Wicket

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #132. This is Amelia's new friend next door, Wicket.


So who is Wicket named for?

Wicket W. Warrick, that's who!


In other business...

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Late September Critters

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#393).



I took a little video, but didn't get much...the snake had another appointment.

P.S. Here's Nutkin:

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Bambi, Monarch, Mocker

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #145. I went for a nature walk on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail on Thursday and was promptly greeted by Bambi.


Yesterday, I saw a Monarch Butterfly.

I'm also contributing to Anni's I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Here's a mockingbird from my sister's backyard.

I passed this mockingbird on the trail. Usually they fly right off, but it kept singing to itself. So I got ready to record...and a string of bicycles came by. Then a plane from Dulles. Then more bikes, another plane...I was about to give up, and then there was a window.

Last but not least, here's Rory!

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Return of Spa Frog

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #131.

Here's a Tufted Titmouse from the deck in W.V. A bit out of focus, but you can see the deck fence just fine.

I saw this groundhog on the Washington and Old Dominion Trail this afternoon, but he/she/it/woodchuck saw me, too. And disappeared quickly. So on the way back, I tried to be very quiet when I got to the spot. Success!

Last but not least...who is this???

Could it be?

SPA FROG!

Update: Hours later, it's getting dark and Spa Frog is still happily floating around in the chair.

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Party Crasher

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#392). Here is the Mystery Birdie Bush (Streambank Mock Orange) full of birds waiting for their morning seeds.

You won't believe what happened next! (Of course you will...Nutkin crashed the party and ate almost all of the sunflower seeds.)

So this morning. Mr. Cardinal has the run of the place...

And then...

How about a bee?

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Mr. Cardinal and 'Friends'

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #144. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd-Rather-B-Birdin'.

Unlike Mrs. Cardinal, Mr. Cardinal does not like to share.


Here's Nutkin with one of the apple cores.

But he didn't finish it, so...

And that's all for today, right Theda?

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Mrs. Cardinal and Friends Plus Pumpkin Fence

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#391).


I'm also contributing to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #130. How about a pumpkin fence?

And Carmi has Thematic Photographic 384 - Dirty. For this, we're going to the expert:

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Dark and Orby Night on Cacapon Mountain

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #143 and Anni's I'd-Rather-B-Birdin'.

It was a dark and orby night:

So this tree frog came out to catch bugs on the sliding glass door. He/she/it/Hyla versicolor was doing well, I saw two captures.

Now for some porch birds:



Here's Lady of the Lake, Theda. Note the leaves are starting to fall:

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Butterflies, Birds, Disposable

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#390).

I saw a Tiger Swallowtail hanging oddly from a teasel in Ashburn late in August.

It had been caught by an ambush predator, a crab spider:

Remarkable that the spider could hold onto something that big just using its two hindmost legs.
P.S. In case Michelle would rather use something besides the hapless butterfly for her collage, here are some Cardinal Flowers.

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 383 - Disposable. Unfortunately, our Cacapon Mountainside neighborhood has some bears who love garbage and houses that are rented out to weekenders. The result is often ripped open bags of trash in our 'backyard.'

Not just one bag, but two!

I'm also linking to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #129. It took almost a week for the usual suspects to figure out there was food on the porch deck. But they're here now...


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