Platter Birds, Porch Birds

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #154. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. I've been experimenting with the Canon G15 a lot lately. I suspect that it's become worn and damaged through use (and abuse, it's hit the floor once or twice), auto-mode doesn't work the way I'm used to. But it still can take decent pics, especially in macro mode. So now I'm trying other modes I've never bothered with before.
D.C. platter birds:




West Virginia porch birds:


Here's a turkey vulture:

I'm also linking to Carmi's Thematic Photographic 390 - Out for a walk. Of course that happens several times a day when there's a dog in your household. Here's Theda having a drink from Lake Siri:

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We're On Your Porch, Eating Your Seeds.

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#398).



And here is some fall foliage with Canadian Geese, Lake Siri, and Cacapon Mountain.

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Ashburn, Virginia Critters

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #135. This Ashburn Bambi is less than a 100 yards from where I took videos of one who kept on eating while I was just ten feet away. (But this one didn't let me get close, i.e. behaved typically.)

This is probably a Familiar Bluet (other possibilities here):

My sister uses this dish to give the birds water:

The other night was so hot, this toad decided to take a dip and stayed there.

By the way, I uploaded the 4th video from that set I mentioned. Except it's the 1st because I uploaded them in reverse order. So I renamed them. You can see Bambi doesn't mind poison ivy one little bit.

I'm also linking to Anni's I'd-Rather-B-Birdin'. I've been trying to get some birdie pics these past few days, but no luck. So here are some older ones I haven't used before.


Amelia says Hello!

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Redbuds and Green Tiger Beetle

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#356). B^4 asked me if I'd seen any redbuds. I'm planting them, bud! (But I don't think the low temperatures at night are friendly, at least when they're still above ground.)


Plenty of birds are visiting the porch for suet:

Here's my first Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle of the season. So shiny! So green!

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BAAAAAAAMBI!!!

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #106.

Last time I put up pictures of the mountain laurels, Bambi had stuck his nose into their fences and munched significant portions of the leaves. So I used portions of an old giant TV antenna to shore them up.

I guess Bambi took that as a challenge.

Almost all the leaves gone on all four, along with a lot of stems and plenty of branches.

Theda is both shocked and stunned.

And it's not like this was a harsh winter. Or there isn't a huge field of grass a stone's throw down the mountain.

And now for something completely different.

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Nutkin Action Photo

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #98. And also to Michelle's Nature Notes (#348).




The people who live at this house put out seeds on their front walk. As one comes past the bushes on the sidewalk, all the critters spring into action. Usually they're all gone before I can snap anything, but this time I came by with the camera on and just snapped the shutter as soon as I passed the last bush.

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Birdie Bush Update

Carmi's Thematic Photographic 365 is Lens. Here is a picture of my Canon G15 lens (along with the rest of it, the remote shutter, and my tripod).

Mr. and Mrs. Downy Woodpecker on the deck table, Thursday, January 21, 2016, 10:24:29 AM:

I'm also contributing to Michelle's Nature Notes (#348). We had no seed here in D.C., so I put out some whole wheat bread for the birds in the birdie bush.

I guessed the sparrows would like it the more, but I think the cardinals actually ate most of it. I put a slice on a branch, but they pecked it onto the ground and seemed more comfortable getting it there. I also put out some Granny Smith apple cores. They liked those, too.

Yesterday, I was able to get some birdseed:


I'm sticking with the birdie bush for TexWiscGirl's Good Fences 97. The bush is as full of birds as I've ever seen it. (By the way, this is my current guess at its identification.)

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A January Bee In D.C.

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #109. I can't remember ever seeing a bee buzzing around in D.C. in January:

Bold Nutkin takes a long look at Theda:

The birds in West Virginia are happy to see me:


UPDATE: I'm also contributing to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. Most of the usual suspects showed up shortly after I put up the suet feeder...Chickadees, White-breasted Nutchatches, and Downy Woodpeckers. Missing in action so far are their feathered fellow travelers, the Tufted Titmice.

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Fire on the Mountain and Geese on Lake Siri

Carmi's Thematic Photographic 356 is Electricity.
I saw this when walking up one of the mountain roads on Sunday.

I also heard lots of sirens. Tuesday, I took a look at the source of that smoke. I heard an electrical problem is a suspect.

I'm also linking to Michelle's Nature Notes (#339).
These Blacknose Dace live in Warm Spring Run along with the guppies. (I tried to get a better picture of them, but they are quite wary.)

I was wondering how close the geese by Lake Siri would let me get...



Update: I'm also linking to Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday 174. Here's Mrs. Downy Woodpecker at the suet feeder, and a Carolina Wren through the basement sliding doors.


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