Tag Archives: deer

Colors and critters.

 

Looking across the street to our neighbor’s organic vegetable farm is always interesting.

 

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But this time of year, it’s downright beautiful.

 

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Who knew artichokes could be so pretty?

And when our neighbor has wood chips delivered….

 

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HE HAS WOODCHIPS DELIVERED.

 

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When you’re a farmer’s child?

You don’t need no stinkin’ sandbox.

 

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On the critter front,

 

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We’re down to one lone woodchuck.

 

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He’s still fat…

 

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And still clumsy…

 

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And still hangs out on our deck once in a while. But it’s autumn, and all his brothers and sisters are finding dens and getting ready for winter. I doubt even this one will be here much longer.

Sigh…

 

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Autumn also means the deer are changing into their darker winter coats. One summer coated hold out is on the right for comparison.

 

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A murder of crows have now discovered our bird bath.

Why are they called a murder?

The Oxford English Dictionary suggests this is an allusion to the crow’s traditional association with violent death or its harsh and raucous cry.  If you’ve ever heard dozens of agitated crows in full cry, it really does sound as if they’re yelling bloody murder.

As long as they don’t murder me in my sleep, I don’t care what you call them.

 

 

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Uh oh.

 

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And finally, we have a new skunk in town.

 

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I admit I never really paid attention to skunk tails before, but we’ve had so many different families this year I’ve gotten to recognize them by their individual patterns.

This is Tippy.

 

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Brilliantly named for the white tip on her tail.

Is she really a she?

I neither know, nor care to get close enough to find out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More random critters.

 

The photo files need purging again so…

 

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Mother woodchuck and her last baby.

The other 3 have taken off for parts unknown.

 

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And I get the feeling this final child isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack.

 

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Someone needs to tell him we eat from the bowl, not sit in it.

 

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Or lie in it for that matter.

 

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Our beautiful buck is back.

 

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Which makes me nervous as it’s hunting season.

 

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Fingers crossed no one breaks up his family.

 

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This little devil was perched on the feeder bar waiting for an unsuspecting meal the other morning…

 

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I saw feathers on the lawn later in the day, so mission accomplished.

 

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The flies have been thick for the past few days and target the deer mercilessly.

 

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It’s my opinion this doe was sticking her tongue out at the flies…

And not the photographer.

Finally, who needs video games….

 

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When you’ve got real live angry birds right on the back lawn?

 

 

Random Bambi ….

 

If you haven’t guessed by now, I take a lot of pictures.

My life may not be fascinating…

But it’s damn sure well documented.

And what’s a blog for if not sharing random baby deer photos from earlier this summer?

 

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Not much to comment on.

 

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Just enjoy the sweetness…

 

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While I organize my photo files.

 

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And if you’re not into cute furry 4 legged babies?

 

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Then tune in again next time…

 

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When I’m sure to have more meaningless drivel.

 

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A critter filled post.

 

Because my photo files are filled with critter pics.

 

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A wet fox.

 

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Two wet foxes.

 

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Okay, okay… moving on.

 

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Baby woodchuck.

 

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These pics are a month or two old, they’re not babies anymore.

 

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I can’t tell you exactly how old because my stupid camera’s date and time setting is broken and everything registers 1/1/1980.

Why? I have no frickin’ clue.

 

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Buck, on the field line.

 

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Doe, in the field.

 

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Wet skunk.

 

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Wet skunk and deer.

This next one is blurry, but how often do you get a shot of  a deer sticking her tongue out at a skunk?

 

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Skunk Rule #1?

Do not be rude to skunks.

They will make you pay… and the photographer’s house will stink for a week.

 

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More woodchucks….

 

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Eating apples.

 

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And woodchucks eating deer grain.

 

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More deer.

 

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And deer eating deer grain.

 

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More skunks.

 

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More foxes.

 

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Skunk and fox.

 

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Please remember Skunk Rule #1.

There is no Skunk Rule #2…. when the  tail goes up?

Run.

 

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More woodchucks.

I’d like to tell you that’s all the photos…. but it’s not even close.

That’s all for now though.

 

 

Have you ever….

 

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:

 

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Or this:

 

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They look rather like ghost deer…

 

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But I assure you they were corporeal beings.

 

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They just rarely stand still.

 

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Or face the camera.

 

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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.

Wild Kingdom… the River edition.

 

It’s not just the woodchucks who show up for a nosh at Casa River.

 

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We have a beautiful pair of foxes who are denning down in our woods.

 

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Hey now… I’m sharing the sights and sounds of my backyard.

Please be respectful.

 

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Early morning shots through a wet window are a little blurred.

 

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This is sharper.

 

 

 

Then there are the daily seed raiders…

 

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This not pregnant anymore doe just dropped her fawn in the woods 2 houses down and is late in blowing her winter coat.

Of course if we had this type of deer, our seeds would be safe.

 

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But if we had these?

We might not be.

 

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Yikes!

 

 

 

And do you remember the Catbird nest with it’s bright blue eggs?

 

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Well….

 

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New life is popping there too.

 

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Although momma Catbird doesn’t like it when I photograph her babies. Turn up your volume to hear her cry.

 

 

 

And then there’s this fellow…. who I stumbled on by accident and took one quick out of focus shot of before I hightailed it inside.

 

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At least I wasn’t looking at the business end.

 

 

 

 

Random things I saw today….

 

In the parking lot of a restaurant I saw –

The best damn car seat covers…

Ever.

 

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If these don’t stop your mother in law from asking you for a ride?

Nothing will.

At Goodwill I saw –

 

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Technically no, Richard…. no one said sale.

It’s just thrifting.

 

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But may I say…..eeewww.

Clearly there is no quality control in the thrift store business.

This was a sleeve of a blouse with hair covered velcro on the end.

Why did it have hair covered velcro on the end?

 

 

It’s Goodwill. How the hell should I know?

And finally I saw…

 

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A full grown pregnant doe terrified of a chipmunk.

He was sitting on the edge of the stone wall, chipping… as chipmunks are wont to do.

And she wouldn’t come any closer.

 

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I don’t speak chipmunk, but maybe….

 

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He’d had a bad day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They’re a wee bit confused.

 

I put birdseed out for the birds….

 

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Which the deer eat.

 

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I put apples out for the deer….

 

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Which the woodchucks eat.

 

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Granted, they’re cute as all get out when they do…

 

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But do they have to eat the deer grain as well?

 

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Sometimes they climb right in the bowl and polish it off.

Which leads the deer to eat…

 

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It’s a vicious circle.

And proves that our backyard creatures are a little confused.

Like this Baltimore Oriole….

 

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Who tries to drink from the hummingbird feeder.

 

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Yes, you.

 

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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?

 

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Eats whatever…

 

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And whoever he wants.