The baby woodchucks are everywhere.
Behind the barn, in the rock wall, on the porch, under the deck.
Which means….
They’re going to be saturating my blog for a while.
Because really….
If there’s anything cuter than a mini woodchuck eating apples?
I don’t know if I’d survive it.
With apologies to Kevin Costner….
I’m talking about the deer.
When snow covers the ground and grass is hard to find?
Shoveling a path is a sure way to attract a crowd.
Or a herd, as the case may be.
We were really glad to see our resident 12 point buck survived hunting season.
And visits daily with his harem.
Of course he also chases them away when the treats run low.
Cheeky bugger.
Here’s a little clip in between snow storms.
Or is our woodchuck beginning to look like Jabba the Hut?
Look closely now…
Can you see the resemblance?
I think it’s pretty clear.
They could be twins.
Yup.
Tried to photograph 4 fawns frolicking around your back yard… at dusk…. through a window?
It’s not easy.
And most of your shots come out looking like this:
Or this:
They look rather like ghost deer…
But I assure you they were corporeal beings.
They just rarely stand still.
Or face the camera.
The video is poor quality, and a bit shaky…. although it gets slightly better halfway through.
But you’ll see what I mean about frolicking.
Multiple Bambis!
There.
You have now fulfilled your cuteness quota for the day.
No….
My husband didn’t clean out the basement.
Or the barn.
I’m not talking miracles here.
But finally…
After watching, feeding and photographing the deer in our backyard for the past 17 years?
A doe brought her fawn!
Bambi made an appearance.
And isn’t that just the sweetest?
I put birdseed out for the birds….
Which the deer eat.
I put apples out for the deer….
Which the woodchucks eat.
Granted, they’re cute as all get out when they do…
But do they have to eat the deer grain as well?
Sometimes they climb right in the bowl and polish it off.
Which leads the deer to eat…
It’s a vicious circle.
And proves that our backyard creatures are a little confused.
Like this Baltimore Oriole….
Who tries to drink from the hummingbird feeder.
Yes, you.
The owner of this house spends a small fortune keeping you in fresh oranges and grape jelly…. don’t get greedy.
Of course….
This guy?
Eats whatever…
And whoever he wants.
Good news?
Our visiting Kestrel is back…
And he brought a friend…
(Apologies for the photo quality, I was at the utter limits of my zoom lens)
They’re such pretty little things, and I enjoyed watching them fly around the yard all morning.
Until I heard a thump…
And looked out the window.
Yeah.
Not for the dove anyway.
Kestrels will be Kestrels.
But it would have been nice if he’d finished his meal and not left me the pieces and parts clean up detail…
As well as a blood stained lawn.
Okay, granted… it could be worse.
But still….
Since the little darlings have been raiding my bird feeders of late, I thought I’d put out more deer feed and a few chopped apples for them as a treat.
Apparently this went over quite well.
So well…
They called in the cavalry.
Note to self –
Buy more feed.
This is better than cable.
Well, almost.
Yes.
There really is a Game of Thrones meme for every subject.
(Disclaimer- this post was scheduled incorrectly and is appearing 2 weeks later than planned, hence the brown lawn. )
It’s finally spring in Maine.
The temperatures are warming, the grass is greening and the deer in our backyard are spoiled rotten brats.
We put out a few bowls of grain and chopped apples in the late afternoon and enjoy watching them stroll leisurely up from the woods.
Yes, I’m talking about you.
So imagine my surprise the other day as I was taking pictures…..
And this one stuck his tongue out at me.
How’s that for appreciation?
Yeah, you.
Hey now…
Cut it out!
Don’t give me that look.
Cheeky little bugger.
We watch the birds here at Casa River.
Lots and lots of birds.
We also feed the birds.
Which brings all manner of beasts to our backyard to eat what falls on the ground…
On any given day you can see woodchucks, chipmunks, skunks, raccoons, squirrels, and fox.
During the cold winter months, the birds eat me out of house and home.
I fill and fill and fill those feeders but their appetites seem to know no bounds.
But lately….
I’ve noticed the seed levels were dropping at an alarming rate.
In mere hours multiple feeders were stripped clean.
Ah.
That explains it.
(Photos and video taken 2 weeks ago. Even Maine is greening up by now.)
River's world..... 