Backyard Critters

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #124.


I missed TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #110. Nonetheless:

Here's the magical mystery birdie bush, with escorting azalea and rhododendron:

This is what the buds look like. They're all in groups of three, and will be white blossoms:

SPEAKING of birdies, I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather Be Birdin':

Last but not least, a spider web in some azalea flowers:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Another Critter for the Backyard Frisbee Bath and Feeder Station

Look who stopped by yesterday. This is my contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#359).


In other business, here's popular princess Amelia:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Ashburn Horses and Black Rat Snake

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #123. I stopped to take a picture of these horses...

And then I noticed Mr. (or Mrs.) Black Rat Snake heading across the horse trail toward the bike trail.

This snake is getting ready to shed its skin, else it wouldn't have stuck around. As it was, the bike trail is very busy (I much prefer to walk on the horse trail) and a pretty bad destination for a snake. So I stomped my feet to try to get it turned around.

Mr. Rat Snake was all, "You're not the boss of me!" And proceeded across the trail.

So I picked him up by the tail and put him back in the grass on the other side. (There was some disgruntlement, as you can see.)

And that was the end of that.

P.S. I plan to contribute to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin', too, but I have to head back to D.C. first. P.P.S. Here are a couple more shots of the Red-bellied Woodpecker visit to the porch in W.V. early in April.


Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Keep Your Trees And Shrubs From Escaping

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #109. Here's Nutkin, posting up:

You have to keep azaleas behind fences, or they might run away.

This is a well-kept Dogwood:

Tulip season peaked in D.C. a week or so ago...

How about a couple of house sparrows enjoying the backyard?:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Titmice and Doves

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



Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Mallard, Blue Jay, Cardinal

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #122. I went to visit Broad Branch with Theda yesterday. We found one mallard.

Blue Jay visits to the yard are relatively rare. I heard the familiar tweet of a Cardinal, looked out the window and got my first picture of one there.

The Blue Jay heard me and flew off, leaving the seeds to Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal.

How about a closeup of Mr. Cardinal in the sun? (I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather Be Birdin'.)

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Barking Fence

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #108.
Here are some dogs barking at Theda. (She returns the favor when anyone walks their dog(s) by our fence.)

Azaleas are waking up all around D.C.

I was walking Theda, and we found Nutkin snoozing in the sun on this fence.

Speaking of snoozing in the sun, here's Theda next to the mystery birdie bush:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

Annual Doggerel

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#357).
Here is the 4th of the Redbuds I planted. There's a big one blooming down the street over its shoulder.

There are so many pretty flowers blooming. I must keep snapping away.

Daffodils were still going strong on Cacapon Mountain late in March:

How about a couple of porch birdies?


And now for that annual doggerel (plus a dogwood):

How much wood would a dogwood dog, if a dogwood could dog wood?

P.S. I added the link to Nature Footstep's Trees n Bushes 53.

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

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.




Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

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:

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~

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!

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
~