Nature, Wildlife and Critters

frogs and flowers

2010-09-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

I found this frog and its sibling on my bedroom window

screen a few nights ago. I thought this surprisingly odd since

my room happens to be on the second level of the house.

Autumn creeping in with a bit of cooler weather.

This weeks bloomers....

This is my favorite plant in the flower bed.

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Nature Notes/Signs of the Season is hosted by Rambling Woods

Camera C ritters #127

Hosted by Misty Dawn

up close with nature

2010-09-02T17:48:00.000-07:00

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last two weeks in nature

Nature Notes/Signs of the Season is hosted by Rambling Woods

berries in season

2010-08-19T17:58:00.000-07:00

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These were taken a week ago.

Nature Notes/Signs of the Season is hosted by Rambling Woods

more mushroom fungi

2010-08-05T17:18:00.000-07:00

second batch of mushroom fungi

collected so far this Spring/Summer

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Nature Notes/Signs of the Season is hosted by Rambling Woods

mushroom fungus

2010-07-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

The stormy days of Spring and Summer left behind plenty of
mushroom fungi. Here are some of the different types I encountered.

Not sure if the one below is a weed, flower
or fungi but it sure looked cool at the time.

~ click to enlarge photos ~

This is about about half of what I have to share.

Nature Notes/Signs of the Season is hosted by Rambling Woods

hummingbird silhouette

2010-07-15T17:23:00.000-07:00

close up view

full view

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Evening photo shot through a window two nights ago.
This hummer sat perched on the feeder for a good hour,
which was highly unusual. Not sure if something
was wrong with it or not but I haven't seen it since.

Nature Notes/Signs of the Season is hosted by Rambling Woods

Camera C ritters #119

Hosted by Misty Dawn

raccoon family

2010-07-10T04:52:00.000-07:00

a raccoon visits

and brings her little ones

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Camera C ritters #118

Hosted by Misty Dawn

thistle and dragonflys

2010-07-07T16:01:00.000-07:00

these photos were taken a couple weekends ago

thistle

green dragonfly

golden dragonfly's

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Nature Notes/Signs of the Season is hosted by Rambling Woods

tree critter and the suns rays

2010-07-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

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I call the tree below the Charlie Brown tree because

I've never seen it with leaves and I think it would look

cool with Christmas decorations. The birds seem to

love perching in it. A couple days ago I noticed a bird

that seem to look a bit odd so I grabbed the camera.

Why it wasn't a bird at all. It was a chipmunk.

If you look closely you can see it is nibbling on

some of the feed that I had put out on the ground.

It was very foggy this morning. The corn field next door

and the field out back had extremely low visiblity. When I

went out to fill the feeders I noticed the rising sun was trying

to filter through the fog and it appeared to be pushing the fog

through the openings...I thought it looked pretty cool.

Here's a slightly different view that shows how foggy

the back field was at the time the photos were taken.

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Nature Notes/Signs of the Season is hosted by Rambling Woods

Camera C ritters #117

Hosted by Misty Dawn

turkey visitor

2010-06-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

a turkey has decided to start visiting the feeding area of the yard

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Camera C ritters #116

Hosted by Misty Dawn

storms, storms and more storms

2010-06-26T05:35:00.000-07:00

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Just wondering when storm season will slow

down a bit. We have more rain and storminess

in the forecast for today and tomorrow.

Stormy sunrise.

The last storm on Wednesday night left the worst

flooding I've seen so far this year in the front yard.

The GOOD from it all....

water droplets

beautiful flowers

The BAD...

The trees are loosing all their immature nuts.

I'm not talking about just onesies....

or a lot of onesies

or even twosies

but entire branches of nuts

This has me concerned about not just the wild animals in

my yard but everywhere these storms have been prevalent.

When fall comes and these animals are gathering

for the winter will there be much of anything left.

The UGLY...

I think this is a turkey vulture but I was not close enough

to confirm it. It perched on the high electrical tower

overlooking the back fields searching for its prey.

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Nature Notes/Signs of the Season is hosted by Rambling Woods

my week in nature

2010-06-17T19:17:00.000-07:00

Last weeks buds are this weeks blooms.

...this is one of the most interesting things i've seen...

After the worst rain/flood we've had a couple of holes showed

up in the flower beds. Upon inspecting them we found that water

was moving below the surface of the soil at a pretty decent pace

and the soil eventually gave way and caved in.

I thought this was a pretty cool form of nature. If you click on

photo to enlarge you can see the water much better.

I really like the way new growth looks in front of tree bark.

It's been a buggy Spring so far.

I finally captured a cardinal pic I'm happy with.

These are two of the five chipmunks I've counted at the feeders.

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Nature Notes/Signs of the Season is hosted by Rambling Woods

fresh budding

2010-06-10T23:58:00.000-07:00

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Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

catching up with nature

2010-06-05T15:40:00.000-07:00

Nature over the last couple of weeks...

It's been rainy and we've been swamped often.
Had a few nice blue sky's as well.

Been seeing a lot of moths and butterfly's.

Mushrooms everywhere.

I think these look cool.

I really don't know if these next three are some
sort of critter eggs or something else because they
are different shapes and sizes.

Found this robin's egg (I think) yesterday.
Today it was broken open and empty.

Seen my first ever hummingbird a couple weeks ago.
Finally caught one with the camera.

This raccoon has been raiding the feeders.

Heavy growth of purple flowers in the front woods.

Pretty little white flowers on one of the fruit trees.

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

things about trees

2010-05-13T17:26:00.000-07:00

curvy looking tree on the right is actually
the bark off the dead tree on the left
a critters home in a swampy area

a birds nest?

disease on a cherry tree
my research led me to believe it is x-disease

same trees different form of disease

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

spring growths

2010-05-06T17:55:00.000-07:00

morel mushroom in an odd place

from this view you can see the mushroom was
in the middle of a large gravel area of the yard

cool curls

dropped leaf with attached pod

underside of pod shows that a critter of some sort
must have taken a bite out of it before it dropped

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

tree frog

2010-04-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

Little tree frog captured in one of the flower beds.
Although it seemed a bit scared it move just
enough for me to capture its back view.

After a long hiatus from blogging I'm glad
I was able to contribute a frog post for
"Save the frogs day".

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

Camera C ritters #108
Hosted by Misty Dawn

odd place for a nest

2010-03-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

Nature seems to be moving very slow around
here so there isn't much to photograph.

Took a peek in the window of my brothers hunting
shelter and found this nest on the fold out chair.

When I came upon the remnants of some
Queen Anne's Lace I decided it looked pretty cool.

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

season's teetering

2010-03-06T04:07:00.000-08:00

It is amazing how the weather can change so drastically.

Snow and ice for days and then....
Sunny and in the 40's the next.
This sunset shot is from Thursday evening.

It was so nice out the last few days I decided to
check out the river that curves throughout town.

Here is the view from the opposite side of
the street from the previous photo.

While driving through town I was shocked to
come across a deer making its way around.

As the season's mix it up I know we are not
yet done with the cold snow filled days.
~ click to enlarge photos ~

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

surviving winter

2010-02-20T12:27:00.000-08:00

some color

brussels sprouts

brussels sprouts - close up

growth in the crook of a tree

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

more critter homes & the wolf moon

2010-02-11T16:56:00.000-08:00

Any other day but a snow day I would have
walk right over this little critter home.

these critter prints....

led to this little door a few feet off the ground

I didn't realize how much I like the photo below
until I took another glance. It is a shot of the
recent wolf moon taken from the back deck.
Not a great shot but about the best I've gotten
of the moon with my camera.

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

a critters home

2010-02-06T19:50:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a few trees critters
were making homes in. This is one of them.

Here's a bit closer so you can see the entryways.

Today I founds some snow tracks over the
approach that were leading up to the tree.

Looks like the little critter was busy in his travels.

Here is a close up of one of the prints.

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Although the tracks look a bit like squirrels they
are clearly much smaller. My first thought was
a chipmunk so I search for some images
and they look pretty close.

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

last nights full moon

2010-01-30T07:05:00.000-08:00

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This photo doesn't even come close to the
beautiful display the moon was putting on as it
climbed high into the darkening skies last night.

My brother brought out his spotting scope and
we were able to view many of its details.

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

birds nest under the deck

2010-01-18T18:16:00.000-08:00

front deck view
back (under) deck view

~ click to enlarge photos ~
This nest is huge.
Can't believe I didn't notice it sooner.
Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

tracks and leaves

2010-01-09T16:21:00.000-08:00

more critter tracks in the fresh fallen snowfallen leaf reminding me of a season gone by

~ click to enlarge photos ~
Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

black-capped chickadee

2010-01-09T16:14:00.001-08:00

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This black-capped chickadee ran into the basement
window a couple weeks ago. At first it was very
stunned. My brother set it down on a sunflower
and it eventually regained its senses and flew off.

Camera C ritters #92
Hosted by Misty Dawn

snow tracks

2009-12-31T18:22:00.000-08:00

drag marks most likely from a buck
not sure what critter made these tracks

squirrel tracks

my own boot tracks

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

turtles waiting for treats

2009-12-05T08:54:00.000-08:00

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A couple of my nephews turtles waiting for a treat.

Camera C ritters #87
Hosted by Misty Dawn

curves and nature

2009-12-05T05:59:00.000-08:00

nature's curves

rainbow
waterfall edgewaterfall after a curve

from top of waterfall before a curve

man made curves

hiking trail

a road

pond rock formation

~ click to enlarge photos ~

My post today is similar to my friend Carver's.
We both have nature and man made curves on display.

photohunt: curves
PhotoHunter is hosted by TNChick

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

exposed nests

2009-11-14T18:40:00.000-08:00

~ click to enlarge photos ~
With most of the leaves gone critter nests are clearly visible.

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

red-bellied woodpecker

2009-11-14T18:38:00.000-08:00

~ click to enlarge photos ~

Taken a couple weeks ago.

Camera C ritters #84
Hosted by Misty Dawn

beyond autumn colors

2009-11-07T18:02:00.000-08:00

View from my brothers back deck.

Cropped corn fields next door.

A hint at what was (back in the city).

~ click to enlarge photos ~
Captured earlier today in Manchester and Southgate, MI

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

tree climbing mouse

2009-11-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

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Not sure if you'll really be able to make out the mouse but it is there.

A couple weeks ago my brothers dog sniffed out a mouse.
It was quite amazing to watch it run up this tree in survival mode.

Camera C ritters #83
Hosted by Misty Dawn

ladybugs

2009-10-31T13:55:00.000-07:00

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Captured last Sunday in Manchester, MI.

Camera C ritters #82
Hosted by Misty Dawn

autumn bliss

2009-10-28T17:34:00.001-07:00

Manchester, MI this past Sunday

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

green larvae

2009-10-25T06:42:00.001-07:00

this larvae put on a little show for us

~ click to enlarge photos ~
Captured about a month ago in Manchester, MI.

Possibly a diamond-back moth caterpillar
but I was unable to positively identify.

Camera C ritters #81
Hosted by Misty Dawn

Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

fall color tour 2008

2009-10-15T18:46:00.000-07:00

These photos are from my road trip last fall.

I'm headed out in a couple of days for this years trip
and hope to have some decent photos to share.

~ click to enlarge ~Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

another rabbit

2009-10-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

This rabbit caught me off guard as I came around our fence.

As you can see I took advantage of it freezing instead of running.

Camera C ritters #79
Hosted by Misty Dawn

autumn leaves

2009-10-08T17:52:00.000-07:00

~ click to enlarge ~Signs of the Season/Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

clouds and sunsets

2009-10-08T17:37:00.000-07:00

Wednesday evening in Southeast MI

~ click to enlarge ~

hickory tussock moth caterpillar

2009-10-03T05:10:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty sure this is a Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar.
(Lophocampa caryae)

Not sure if this is its cocoon or another caterpillars.
Manchester, MI - 1 week ago

Camera Critters #78
Hosted by Misty Dawn

mixed skies

2009-10-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

cloudy and rainy earlier in the week

nice blue sky's midweek~ click to enlarge ~

scattered color

2009-09-30T18:21:00.000-07:00

~ click to enlarge ~

Wednesday at Oakwoods Metropark, MI

Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

twisted

2009-09-26T05:17:00.001-07:00

closeup

full view photohunt: twisted
PhotoHunter is hosted by TNChick

garden critters

2009-09-26T04:20:00.000-07:00

Camera C ritters #77
Hosted by Misty Dawn

autumn creeping in

2009-09-24T19:00:00.001-07:00

this past Sunday in Manchester, MI
Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

oakwood metropark skyview

2009-09-24T18:03:00.000-07:00

~ click to enlarge ~

monarch butterfly

2009-09-18T17:59:00.001-07:00

Camera C ritters #76
Hosted by Misty Dawn

squirrel hiding in electrical wires

2009-09-11T20:14:00.001-07:00

photohunt: electric
PhotoHunter is hosted by TNChick

Camera C ritters #75
Hosted by Misty Dawn

orange-stripped oakworm

2009-09-05T05:11:00.000-07:00

Please let me know if I've identified this critter incorrectly.
North Carolina - September 2007

photohunt: Orange
PhotoHunter is hosted by TNChick

Camera C ritters #74
Hosted by Misty Dawn

dad's flower garden

2009-09-03T18:26:00.001-07:00

~ click to enlarge ~
This is my dad's flower garden. It had the appearance of a well maintained garden in early August. One month later and it appears to be out of control and overwhelmed with bees.

Nature Notes is hosted by Rambling Woods

rabbit

2009-08-28T17:56:00.001-07:00

Michigan - August 2009

Camera C ritters #73
Hosted by Misty Dawn

butterflies

2009-08-23T19:20:00.001-07:00

North Carolina - September 2007

Camera C ritters #72
Hosted by Misty Dawn

ducks

2009-08-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

Woodland Lake, MI - August 2009