Fall Colors and Critters

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #137.

I'm late with my posts this week, so this one is also for:

Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #151

Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'

and Carmi's Thematic Photographic 387 - Where I Shop

This hotel is next to Berkeley Springs State Park.

These minnows live in Warm Springs Run, the creek under that bridge.

George Washington's bath tub:

I don't shop in many stores in Berkeley Springs, but this is one I visit often.

How about a bird and a fence? This is one of 'our' porch birds, a Downy Woodpecker.

A White-breasted Nuthatch:

Race for the seeds:

Fall colors from Cacapon Mountain and Lake Siri:



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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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Mystery Bee and More

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#374). I have some pollinators to contribute. First, a Carpenter Bee on a white thistle.

This bee is new to me. Shaped somewhat like a small, shiny black bumblebee. It could fly as smoothly as a hover fly. A mason bee, maybe?

Carmi's Thematic Photographic 379 is Reflective. I have nothing great in that department currently, but here are some pics of Lake Siri from July.


Dog Department: Amelia

And Theda. (Do you see the chipmunk?)

Tiny Chipmunk and more Birdie Porch Party

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #126.



I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B' Birdin'. Here are a few more pictures of the birdie party on the porch.



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Titmice and Doves

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#358). P.S. I'm also linking to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday.



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David Bowie Bird

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #121. And I"m also linking to Annii's I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. This Red-bellied Woodpecker flew in for a visit on the porch last week on Cacapon Mountain, and the light was just right.




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Redbud Fence

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences 107.


Redbuds are all out in D.C. (and coming out in W.V.). I planted two in each front yard. But it will take them a long time to grow into this:

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On The Porch - Cacapon Mountain

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#355).



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White-breasted Nuthatch and Couch Potato Amelia

My contribution to Eileeinmd's Saturday's Critters #116. I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.
It's been a while since I visited the birds in W.V. This pic is from January:

It's hard to resist well over 100 pounds of Irish Wolfhound tucking herself into a little ball of fur:

Here's the mystery birdie bush, on March 3 and March 4:


Nonetheless, spring is on the way:


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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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