Critters captured on camera

[RobertBrown]

Thought so. We have a small pond about 600 ft. from our house. A lot of poplars, brush, between the pnd and the house and then we have a thick patch of various firs in front of us. Started seeing these "stocky" birds flying back and forth between pond and firs and surprisingly the ID was "Green Heron". Any clue where these guys nest??

The male selects a secluded site within his territory, usually in a large fork of a tree or bush, with overhanging branches to conceal the nest. Green Herons use many plant species as nest sites pines, oaks, willows, box elder, cedar, honey locust, hickory, sassafrass, and mangroves. The nest is usually on or over the water, but may be up to a half-mile away. It may be anywhere from ground level to 30 feet off the ground (occasionally higher).

See the link above for the range map, and click on the "Life history" tab for more information. They look to be clumsy but can be remarkably aerobatic in flight. A very effifient predator and surprisingly smart. Smart enough to use bait, and even smart enough not to lose the bait! This behavior is not uncommon among these birds.
Check it out.
GREEN HERON CATCHING FISH_0001.wmv - YouTube

Smart Animals - YouTube

 

[cqaigy2]

We have many Great Blue Herons around, they are completely clumsy when landing in trees too. More like they fly at them and land by running into the branches.

 

[RobertBrown]

Grizzly bear stops by to chill and hang out

Incredible video of wild Alaskan brown bear chilling out with a camper

I suppose I would have needed new shorts after this encounter.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

I suppose I would have needed new shorts after this encounter.

ME TOO!!!!!!

David

 

[Red Horse]

See the link above for the range map, and click on the "Life history" tab for more information. They look to be clumsy but can be remarkably aerobatic in flight. A very effifient predator and surprisingly smart. Smart enough to use bait, and even smart enough not to lose the bait! This behavior is not uncommon among these birds.
Check it out.
GREEN HERON CATCHING FISH_0001.wmv - YouTube

Smart Animals - YouTube

RB- Thx for info. I would also add these guys are quick flyers-when we first started seeing these things, vs the lumbering blues, it was hard to believe these were "herons"

 

[Red Horse]

See the link above for the range map, and click on the "Life history" tab for more information. They look to be clumsy but can be remarkably aerobatic in flight. A very effifient predator and surprisingly smart. Smart enough to use bait, and even smart enough not to lose the bait! This behavior is not uncommon among these birds.
Check it out.
GREEN HERON CATCHING FISH_0001.wmv - YouTube

Smart Animals - YouTube

RB- Thx for info. I would also add these guys are quick flyers-when we first started seeing these things, vs the lumbering blues, it was hard to believe these were "herons"

 

[tcreeley]

Papaya tree growing in my fence post.

I like that green heron! We have those around here every so often, but more common further south of us.
When I lived in Great Barrington- southern Bershires in Mass. I'd find the green herons in brush and tree lines between farm fields. There was a brook nearbye. I'd locate them by their call, then wait to see them.

 

[TomSeller]

My sister puts golf balls in the hen nests. It slows the white oak snakes down trying to digest one.

Larro

Does it kill them?

 

[RobertBrown]

 

[tcreeley]

Quite the place you live! Sandhill crane- we don't see them up here!

 

[tcreeley]

Here are my favorites from last week. A momma Robin that adopted a Blackbird.

Now the Blackbird is much larger than the Robin ...... but he still follows her around begging. He's gonna have a very confused diet for a Blackbird.

I'm thinking cowbird - adult cowbirds don't raise young, they lay the egg in the nest of another species and have them raise their young.

 

[tcreeley]

How's this?
View attachment 168956

View attachment 168957

View attachment 168958

Top one a Cooper's hawk?

 

[Larro Darro]

Granddaddy is helping keep the bugs off the squash.

Larro

 

[crash325]

Never Before
I was bent over changing the battery in my tractor.
A Dove landed & walked up my back. Didn't leave until I tried to look at it.
There are a least 2 others that come & sit about 10 feet away, daily. Maybe more or different ones as they all look alike.
I talk to them & they act like they are listening. Kind of cute.

Got a rain yesterday & last evening young hop toads came out. There were a lot of others singing in a mud puddle.
It has been really really dry for months.
Where did these hop toads breed, lay eggs, turn in pollywogs & turn to toads??
No standing water anywhere close.

 

[crash325]

Never Before
I was bent over changing the battery in my tractor.
A Dove landed & walked up my back. Didn't leave until I tried to look at it.
There are a least 2 others that come & sit about 10 feet away, daily. Maybe more or different ones as they all look alike.
I talk to them & they act like they are listening. Kind of cute.

Got a rain yesterday & last evening young hop toads came out. There were a lot of others singing in a mud puddle.
It has been really really dry for months.
Where did these hop toads breed, lay eggs, turn in pollywogs & turn to toads??
No standing water anywhere close.

 

[Larro Darro]

I hadn't changed the SD card in my game camera in a long time. We walked over after supper and did it. This young fellow was by there in June.

 

[Larro Darro]

I worked in the flowerbed a few minutes this morning. This guy was keeping me company.

Larro

 

[RobertBrown]

that's a nice image....good colors...makes me happy when I look at it....thanks


Here is a a spider....can you identify it? It has a very nasty painful bite and is common here in Florida.....hint: it's named after a cat!

 

[/pine]

green leopard spider?