Weekend Critters

It's been raining for days, which has curtailed my critter adventures. 

Gus likes to stick close to his people when there is thunder and heavy rain on the roof. Seems he has become a chronic lounger.

Linking to Saturday Critters

Since the weather hasn't cooperated, I'm posting some of my favorite Mockingbird shots.

HELP!!  Can anyone ID this little guy? 

Linking to The Bird D-Pot

Sunday Birds

I took a really bad shot of these ducks yesterday and was helped by David to identify them as Gadwall ducks. So, I went back to find them. They were not in the same pond, but they were in a pond a mile or so on down the road. This time I stopped and took my time.

Gadwall male.

Gadwall female.

I am also happy to report the bluebirds have found my bird feeder. This guy was patiently waiting his turn.

Linking to The Bird D-Pot

Duck Critters

More birds have found my feeders. Besides the White-crowned and Savannah Sparrows and Meadowlarks, I saw an Eastern Bluebird grabbing a snack yesterday. Hopefully more will follow.

But today is dedicated to ducks.

I apologize for the quality of the ducks below. They were swimming in a pond about a quarter mile south of the highway. I saw ducks and took a couple of quick shots thinking they were mallards. I didn't realize what I had until I uploaded the pics. Now I wish I had pulled off the road and tried to get some good pics. They are Gadwall ducks. 

Thanks David on the Gadwall ID!

Linking to Saturday Critters

Water Tower

Old abandoned water tower.

Linking to Tuesday Treasures

Random-osity

The flu has struck for the second time this winter. This is a worse variety than the last. Poor DC. Gus has been a GOOD boy while hubs is recuperating. Looks as if Gus is recuperating, too.

Saturday was a dreary, misty, icy, day. This RANDOM picture captured my mood.

I often visit the horses with a snack or two, so they always happily greet me. What could be more FUN than a soft, velvety horse snout to pet?

Linking to Random-osity

It's Bird and Barn Day

I have other pics of the Harris's Sparrow, but I liked the way this one turned out.

I posted this pic earlier in the week, but I am so excited to have found this guy I wanted to share again. As DC was driving down a back road, I caught a glimpse of blue in a tree ahead. Of course I yelled for him to stop and he did. I didn't know what I would find since I have never seen a Kingfisher dressed in such a brilliant blue. But, it is a Belted Kingfisher.

I had to go to the store this morning. On the way I passed a pond with ducks, so I slammed on the brakes even though I was on a state highway. I was able to snap a couple of quick shots before a car came up behind me and I had to go. I tried to turn around and go back, but they flew away before I could get stopped. This is a very poor shot, but Green-winged Teal is a first for me. Excited!

Linking to The Bird D-Pot

Another old barn succumbing to decay. 

Linking to The Barn Collective

Bad Pics of Good Subject

It's been a good week for critters. Some may believe, some may not, but I'm certain I saw a mountain lion across the hay field. Gus and I were looking out the window when I saw movement. At first I thought it was a dog, but then I saw the long tail and realized this critter moved much more graceful than any pup I've met. There are a line of cedar trees, so by the time I grabbed my camera and switched it on, he was behind the trees. Sadly, no proof. Not even a bad pic of a good subject.

Later on a back road drive I thought I saw another dog. This time it was running across the road in front of me. I realized too late it was a coyote. Bad shot of a good subject.

I followed this red-tailed hawk for about a mile. He finally landed in a tree quite a distance off the road, with his back to me. Another bad shot of a good subject.

The temps are hovering around 27° with misting rain. Yep, freezing on the highway. DC isn't feeling well, so I ventured out to get some cold meds. To prevent slipping and sliding, I took the back roads. Hard to slide on dirt and gravel. On the way I saw a flock of dark-eyed juncos. None of them were cooperating with my camera. This is the best I could do. They were feeding in the weeds alongside the road. Yep, another bad pic of a good subject.

Guess I should end with a good shot of something. So I will share a pic of this Killdeer wading in the edge of what I have named 'the blue heron pond'. 

Linking to Saturday Critters

Back Road Critters

2/9/2018 - Friday

I drive the back roads about every day. I see lots of cows and horses in this area. Some I find more pleasing to the eye than others. For instance, I love the markings on this calf...

...and the color of this one's ears.

I don't see many goats, so I had to stop and snap a few pics of these guys.

I do see a lot of deer, but I am usually trying not to hit them instead of grabbing my camera. This one crossed the road and then stopped to pose for me. I planned on taking several shots to make sure I got a good one. I snapped this pic, and then....

...Gus barked out the back window! Bad Gus!

Linking to Willy Nilly Friday Five

A Fence or Two

This fence is barely there. I don't think it would keep livestock in. A little step and they're over.

I liked the shape of this fence post.

A horse in front of a fence.

DC closing the gate. Gus having a run.

Linking to Fences Around the World

Smiley Face Shed

Love these old run down buildings. This one made me smile.

Linking to Tuesday Treasures

Belted Kingfisher

2/5/18 Monday

I happened to a spot of blue in a tree alongside one of the back roads. I zoomed in to find a female belted kingfisher. She had her back to me, so I whistled...

...and she turned around.

There is a pond by a house down the road from us. There were several mallards enjoying a swim.

Foggy Morning

2/4/18 Sunday

We woke up to fog this morning. This is the view from our kitchen window.

I was very happy to see several Savannah Sparrows had joined the Meadowlarks at the feeder this morning.  Surely more will follow.

Later we went to RE's ranch. We enjoyed burgers on the grill for lunch. It was cold and windy outside, so CE and I hung out by the fire while the guys put up gates. 

When the work was done, we went over to the Double E for a cold beer and dinner. CE made venison roast, mashed potatoes and a salad. YUM!

Callie was our after dinner entertainment.

And that's Sunday...

The Roadrunner

2/3/18 Saturday

Friend, CE, and I went shopping in Ada. On the way home, I saw a roadrunner - Beep, Beep - crossing the road in front of us. CE drove really slow so I could get a pic. I saw him run in the fence row and knew approximately where he was, but couldn't find him. He didn't run, so I think he thought he was safe in his camouflaged state. Can you see him?

Can you see him now?

How about now? After this shot he took off up the hill. 

He was quite a distance away, which left no opportunity for a decent shot. This is the best I could do.

And then he was gone...

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

The Week in Review

1/27/18 Saturday

Had a little visit with Callie, the puppy someone dumped out in 9° weather. She is loving her forever home with our friends and growing like a weed. 

A friend of ours has all kinds of fun things in his garage. I kind of enjoyed this raccoon drinking a diet coke.

I didn't take a picture of it, but CD bought a 9 mm pistol for me. He worries about me being out in the middle of nowhere alone and walking back in the woods where there are lots of unfriendly critters: coyotes, rattlesnakes, feral hogs, etc. Since it has been ages since I actually fired a gun, a friend of ours gave me shooting lessons. I surprised myself by actually hitting the target. Personally, I would prefer a 22 with snake shot, but I guess that might not work if a hog is charging.


1/28/18 Sunday

Went for a walk to the back pond. 

Gus had fun running.

Later, we went to a friend's house to help put up a fence for some mules he bought. They are to be delivered Tuesday. We had a lot of help from Sleepy. He wanted to drive the tractor.

1/29/18 Monday

Enjoyed reading on the porch today. This meadowlark didn't seem to mind my presence.

Mr. Red-Shouldered Hawk was lurking in a cedar tree. He finally found a tasty snack.

1/30/18 Tuesday

A day filled with errands and chores ended with a fairly decent shot of a blue heron I've been chasing with my camera. I drove slowly up to the pond where I usually see him. I glanced around and decided he wasn't there. But then I saw him. Seems he was pretending to be one of the many weeds along the shoreline. Our eyes locked and he took off. If you enlarge the picture and look really close you can see him flying away in this first shot.

To my surprise, he didn't go too far. He landed in a tree on the opposite side of the pond. 

And then turned around and posed. Nice heron. I thanked him before I drove off.

1/31/18 Wednesday

I have been looking forward to today since I heard our friend had bought a couple of mules. I made sure my camera battery was charged up and rode over as soon as we heard the mules were on their way. Oh the excitement! Here they come.



Unloaded and ready to see their new home. They have not been named yet. 

This is a Molly mule (female). 

This is a John mule (male).

Bo, Little Bill, Sleepy, and Dylan were very curious about the new kids on the block. There was a lot of snorting and whinnying going on.

Sleepy was pawing the ground and trying to check out the John Mule. Not sure if she was being friendly or laying out the rules.

On my way home, I happened to see a tree full of little black birds. They were quite a ways off the road, but thought I would at least try to identify them. Not too bad for as far away as they were. According to my Merlin Bird ID App, it is a Brewer's Blackbird. The app says it is uncommon to this area, but my National Geographic Field Guide says this is a winter range. It is a new bird for me, so I was very excited.

2/1/18 Thursday

Today we had to get up early to go to Shawnee, OK. DC had an appointment. 

After I turned on the TV I realized I forgot the super moon, so went outside and took a picture of what was left of the moon.

And then took a picture of the morning sky.

DC's test went well. Afterward we had lunch at Whataburger and then came home to a happy Gus.


2/2/18 Friday

The horses got new shoes today.

While the guys were at work, I took a drive over to Lula Cemetery where I heard a bald eagle was seen. I also thought about trying to find the grave of a recently identified military man killed at Pearl Harbor. He was buried in Lula Cemetery last fall. The wind was chilly, so I decided that would be an adventure for another day.

I didn't see any evidence of eagles, but I did see two doe running at high speed. I was only able to capture the last one as she leaped over the fence.

Today was an eagle day. I saw several. This is the best capture.

I also saw several American Kestrels. 

Other birds my camera wasn't quick enough to capture: cardinals, blue jays, Bluebirds, varieties of sparrows, meadowlarks, and a morning dove or two. 

That's it for this week. 

Linking to Saturday Critters

Linking to The Bird D-Pot