Fauna and other natural things

[evil_physics_witchcraft]

A falcon landed on my back fence--it was pretty awesome. It turned its head around 180 degrees in both directions looking around, then chilled for awhile before flying off into the woods. I hope it wasn't looking for the Cardinal pair that I feed...

VERY cool!!!

[apl68]

Yes it is!  Congratulations on a rare sight!

[Langue_doc]

Spotted lantern flies are everywhere--one on the doorstep just a few minutes ago, another one on my windshield last week, and yet another one on a rock on the beach a couple of weeks ago. This is the third year in a row of the invasion--we're supposed to kill them on sight.

[hmaria1609]

Spotted lantern flies are everywhere--one on the doorstep just a few minutes ago, another one on my windshield last week, and yet another one on a rock on the beach a couple of weeks ago. This is the third year in a row of the invasion--we're supposed to kill them on sight.

I remember these being a stink for the DC area 2 years ago.

[sinenomine]

I encountered two signs of early autumn on my drive this morning: one school bus and one bear.

[bio-nonymous]

I encountered two signs of early autumn on my drive this morning: one school bus and one bear.

That is awesome! I have yet to see a bear around--I know they are out there, but they are very private...

[Sea_Ice]

Red letter day yesterday - saw the first Green Treefrog in I don't remember how many years!  It was only about half size, so there are at least a few more in the area :)))

[Parasaurolophus]

Two seals and a humpback on my ride home today! I was the first to spot the humpback--justlooked up from writing, and there she blew!

[clean]

I had to go to the office today (Saturday) to help finalize some edits on a paper as the deadline has found us!
We were in my coauthor's office.  There is a pigeon next just out of normal view. 
We were working and I saw a shadow across the window and then we heard a lot of noise on the ledge.  the ledge has some metal covering and we looked up to find a Mexican Eagle

(https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwKkkzLTRg9OJLTixKBGGF1MT0nFQAb54Ilg&q=caracara+eagle&oq=cara&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDAgBEC4YJxiABBiKBTIPCAAQIxgnGOMCGIAEGIoFMgwIARAuGCcYgAQYigUyDwgCEC4YQxjUAhiABBiKBTIMCAMQRRg5GLEDGIAEMg8IBBAuGEMY1AIYgAQYigUyDwgFEC4YQxixAxiABBiKBTIPCAYQLhhDGNQCGIAEGIoFMgYIBxBFGDzSAQg0OTY3ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8)
 
Walking toward the next.  My coauthor was excited and grabbed his camera and tried to get a video of whatever happened next, but the movement toward the window startled the Big Bird and he flew off.   

My friend then said, "Well, I guess that means there will be one happy pigeon family tonight".  I retorted, "But the Eagle Family will be pretty disappointed!" 

We have Mexican Eagles in our area (we are in their range) but I have never seen one near campus, much less only separated by a few feet and a pane of glass! 

Quite a day, especially for my coauthor who is new to the area and had never seen this kind of bird before, much less so close up! 


(And I was rooting for the Eagle, in case it wasnt clear in the story). 

[clean]

I must be spending too much time on campus!  Today I was having lunch at the cafeteria with the same coworker as Sunday and I saw a skunk with at least 2 kits walking by! 
(We have had some 'incidents' of people surprising the skunks and being extra surprised in turn!)

[apl68]

I visited my brother out of state in recent days and found him dealing with varmints on his small acreage that he raises a few livestock on.  He has trapped and relocated two possums.  And permanently dealt with an armadillo that was destroying the yard.

[paultuttle]

A juvenile red-tailed hawk has landed on our front porch railing several times over the past few days and posed rather attractively each time, almost as though it knew it was the center of our attention.

[clean]

Baby Birds have survived!
Went by my coworker's office and as we chatted, I saw them running outside his window!   It seems that Parent Pigeon landed and the youngins were eager to get their 'fair' share of pigeon milk.

They are ugly.  They are starting to fledge out now, and they will soon be as big as the parent. (together I would not be surprised if they are as big of the parent pigeon).

[apl68]

I saw a deceased rat lying beside the sidewalk this morning.  It was next to Atwoods', which makes me suspect that it fell victim to the poison they set out to protect their inventory from vermin.

[apl68]

Heard coyotes howling on the edge of town around daybreak this morning.  It's rare to hear them here in town.  I wonder why they were so close in?  And why they suddenly howled right when they should have been bedding down?