Today's Backyard Wildlife

We do not really have many poisonous critters here. There are areas that have rattlesnake. But not where I live. Never seen one though here in valley nor northern Idaho. Our hazardous critters are lions wolf's and grizzly bears. State insists we need more. Moving griz and wolf back into Cascades. Most of us eastern Washington folks advocate releases in Seattle, they are the ones wanting more. Deer elk numbers have plummeted last 10 years. Griz up north like chicken coops. Game department recommended solution for people that had lost all their chickens to re-enforce their coop. Unfortunately they listened. Spent a bunch of money then got more chickens, month later, coop destroyed. So they moved him 50 miles. What a joke. There is trail of a collared one in Montana that traveled about 2500 miles in a year. We have big black bears up at hunting place, but first grizz track you see takes breath away and gets heart pounding. At least half a dozen incidents in Montana each year. Puts a different take on hunting...
I hate snakes.....
 
Active wildlife day today in SE NC... first came across this fox about a block from my house. It was in the middle of the road picking at something, didn't really move until I got within 20 yards (driving). Even then, it didn't scamper far. I thought the behavior odd, so turned around to watch it for a few minutes and caught these. This was all right in front of an elementary school yard so I called wildlife to report it just in case it was rabid - got a call back from a nice biologist who talked through it. She suspects it probably just has a den of kits nearby and is scrounging for food for hungry mouths.

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Then, walking the pup around the neighborhood this afternoon had a big bird fly over a pond beside us. Looked like it landed in a pine tree, so wandered around to try to get a closer look. Appears to be a peregrine falcon, but if so it is one of the largest peregrine I've ever seen (and don't see a ton around here). Couldn't get a great picture with my cell.

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Can't ID from that photo. Peregrine's a wide spread and can be found all across the US. The gyrfalcon can sometimes be mistaken for a peregrine and it is certainly a larger bird. But pretty rare to see one that far south.
 
DLJeffs said:
Can't ID from that photo. Peregrine's a wide spread and can be found all across the US. The gyrfalcon can sometimes be mistaken for a peregrine and it is certainly a larger bird. But pretty rare to see one that far south.
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It was big enough to make me go look to see what was possible - saw the gyrfalcon but it looked too pale/gray, and shouldn't be in our area. I would have guessed 18-20", and just haven't seen one that large around here... but the Cornell site said they can get that big. Huge wingspan, beautiful flier.
 
SENC said:
It was big enough to make me go look to see what was possible - saw the gyrfalcon but it looked too pale/gray, and shouldn't be in our area. I would have guessed 18-20", and just haven't seen one that large around here... but the Cornell site said they can get that big. Huge wingspan, beautiful flier.
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Speaking of Cornell, I love their "Merlin" app for identifying bird calls. Out here in the country we get so many that I hear and are familiar, but don't know the bird making them.
 
At the workbench and spotted Mama Robin finally sitting on the nest today, Dad standing guard nearby. They haven‘t minded me going in and out of the shop door while building it these past few weeks. They have been nesting along that beam for years usually at the far end.

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Do they leave your windows alone? Out here the male robins attack their reflections in windows, mirrows, cars etc and make a real mess out of things.
 
Woke up this morning to find mom and seven little ones in my back yard. Several days ago this domestic bunny showed up on my property. No luck finding the owner and some think she was dumped. She was out in a rain storm eating grass. I found the best home for her.

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SENC said:
Active wildlife day today in SE NC... first came across this fox about a block from my house. It was in the middle of the road picking at something, didn't really move until I got within 20 yards (driving). Even then, it didn't scamper far. I thought the behavior odd, so turned around to watch it for a few minutes and caught these. This was all right in front of an elementary school yard so I called wildlife to report it just in case it was rabid - got a call back from a nice biologist who talked through it. She suspects it probably just has a den of kits nearby and is scrounging for food for hungry mouths.

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Then, walking the pup around the neighborhood this afternoon had a big bird fly over a pond beside us. Looked like it landed in a pine tree, so wandered around to try to get a closer look. Appears to be a peregrine falcon, but if so it is one of the largest peregrine I've ever seen (and don't see a ton around here). Couldn't get a great picture with my cell.

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Used to go downtown and. Sit in park in 70s. Our then power company has a building right at the falls. They put 2 breeding pairs on there building to reduce pigeon population. You could get a great show if you waited especially when they had babies. The high speed collisions were worth the wait. Population expanded to other buildings. Made a difference in pigeon population. Raptors are fun to watch.
 
CORRECTION: This is actually a black-headed grosbeak. Sorry for the mis-ID. Spotted towhees are smaller and have red eyes.

Spotted towhees back under the feeder this morning...
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DLJeffs said:
Spotted towhees back under the feeder this morning...
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Love catching birds unaware. But with feral cats on the property, they are usually the ones who catch the birds unaware...
My brother forwarded me a picture from his bird feeder that has a wifi connected camera with an AI identifying software subscription. From bird buddy.
I am strongly considering getting one for my wife. Anyone else have one of these? You get some rather unusual shot of the birds.
 
2feathers Creative Making said:
Love catching birds unaware. But with feral cats on the property, they are usually the ones who catch the birds unaware...
My brother forwarded me a picture from his bird feeder that has a wifi connected camera with an AI identifying software subscription. From bird buddy.
I am strongly considering getting one for my wife. Anyone else have one of these? You get some rather unusual shot of the birds.
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My wife got me one for CHristmas but it's still in the box. It has to synch to your wifi and this one only synchs to 2G wifi and ours is 5G. I'd probably get picture ot squirrels anyway. I'll sell you this one if it works for you.
 
What I wish we had is a mockingbird. A few years ago we had one lonely bird that kept us amused for weeks. Heard calls that were completely unfamiliar and took a while to realize it was a mockingbird.
 
Does that oriole make a mess out of your window? We get robins that do that and they crap all over and then track it onto the windows. Had a Townsend's solitaire last fall doing that at one window out front. Why it chose that one and at that time of year (non-breeding) didn't make any sense at all.
 
trc65 said:
What I wish we had is a mockingbird. A few years ago we had one lonely bird that kept us amused for weeks. Heard calls that were completely unfamiliar and took a while to realize it was a mockingbird.
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Mockingbirds are also good to keep cats on their toes. Mockingbirds will dive bomb and pluck fur out of cats that get anywhere near their nest sight.
 
DLJeffs said:
Does that oriole make a mess out of your window? We get robins that do that and they crap all over and then track it onto the windows. Had a Townsend's solitaire last fall doing that at one window out front. Why it chose that one and at that time of year (non-breeding) didn't make any sense at all.
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Only smears on the glass, nothing too bad. For some reason, we've never had problems with robins, but get young cardinals periodically.
 
trc65 said:
What I wish we had is a mockingbird. A few years ago we had one lonely bird that kept us amused for weeks. Heard calls that were completely unfamiliar and took a while to realize it was a mockingbird.
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I would gladly send you the mockingbirds from our yard and the neighbors yard. To listen to those birds 30 feet away continuously calling for hours is enough to make you forget it’s the state bird and hope the cats catches it. If they would only take a break…..
 
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