Larry Ostby's Wild Critters: August 2011

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

An Eastern Wood Pewee, Marsh Wren and 2 Distant, Great Blue Herons...

Crossing a bridge the other morning I saw a couple of Great Blue Herons. The fog added a bit of atmosphere. Later a short walk on the Mill Pond Boardwalk gave me a couple bird opportunities. An Eastern Wood-Pewee and a Marsh Wren.

Two Great Blue Herons...

Great Blue Heron...

Eastern Wood-Pewee...

Marsh Wren...

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Morning Dew and Spider Webs...

Sometimes we miss a lot of our surroundings. I'm so use to looking up and out I forget to look low. Look what I have missed.

The morning fog laid a soft dew on all the ground grasses...

The breeze was removing the moisture quickly...

Webs have a way of hanging on to all that touches it, including the Dew...

Most spiders eat their webs and create another every day...

It's perfect... Almost...

How do they choose where to build...

Catching the light...

A dining pad...

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Whitetails and Hawks...

I walked the entire "Blue Blaze Trail" at the Monocacy National Battlefield Park in Frederick County Maryland. Beside being a very relaxing and enjoyable hike, I did see some Whitetail Deer and juvenile Red-tailed Hawks. Here are a few photos.

Whitetail Doe, one step in the sun...

One step into the shade...

Here's lookin' at you...

Two in the woods...

Ssshh... Did you hear that...

Two Juvenile Red-tail Hawks...

Juveniles

Juvenile Red-tail

Morph Juvenile Red-tail Hawk...

Morph Juvenile Red-tail Hawk checking me out...

Morph Juvenile Red-tail Hawk...

Monday, August 22, 2011

Mill Pond 3 Fs... Feathers, Frogs and Fur

Sometimes things work out, a small pond that harbors frogs, hosts birds and presents critters in near by areas.

Fur goodness sakes a Groundhog...

Pond Frog...

Song Sparrow

American Goldfinch

Eastern Bluebird

Friday, August 19, 2011

Rain... Finally... With Added Features

Many places in the country have it worse than here in Maryland, but I haven't mowed the lawn in a month and a half and last nights rain was enough to puddle the driveway. I may be mowing in a couple days. It came down hard and heavy for ten or fifteen minutes and it was over. We need a good two or three day soaker. Any way... This morning the leftovers gave me a few photos.

Yes, look, there is a puddle in the driveway...

A drop precariously holding on...

Pine drops...

A Silver Mound (Artemisia) sparkles...

Smoky lickin' water off the leaves...

Getting the bottom side...

Black Capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse with a seed in his beak...

White Breasted Nuthatch...

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Blue Jay, Cardinal and Titmouse...

As colorful as Blue Jays are, they can still be a nuisance. Here a bold Jay is stealing cat food. This could be a very questionable adventure as evidence by the feathers on the ground. I guess we will never really know for sure. The Cardinal was actually walking (take a look at his feet) and taking full advantage of the boardwalk. The Titmouse had located a seed pod of sorts and was making sure he got it all.