2:

[KRITER]

[QUOTE=Gliondrach;135406]What are stink bugs? Never heard of them.

They littl bugs maybe the size of anormal size fly.They look like they got armor on.They giv up a stink when Ipick them up.Its real strong.But thairs been a mess of them around since last year.They get in everything,shoes,drawers and drinks.Its crazy.And thairs a mess of Asian lady bugs.
Im seeing lots of deer and the big black woodpeckers with the red on thair heds.Seen a salamander on some roks by the creek.

[KRITER]

Saturday I was in the loft of one of my out buildings down close to the creek.I was trying to sweep the floor a little bit and I turned around and come face to face with a flying squirrel.It was on a post holding up the roof.I was maybe a foot away from it.We stared at each other about 2 secounds.Then it did a Spiderman up into the ceiling joist and slid into a small hole in the wall.It was rite wild.I must hav woke it up becuz they dont usally come out till dark.

[Gliondrach]

I didn't know there were any in America. I learn something new every day.

[KRITER]

Yeah,they sure enuff here.But like I said I hardly ever see them becuz they come out at nite usally.Iv never been that close to one befor.They cool as all get out.

[Gliondrach]

I evicted 32 moths and 13 flour beetles last week.

I found 2 pigeon eggs on my fire escape this morning. I would normally throw them over to smash on the ground. I usually check every 3 or 4 days but I think it is about a week since I last checked. They could be ready to hatch. And today is a special day - it is the anniversary of Mandy's 'death' and about the anniversary of Muhammad's. I don't have the heart to destroy the eggs on this day of all days. So, I will soon have noisy squabs squeaking all day long.

And another thing I have to consider: they might be descendants of Muhammad.

[KRITER]

Why do you thro the eggs on the ground?

I just red about flying squirrels being a endangered species

[Gliondrach]

Because if someone complains about the noise the Environmental Health people might send someone round to kill them as vermin. A lot of people complain about the mess and noise of pigeons. Lots of people have put nets up to keep them away.

[KRITER]

Folks always got to find somthing to belly ach about.Folks round here hire hunters to shoot deer on their property becuz they eating the flowers.

[Bowwowmeow]

I wish I had deer visiting me. I think the people around here have shot them all. :(

The horses at the ranch across the highway have been visiting the mailboxes, so I have been going down there and making friends. :)

[manzana]

I occasionally jog past a deer, usually near a park (they are much larger than my dog).

[KRITER]

I see them all the time.I go down and up my road slo so I dont get in thair way.Spring turkey seson started.It goes thru May.Its been a good while since I seen any turkey.Xcept for the white ones I seen this morning in cages on the back of a semi.

[Bowwowmeow]

I found a green tree frog by the wood rack in the patio. I've never seen one so early in the year. They don't usually come to the patio til summer, and by then they are all brown to match the oak leaves.

I also saw my buddy the jumping kitchen spider. He's gotten bigger. His body is now the size of two grains of rice.

[Gliondrach]

I evicted 60 moths last week. In previous years I found them in every room of the house, including the billiards room and the indoor tennis court. This year, I've found most in the sitting room. A few in the kitchen, one or two on the stairs. One or two in the spare bedroom but none at all, at all, in my bedroom.

Those in the sitting room are usually found near the curtains or near three sheets of hardboard which have stood against the wall for a few years. I can understand caterpillars living in the curtains but not in the hardboard.

[Bowwowmeow]

Look who was living in my shoe!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_M8aAcoQrumc/Ta9VZbUByMI/AAAAAAAACgA/CWpPJY3LRzU/s640/DSC_0157.JPG


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_M8aAcoQrumc/Ta9VbU6NGjI/AAAAAAAACgM/UT2UVI-cVIE/s640/DSC_0162.JPG


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_M8aAcoQrumc/Ta9VfJJWX4I/AAAAAAAACgg/YEWb98GTSeQ/s512/Pacific%20Tree%20Frog.JPG


I keep a pair of shoes on the doorstep, because I don't wear shoes in the house. Fortunately I always shake them before I put my feet in. I usually expect a spider to fall out.

I picked him up and put him on my Bird of Paradise plant. :colors:

[Gliondrach]

He's lucky you did shake them out first.

[Bowwowmeow]

I'm not a very abrupt or forceful person, so I'm sure I would have felt him before I hurt him, but yes, and I am lucky too, because I would be miserable if I hurt one of these little guys.

[nagev]

Great photos. :)

[Bowwowmeow]

Thank you. :)

[Gliondrach]

I don't know what's happened to the pigeon eggs I wrote about on the 6th. There's no noise on the fire escape. I don't know if they hatched or, if they did hatch, if the squabs survived. I think I'll have to take a look out there.

[Bowwowmeow]

Any news about the pigeons?


This little flycatcher woke me up tapping on the window behind my bed this morning. They've been tapping on my windows for two days now. I don't know why. They sure are cute though. Not much bigger than hummingbirds.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5307/5687818140_22d41f9a52_z.jpg

I need to wash the windows. :o

[KRITER]

I like the pictures.They rite cool.Im seeing lots of lizards and frogs.Its been raining alot.And I seen 3 great blue herods in one week.Theres usally a blue herod hanging out at my little water fall eating minnos

[Gliondrach]

Any news about the pigeons?

I heard some squeaking today so I went on the fire escape. There is an old table top that leans against the wall. The pigeons have built their nest between it and the wall. The female pigeon came out and flew away. The male pigeon was on a pipe and he kept making anxious noises. I peered in behind the table but it was too dark to see anything. I had gone out there to block a couple of gaps between the fire escape floor and the wall of the house. I was worried that the squabs might fall down them when they start moving about. I saw half an eggshell lying a few feet from the table. The female mustn't have wanted to eat it. There was a third gap that I only noticed when I was out there. I will block that in a day or two. The female came back a few minutes after I came back into the house.

I need to wash the windows. :o

That's what the rain's for.

[Bowwowmeow]

I like the pictures.They rite cool.Im seeing lots of lizards and frogs.Its been raining alot.And I seen 3 great blue herods in one week.Theres usally a blue herod hanging out at my little water fall eating minnos
Thanks. :)

[Gliondrach]

Up until midnight last night (Saturday) I have caught 371 moths and 62 flour beetles since March. And 11 moths already today. Last week was the worst week of the moth invasion - I caught 89 of the blighters.

There are 2 squabs on the fire escape. I can hear 2 separate lots of squeaks.

[Bowwowmeow]

There are 2 squabs on the fire escape. I can hear 2 separate lots of squeaks.
Aw. :)

[Bowwowmeow]

I had a wasp come in the house. He came over to my desk while I was sitting here. He was attracted to the lamp, but then he flew into my empty drinking glass. It's just an ordinary clear glass vessel, but the light from the desk lamp makes it look like copper.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_M8aAcoQrumc/TcbWjU1H-XI/AAAAAAAACsM/WMtsOmSZ9X4/s512/Not%20a%20Drop%20to%20Drink.JPG

[manzana]

Nice. It reminds me of a video I watched the other day of a bee licking honey off glass (http://vimeo.com/11874048).

[Gliondrach]

I heard both squbs squeaking. They are behind a table top that leans against the fire escape wall, forming a tunnel. One end of the table abuts against another wall. There is only one open end. I was concerned that only the squab nearest the entrance would be fed. So I moved the table away from the wall it abuts to and left two entrances. I saw the little blighters as I did so. They squeaked at me in an attempt to scare me off.

The parents were sitting nearby. They didn't immediately come to investigate after I closed the door. I had put a slice of bread out before I moved the table. The female flew down to it about 5 minutes after I had gone back in. She didn't check on the babies. The male didn't come to eat until about 5 minutes after that.

I heard the babies squeaking about half an hour later.

I had seen the male standing near the entrance to the table top tunnel earlier in the day. I don't know if he was feeding them because I couldn't see clearly through the frosted glass of the door.

[Vinnie]

How big are the baby pigeons?

[Gliondrach]

They're about half grown. Fully feathered. Still with bits of fluff on them. I saw them today. I looked out before putting a slice of bread there. No sign of the parents, so I lifted the table top away from the wall and looked in. The parents arrived a few minutes after I'd gone back in. I saw them pecking away at the bread. Then another pigeon turned up and the male chased that one backwards and forwards a few times. Then they both flew off - the male chasing the interloper.

[Gliondrach]

I put some bread out on the fire escape about 20 minutes ago and the two pigeon parents flew down and started pecking at it after I closed the door. Then one of the squabs came out from behind the table, sqeaking and wings flapping. I left the room for a minute and heard two of them when I came back. I could still only see one pestering the parents for food as they were trying to eat. Then I saw the other one. I didn't have a very clear view as I was looking through the frosted glass of the door. After a few minutes of being chased and pestered the parents both flew off. The babies were still squeaking a couple of minutes later when I left the room. I thought I saw one of them pecking at the ground but it was difficult to see clearly through the glass.

[Bowwowmeow]

Aw. :)

I think my quails must have found another location to raise their young. I haven't seen any of them at all since I moved here permanently.

[Gliondrach]

I put another slice of bread out for the parents and about 4.37 seconds after they started eating the squabs came out again. I don't know how they know their parents are eating. Unless they come out when they hear them fly down. I didn't stay to watch as Doctor Who was due to start on telly.

[Bowwowmeow]

More flycatchers tapping on the window today! This time he was hanging around the grape arbor tapping on the dining room window.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_M8aAcoQrumc/Tc8n7t-rQZI/AAAAAAAACtg/6k724cm90yc/s640/Flycatcher.JPG

[Gliondrach]

Very sweet. They look like grey sparrows.

[Bowwowmeow]

Aw. :)

I think my quails must have found another location to raise their young. I haven't seen any of them at all since I moved here permanently.
Well did I ever speak too soon. I saw Mr and Mrs just this morning. And in the nick of time too! When I came in last night I had two ticks crawling up my legs. :( Quails eat them, thank goodness!

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_M8aAcoQrumc/TdBZlhclAWI/AAAAAAAACts/zMWNHez-gjc/s640/001.JPG

[nagev]

Any quail chicks?

I have a bunny nesting in my front yard in the mulch around the raspberries. I don't have a rabbit fence on the garden nor on any of the strawberries or herbs or raspberries. I've been hoping to coexist with it and so far we get alone fine. Although over winter it ate down many of my raspberry canes.

Usually it runs away when I'm within 5 or so feet, but about a week or two ago I came home and walked right up to it. I realized it was scared (eyes bulging and breathing fast) so I carefully walked away. It didn't move, but as I was walking away I realized it has babies. It was probably nursing or just gave birth as I saw some rather ugly hairless creatures flopping a bit under her. So I've just let her and her family do as they must. She's still nursing. I hope the new ones will ignore the garden or at least not nibble on everything. If they ate here or there and ate the whole veggie I wouldn't mind, I just don't like the nibbling on every one or most veggies.

[Bowwowmeow]

No no chicks. I don't think they have made a nest yet. If I recall, I don't think I saw chicks last year til July.

Aww, I saw a bunny running down my driveway the other evening. Someone else has been making fresh burrows in the earth too. I don't know how I am going to cope once I start trying to grow my own food.

[Gliondrach]

You'll have to put fencing up. With it extending underground and turned outwards at the bottom to stop the blighters from digging underneath.

[nagev]

I guess I've been lucky the last two years here. I'm hoping to stay lucky this year and on too. No fence and not bunny damage yet.

Although, I have some sad news and I feel really terrible today. :( So there's an issue with run off going into the crawl space here. I dug the entrance way to it so the water would pool and I could pump it out. Well it worked fine plus I had it covered. After the snow went away there was no issue so I was going to do some work on it. I moved the cover (a strawbale) and took the pump and everything out. Then we had 3 days of heavy rain over last weekend and the hole filled.

One of the young bunnies fell in and drowned today. :( I feel terribly guilty and I was almost in tears after I came home and saw what happened. I was a bit frustrated with my crew today and then when I came home I saw that and felt like my problems weren't as much as that poor bunny, plus it was all my fault, my carelessness.

:(

[Bowwowmeow]

Oh I'm sorry nagev. Reminds me of the time I found a baby sparrow drowned in my garden pond. I felt guilty for building it. :(

[Gliondrach]

That's very sad. Poor little bunny.

But you didn't mean it to happen. There will be lots of holes around that filled with water after the rain.

There will be things we all do that lead to the death of some little animal. Walking across the road could cause a car to slow down, which will mean it later runs over a mouse. If we hadn't slowed it down, the mouse wouldn't have been killed.

Instead of dwelling on what's happened, think of all the good you've done and will do. :hug:

[Bowwowmeow]

More neighhhhhbors, visiting the mail boxes.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5765580661_7c5d7d9fca_z.jpg

[Gliondrach]

The one turning round to look is probably thinking: 'Who does she think she is taking pictures of us?'

[Bowwowmeow]

Haha, exactly! I was calling out "Aw come on guys, say 'cheeeese'!" and they all looked at me like that. :smile:

[Gliondrach]

That's why you're getting a dirty look. You should have told them to say 'grass'.

[Gliondrach]

I looked out on the fire escape today and noticed that there were no pigeons in the table top tunnel. The father was nearby and another pigeon who may have been the mother. I put some bread out and soon saw all four of them through the frosted glass. I had suspected that the young ones had fledged but wasn't sure. :yea:

Some work is going to be done on the building within the next few weeks and I was worried that those two wouldn't have fledged in time.

There have been twigs behind the table for the last two or three years. Now they are mixed with a congealed mass of droppings. I will bag it up tomorrow and throw it in the bushes.

[Bowwowmeow]

I looked out on the fire escape today and noticed that there were no pigeons in the table top tunnel. The father was nearby and another pigeon who may have been the mother. I put some bread out and soon saw all four of them through the frosted glass. I had suspected that the young ones had fledged but wasn't sure. :yea:

Oh that's good. :)

[Bowwowmeow]

Laurence is back in the garage. Trying to match the sleeping bag this time. Trouble is I think he's colorblind. ;)

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-O5Hpq1t6D10/TePyTk4lQHI/AAAAAAAAC-c/bf5J-xHWE28/s640/001.JPG


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UDQxzzSBBms/TePyV_kSarI/AAAAAAAAC-g/8qLgnTOzrD0/s512/002.JPG


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9KoYHP1Io_0/TePyXegO1GI/AAAAAAAAC-k/6gBjJUj3N-I/s640/004.JPG

[Gliondrach]

Very striking pictures. Is this Laurence the Laundry Frog? Do they change colour like chameleons?

[Bowwowmeow]

Yes it is Laurence the Laundry Frog, and yes, they are like chameleons. It's really funny, because I haven't done any laundry in nearly three weeks. I'm almost out of clean undies though, so the very day I decide to get it done, there's Laurence. I was hoping he'd show up again once the mating season was over.

[KRITER]

Hey yall.Havnt been working much and my computer was sick along time.Left shoulder is taking a little longer to heel.It suks.But anyway.I was cutting the grass and brush back from my road.Come up on 7 small copperheds.I beleev they must have just left thair den.They was about 5 or 6 feet from each other just curled up in the grass.I didnt bother them.Then a big black snake was crossing the road heding for the creek.But I reckon I scared him becuz he turned around and went back in the woods.This is a big deel becuz I havnt seen to many snakes the last couple years.So Im glad to see these.And I been worryed about the turkey.But I do beleev they making a big come back.I been seeing 2 and 3 at a time regular.

[Bowwowmeow]

Wow that's a lot of snakes! I haven't seen any here, though last September there was a rattler under the house. He saw me through the vent and started buzzing. I couldn't see him though.

Sorry to hear about your shoulder. I hope it heals soon!

[KRITER]

Iv seen one timber rattler here this year.Theres this rock out in the creek.The only one wair the sun was shining rite on it.In the middle of that rock was a timber rattler.It was liking that sun,surenuff.

[Gliondrach]

The young pigeons are still around. I am still feeding them - only one slice of bread a day between them and their parents. I am going to give them 3/4 of a slice tomorrow and gradually reduce it to nothing. It's about 60 days since the young ones hatched and I don't want to encourage them to stay here longer than they normally would. The mother and the young ones are huddled together on my bathroom window ledge this evening. The father is on his usual roosting place on a pipe.

The moths are slowly being beaten back. Only 44 last week and 50 the week before.

[Bowwowmeow]

The skunks are back. :Sigh: :skunk: :craziest:

[Seymour]

I have a friend who comes to the windows and meows. She looks like my mama. I wish I could go outside and play with her. My Mom says I can't though.

[Bowwowmeow]

No, too many foxes and coyotes out there! Not to mention ticks.


It's a good thing I'm not stuccoing the wall today! :p

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Dppp6Db_OLg/TfkaIEcOWfI/AAAAAAAAAGc/y0E__1qbk48/s640/DSC_0123.JPG


He has slipped between the furring and the wall board. Goofy lizard. He looks like he's ready to get fossilized or something.

[nagev]

I bet it was really warm. With the wood being warmed by the sun as well as the metal being warmed. Probably felt kind of cozy too. :)

[Gliondrach]

I didn't feed the pigeons on the fire escape on Thursday. I saw two of them downstairs standing near three slices of bread. Then they flew up to the fire escape. They were still there an hour later at about the time I usually feed them. I was going to wean them off it slowly but seeing them ignoring the bread downstairs brought forward my plans. I didn't feed them yesterday, either. The young ones are still roosting on the fire escape. They were on the bathroom windowsill with their mother last night. The bathroom window faces on to the fire escape.

[Gliondrach]

It's been very quiet on the fire escape these last few days. I haven't been out there since the last time I did so. I went out there about half an hour ago. The adult male was there and he flew off. I found 2 eggs behind the table. I threw them over. I have found 5 this month.

I found a dead pigeon on the fire escape. Must be one of the young ones. The body looked plump and there were no obvious signs of injury.

I had gone out there to tidy up a bit. There have been two small cupboard things there for years. Someone left them. I intended to dismantle them and dispose of them years ago but I didn't get round to it. Then they became covered in pigeon droppings and I didn't much fancy touching them. I put a pair of old curtains over them, intending to carry them downstairs at the earliest opportunity. Then my back started playing up. The curtains are now stained with pigeon droppings. I went out there today to put the curtains in bin bags. I did that. There is a nasty smell of ammonia pervading them.

I am not looking forward to disposing of the cupboards. I will have to dismantle them as best I can and then put the pieces in the rubbish skips.

[Gliondrach]

I've dismantled the bigger of the two cupboards on the fire escape. I just pulled it apart. It will be easy to dispose of the pieces in the rubbish skips. The smaller one is fixed together with battens and screws. I will need to borrow a large phillips screwdriver.

[Gliondrach]

I've just seen bats flitting about outside my window. It's just after midnight, BST. I've never seen them here before. This is the first time this century that I've seen any. They must come from a local church where I saw some years ago.

[KRITER]

I see them almost every nite.If the moon is making alittl lite outside I can watch bats a rite good while.Im hoping they eating skeeters.

[Gliondrach]

I didn't see any last night because it was raining. There won't have been any insects flying about.

Two pigeons roosted on my bathroom windowsill last night. The adult male was in his usual place on a pipe so one of the windowsill ones must have been the surviving young one. And must be a female because he wouldn't tolerate another male on his patch. He spends a lot of time each day chasing any who stray on to the fire escape. He doesn't scare me, though.

[Gliondrach]

Only 19 moths last week. The week before there were 28 and 40 the week before that. They are definitely in retreat. My steadfast courage in the face of overwhelming odds has paid off. I would like to acknowledge the large part in my victory which is due to Fuzzy, who developed the strategic plan and the day to day tactical operations.

[Bowwowmeow]

There was a baby tree frog in the kitchen last night. I had a heck of a time keeping him from trying to jump under the stove, the fridge, and then the pantry, til I finally managed to get him pointed toward the open door. :p

[Gliondrach]

I haven't seen the adult male pigeon for a couple of days. There are two who sometimes sleep on the bathroom windowsill. One seemed to be there for most of the day and didn't move. But he or she did fly off a couple of mornings ago when I went in there and must have been seen through the frosted glass.

I think that one is a male. He chased another pigeon a day or two ago. A few hours before, another pigeon landed on the windowsill and made threatening noises. He - if it was the one I think is male - turned around and faced that pigeon and then turned around again and ignored the newly arrived pigeon.

No pigeons are roosting on the windowsill this evening so I looked out to see if the adult male was in his usual place. He isn't. Another pigeon is on the pipe and another one is a bit further away. It was too dark to see if the other one was the adult male.

I suspect the pigeon I found dead a few days ago may have been the adult female. And now the adult male has gone. Perhaps one of the two young ones is a male and has chased him off.

The adult male hasn't woken me up this year at 4 or 5 a.m. He didn't wake me up in the Winter at 2 or 3 a.m. Even the pigeons in the front have been behaving themselves.

[Gliondrach]

I looked out on the fire escape just before it became dark. The pigeon who sits where the adult male used to sit might be the adult female. She is very dark and has a couple of mid-grey bars on her wings. This pigeon is like that. The other pigeon was sitting on another pipe and I think this one might be the adult male. The young one was on the windowsill. I chased them so I could get a better look at them as they were flying but they flew off too quickly. The two adults came back a few minutes later but the young one is still not back now - about 3 or 4 hours later.

[Bowwowmeow]

Tree frog with his bottom tucked into the space under the window trim.


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6124/5925513222_86228727cd_b.jpg


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6023/5924949095_7f51755e62_b.jpg


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6003/5924949041_60511cc1dd_b.jpg

[Gliondrach]

That pose would make a good gargoyle.

[Bowwowmeow]

Laurence was nowhere to be seen yesterday, but this morning I decided to do the laundry, and he was waiting for me, on a bag of perlite soil amendment right across from the clothes washer.


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kCAJippUOgo/TipHBbsIY3I/AAAAAAAAAO8/B1ycIqnoIf4/s640/Laurence%252520and%252520Lauretta.png

It looks like he has a trainee/assistant. Her name is Lauretta.


I kept going on about how the babies are the size of a shelled almond kernel. I finally got one out for comparison.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6UyxLISPtLk/TipG6uAOvII/AAAAAAAAAOw/dk-4P61CvdQ/s640/Lauretta%252520and%252520the%252520Almond.JPG

[nagev]

Cute! :)

[Bowwowmeow]

They are, aren't they. So tiny. :)


I left the porch door open last night, and at some point, a bat came in and clung to a piece of luan I have leaning against the wall, near the front door. I didn't notice him til this evening. He was so cute!

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dtordjRfPAI/TjJKFGbUa5I/AAAAAAAAARQ/e4nk2aixECk/s512/Bat%25252010.JPG


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-f3iJuJdll6E/TjI4KsQ7_9I/AAAAAAAAAQo/u1EsXQ5c590/s640/Bat%2525203.JPG


https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nL5mWuWR4hg/TjJKHFy7JaI/AAAAAAAAARY/0M0f-0Df7RY/s512/Bat%25252012.JPG


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q8tbHNlOFD8/TjI4OBnK1bI/AAAAAAAAAQ8/7RpCOqAN3qA/s640/bat%2525208.JPG


Yes, I stuck my finger near his face, for scale. I even gave him a tiny tickle on the back when I was done taking his picture. He didn't mind at all. I did get a huge lecture about rabies from a friend already though, so no scolding please! :o

[Gliondrach]

He's a sweet little thing. Never mind rabies - he could have been a vampire in disguise.

[Bowwowmeow]

Eh, I'm probably already carrying bubonic plague from tickling squirrels anyway.

[Bowwowmeow]

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/5992701252_ecf17d8bb5_z.jpg

Larry, Curly, and Moe. This space is one and a half inches wide.

[manzana]

That would be a funny thing to notice out of the corner of your eye. :magnify:

[Bowwowmeow]

Yes it was! Today there is one frog in there sideways. I guess he thought three was a crowd.


Lizard on the dogs' orthopedic foam mattress, out in the garage. I was expecting to see Laurence on it again today, but got a surprise. The mattress isn't really tipping over. I had to tilt the camera to get the whole lizard in the frame, because his tail is so long.:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6132/5996510070_af5506c966_z.jpg


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5996510416_3dec257d8a_z.jpg


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6133/5996521682_2c8dec9686_z.jpg


http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6135/5996523716_bd3dfc5869_z.jpg

[Gliondrach]

Good closeup of the eye.

The moths are making another effort - I evicted 26 last week. And 20 flour beetles.

[Gliondrach]

There have been no pigeons on my fire escape for over a week. I don't know where they've gone or why. I cleaned the bathroom windowsill outside a few days ago. It was thick in droppings. I put some water on them to soften them and then scraped off as much as I could half and hour later. Then I used a brush and water to get the rest off. There're still some white stains that will need a harder brush to get off. The drainpipe is streaked with droppings and will be difficult to clean. I think I'll leave it for now. I need to clean the top of the balustrade of the fire escape balcony because it has a lot of splattered droppings on it.

[KRITER]

Them pictures are to cool Bowowmeow.I see lots of lizards and frogs and turtles but no camera.I come cross a possum early in the morning when I was going to work.She was loaded down with youngins.One droped off and walked cross the road.I got out with my flashlite to make sure it wasnt going to walk under the truk.Didnt see the baby.But the mama possum was having a hardtime walking with all them youngins hanging on to her belly.Got to be hard on her back.

[Bowwowmeow]

Thanks KRITER! :)


I've been looking all over kingdom come for a tarantula lately. All this time I never knew I had one in my garage. :)

With flash:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6098374395_5776d8ff7d_z.jpg


With natural lighting:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6098372203_31a7465e8b_z.jpg

[Bowwowmeow]

Bats, frogs, lizards, spiders. I think I must be turning into a witch. :witch:

[manzana]

Do you ever kill spiders? I try not to kill insects, but because some are vectors for disease or may be poisonous I sometimes think its better than letting them escape indoors (if I can't trap them immediately to take them outside).

[Bowwowmeow]

No I don't kill spiders. I've had them running up my leg in bed even, but they never bite me. There are all sorts living here, and I don't bother to take them outside. I do have to do regular web cleaning.

I did have a black widow last year, hanging around on the outside of the garage. I left her alone and she left me alone. That is the only dangerous spider in California really. I leave them be.

I do kill the ticks that I find on the dogs. I don't like it, but I feel I must do it. Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are the only bugs I will deliberately kill. I am not happy about it though.

[manzana]

I've had them running up my leg in bed even, but they never bite me.

Wow. I'm sure my reflexes wouldn't allow that to go on unchallenged, to put it mildly. :nanaflipflop:

[Gliondrach]

I have a few cobwebs in the house. I left one in corner for so long that it became thick with dust. I decided a spider wouldn't continue to live in it. I couldn't see one so disposed of it.

[Bowwowmeow]

Wow. I'm sure my reflexes wouldn't allow that to go on unchallenged, to put it mildly. :nanaflipflop:
Well it's when you panic that you can get hurt. I suppose staying calm is easier said than done though.

[manzana]

Reflexes usually occur before I even think about how to react. :updn:

[Bowwowmeow]

You need boot camp.

[manzana]

You need boot camp.

Only if you will hold my hand. :comfort:

[KRITER]

Thanks KRITER! :)


I've been looking all over kingdom come for a tarantula lately. All this time I never knew I had one in my garage. :)

With flash:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6098374395_5776d8ff7d_z.jpg


With natural lighting:
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6098372203_31a7465e8b_z.jpg

Dagum,I reely like these pictures.I seen a few tarantulas when I lived in Texas.They somthing,tell you what.I seen road runners out there too.You see road runners out wair your at?

[Gliondrach]

BWM IS a road runner. See the exercise blog if you don't believe me.

[Bowwowmeow]

Thank you KRITER! No I haven't seen any roadrunners. I think they like deserts better.

[KRITER]

Yeah,the part of Texas I lived was like a desert.There was a mess of mesquite trees,tumble weed and dust.

[Bowwowmeow]

Baby lizard got in the house. :colors:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y5-ZLTb7bcY/Tp4cmPgfIMI/AAAAAAAAE9s/HR3Zc9lY8S0/s640/DSC_0057.JPG

[Gliondrach]

Sweet little thing.

[Bowwowmeow]

Yeah. :) He wouldn't get off my hand. Nice and warm. I wanted to keep him!

[KRITER]

Theres a kind of lizard here that looks just like that.Its called a fence lizard.Iv seen thair teeth.
I leev home for work at about 5:00 in the morning.So its still dark.I was on my littl porch puting on my shoes and heard somthing down in the woods walking on the leevs.Got my flashlite and seen a small bear.It mite hav been 200lbs,black and shiny.Havnt seen a bear in a long time.It wasnt paying me no mind atall.Dogs wasnt even barking.It was a cool way to start my day.

[gabbles]

I'd like to see a bear.

[KRITER]

I dont see as many as I use to.I think its been close to a year.But I always like seeing them.

[Gliondrach]

Bears are great.

[Bowwowmeow]

I always leave a few grapes on the vines for the birds. Here is a flycatcher having a little breakfast.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EF3gSIpaDAk/Tu7s5X9Kx8I/AAAAAAAAAvk/-lc4XnopjvM/s512/DSC_0067.JPG


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wsCCDX6NrE8/Tu7s5Z4t-6I/AAAAAAAAAvo/lKmE-esqqF8/s512/DSC_0068.JPG

[Gliondrach]

I've evicted 5 moths and 8 beetles so far this week. I hope this is the last year of the invasion.

[Bladerunner]

Just developing our new garden/lawn but the local cats keep visiting and leaving "calling-cards". I tried to shoo one off today when I was potting up some new plants but the little blighter rolled on her back and wanted her tummy tickling. She obviously doesn't realise that I'm now a haughty-culturalist.

[Bowwowmeow]

I had an early frog in the garage, right under the door. We were lucky he didn't get hurt when I opened it! I had just finished making my semi-annual batch of laundry soap, and I was ready to bottle it up and do some laundry, and there he was, out of season. Somehow he knew it was laundry day. :p

There have been lots of wild turkeys coming around too.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pjbNqmqEVp4/T1fp3fRdIjI/AAAAAAAAA3M/rkmk3IiBAF8/s640/Turkeys%25204.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TwxHNyRc05E/T1fp6SltuXI/AAAAAAAAA3w/dWmE74xLIw4/s640/Turkeys%25208.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-YixOm4W6kqY/T1fpzJLyR8I/AAAAAAAAA2M/ITl1LIv0tCo/s640/Turkeys%252010.jpg

[KRITER]

Wow,these pictures are dynamite.I been seeing turkey everyday when on my road home.Iv had to stop a few times to let them cross the road.I like to stop as soon as I see them.I mean I dont get as close as I can befor I stop.I havnt seen a Tom with his feathers all out yet this year.Seen lots of possum and coon.Big coons.
And the stink bugs are back.Two got down my overalls this morning.It was just plum weird.

[Bowwowmeow]

Thanks KRITER! There are lots more turkeys this year than last. The bees are waking up, but not too many other bugs are active yet. I now have two frogs in the garage, and I saw a salamander in the patio for the first time since I moved in here. I figured there must be salamanders around, on account of conditions being good for the frogs.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/--UX54x51ZUA/T3Zb7_V2LRI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/sOp_7b30hOI/s640/Salamander.JPG

He was right in front of the garage door, heading under a planter box, very slowly. :)

[KRITER]

Thats a good shot.I like the pictures.I been seeing lots of lizards,carpenter bees,bumble bees,had a horse fly trying to take advanage of me sitting down yesterday.But the stink bugs are alredy bad.I reckon theyll be worse come summer.Anyway,the woods is alive big time.