Goodness! I didn’t realize I hadn’t posted here since February!! I’ve mostly been making short-form posts to Twitter and Instagram and neglecting this blog. So here we are in July and I’ll make a couple/few quick image posts with captions. These photos are from July 23 and 24 when local wildlife, here in the neighborhood of a small city, paid us extra-close visits.
Among the first Bluebirds to show up at my feeder, this one arrived after freezing rain enshrouded the feeder’s rain shield in icicles.
I’ve never seen them. I’ve never, ever seen Bluebirds in my yard or at my feeders. Until this month.
Wherever two or more are gathered, there’s an argument. Eastern Bluebirds on an icy birdfeeder.
First I saw a couple of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) show up just after I restocked my feeders for the morning. They returned the next day and then there were three. Skip forward a few days and yesterday, February 12, I counted eight — eight! — of the beauties around the feeders, in neighboring trees, and on the ground!
One of the eight Eastern Bluebirds that appeared in my Northern Ohio front yard February 12.
I don’t know why this year is different but at a time when I could use some cheering up, the Bluebirds flock to the view from my window. And they do, indeed, bring happiness.
NOT Bluebirds but they can certainly eat a lot of bird seed!
The Snow Fell Like Fog
On a much-needed hike in the fresh snow, I followed deer tracks until I met their makers: a buck and doe Whitetail hiding in the woods. I watched them and they watched me. I shot a few photos. I walked a bit closer to the deer. I shot a few photos. And so on. The buck, more wary than the doe, took off down the bank of a shallow gully and watched from the other side. The doe stayed put though she twitched with each click of my camera’s shutter. A gust of wind arose blowing the snow off bare tree branches above, falling in a sudden and brief blizzard, looking like fog. I recorded a few more image frames. I approached a bit more. The doe gave me one last look and followed her mate deeper into the brush. Lifted, I turned back and away from the Whitetails and, slogging through the snow and frigid evening air, headed to the edge of the wood, returning to a noisier world.
Too Close, Time to Go
Deer at Breakfast
This morning, venturing outdoors, I encountered a small herd of Whitetail Deer enjoying breakfast at the end of our neighbors’ drive. They were a bit wary of my presence but I was able to get my camera, shoot several photos of them, and move much closer to the group than I would have expected. Many consider them pests coming, as they do, into lawns and gardens to graze. I consider the deer beautiful and feel a bit sorry for their plight — they come into unsafe areas seeking food because we humans continue to remove their woodlands to build houses, shopping centers, and parking lots. So, my dear deer, enjoy your breakfast and have a safe day!
A Great Egret floats over still water and amid fall foliage illuminated by early light.
This morning I had a little extra time so I paid an early visit to the Strongsville (Ohio) Wildlife Area of Cleveland Metroparks. The air was unmoving and chilly but the morning light was warm. On the lake floated ducks and wading along the far shore was the resident Great Egret. I’d seen the big white bird there before and was hoping to spy it once again. I shot a good many images of the bird as it waded along the shallows, striking into the water now and again, feeding on small aquatic creatures. A hawk landed high in a neighboring tree and, after sitting there for a bit, took off. I don’t know if it was the raptor’s activity or if the egret spotted me but it sprang into flight. I squeezed off a few shots as the bird slowly flew farther along the shoreline; shown here is the best of the bunch. A little farther down the road I encountered a young buck Whitetail Deer who was apparently waiting to cross. I stopped to allow it to make up its mind. On the seat beside me was my trusty camera so, as the deer started moving, I fired off a few shots; unlike the other kind of shots, the youngster has been preserved by mine. It was a happy morning.
UPDATE: One week after I made the photo of the deer, I noted Cleveland Metroparks had closed the section of parkway where the encounter took place. The road block signs didn’t say it but it looked like the area was closed for wildlife “management.” Too bad the only way they seem to be able to manage wildlife involves rifles.
A young buck Whitetail Deer trots along at the edge of the woods.
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