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Fauna and other natural things

Started by Thursday's_Child, August 29, 2019, 07:37:58 AM

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paultuttle

This morning, a beautiful bird of prey floated overhead and--after a few flaps of its long wings--gracefully landed on a branch about three stories up in a tree as I walked around the neighborhood. Its belly and ventral feathers were a very pale rose color, but I'm not sure whether that was a reflection of the absolutely gorgeous sunrise or reality. 

apl68

I've heard something scampering overhead now and then in the past week or so.  Did I have squirrels in the attic?  How could they possibly be getting in there?  I finally realized that I was probably just hearing them racing along on top of the eaves, not inside them.
All we like sheep have gone astray
We have each turned to his own way
And the Lord has laid upon him the guilt of us all

apl68

Been walking at the city park with the snow on the ground.


Tracks of a raccoon
Coming and going for miles
In the fading snow


That "for miles" is not an exaggeration.  The walking trail is close to three miles long, and I saw the tracks almost everywhere on it.  I hadn't seen any raccoon tracks on previous mornings.  They must have been very active last night.
All we like sheep have gone astray
We have each turned to his own way
And the Lord has laid upon him the guilt of us all

ab_grp

My poor husband got chased by an aggressive skunk this morning! It was raining out, and he thought it was a cat, but he realized his error in time to turn around and flee.  What the heck!

apl68

Glad he was able to escape!

Several years ago one of our staff members had a siege of skunks getting into her house.  I have friends who know her and live down the road from her, and they say that they've never seen skunks at their place--they all seem to congregate in her neck of the woods instead.
All we like sheep have gone astray
We have each turned to his own way
And the Lord has laid upon him the guilt of us all

ab_grp

Thanks, apl68! It kind of cracks me up to picture this big guy running away from a galloping skunk, but obviously that skunk had some agenda (likely nefarious).  I definitely wouldn't want even one in my house, let alone a siege! We had one on our patio a couple years ago that also was too cozy for comfort.  We were on high alert for a while, but our guard has dropped. 

waterboy

My Instagram feed has suddenly been filled with some wonderful reels of extremely clear trail cam videos of wildlife. Anyone have any idea what the cameras are? Mine at home is ok, but not crystal clear like I'm seeing.
"I know you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure that what you heard was not what I meant."

Langue_doc

Quote from: ab_grp on January 23, 2024, 02:19:59 PMMy poor husband got chased by an aggressive skunk this morning! It was raining out, and he thought it was a cat, but he realized his error in time to turn around and flee.  What the heck!

Skunks aren't usually aggressive so this one might have been sick (rabies?) or felt threatened. Glad husband didn't have a close encounter with the skunk!

ab_grp

Quote from: Langue_doc on January 25, 2024, 05:31:53 AM
Quote from: ab_grp on January 23, 2024, 02:19:59 PMMy poor husband got chased by an aggressive skunk this morning! It was raining out, and he thought it was a cat, but he realized his error in time to turn around and flee.  What the heck!

Skunks aren't usually aggressive so this one might have been sick (rabies?) or felt threatened. Glad husband didn't have a close encounter with the skunk!

Thanks, Langue_doc! I don't know what was going on.  I think it was a fair distance away, so I'm not sure why it would feel threatened.  Maybe it was just ornery or mad about the rain.  Maybe it thought he was its friend.  Better not to find out in either case! He tried to warn another pedestrian, and she looked at him like he was crazy.  I wonder if she or anyone else ended up having a run-in.

apl68

A foggy morning
The moon a full silver disc
With a bright halo
All we like sheep have gone astray
We have each turned to his own way
And the Lord has laid upon him the guilt of us all

Parasaurolophus

Saw orcas from the very this noon. They don't normally come so close to the ferry lanes.
I know it's a genus.

apl68

The pond at the city park is still a bit high from the recent rains.


On the spillway bridge
Waterfall on the right ear
Trickling on the left
All we like sheep have gone astray
We have each turned to his own way
And the Lord has laid upon him the guilt of us all

waterboy

Saw 4 golden eagles this weekend as they migrated through.
"I know you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure that what you heard was not what I meant."