More Spring Flowers

Spring's moving along

Pretty raindrops on Eastern Hemlocks after a strong early morning thunderstorm.

Spring Flowers

  

Pachysandra

Forsythia

Tulips

Daffodils

Hyacinths

Red-backed Salamander & Chionodoxa

Opening up the Lily garden for the season today, I inadvertently uncovered a napping Red-backed Salamander.

While the Chionodoxa are blooming in the triangle-garden.

Garter Snake & Spring-Peepers

Yesterday we had a Garter Snake waiting by the front door, then Peepers serenading at night.

Peepers calling

Snowfall

Lovely snow-fall a few nights ago.  

Unfortunately most of it was gone by the end of the day.

Bluebirds

Flashback

Feb. 16, 2017 we had 5 bluebirds visiting by our back patio.  The summer of 2016 we had bluebirds successfully fledge 3.  Could have been the same family.  No luck keeping bluebirds in 2018 as we were overrun by house-sparrows.  We shall see how we do this year.  Here's hoping for lots of bluebirds!

Crows and Frost

Lately we've had many crows passing through the neighborhood.

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Yesterday morning, while the temperature was still below zero, we had lovely frost on the East facing windowpanes.

Peanut Squirrels

Squirrel at the back window waiting for a peanut.

They have me trained.

Male Turkey Patrol

The 5 male turkeys passed through the yard.

Avian Pecking Order

Pecking-order in action as a turkey drives a crow from the front lawn.

Raccoon

When I went out back around 9 pm, 

I heard someone clamber up the White Oak tree.  

A beautiful Procyon lotor.

Used a torch to get pics -- reverse and forward.

Left him a turkey leg to pay for the photo-shoot 

-- with which he away eagerly scampered.

Fish Crow Chatter

Early morning Fish Crows (Corvus ossifragus) gathering. 

(An American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) can also be heard flying by briefly.)

(There may be some immature American crows as well -- they sound so much like Fish Crows.)

Hen-turkey Party

Yesterday the hen-turkeys were having a party in the yard.

Flurry-squall

A very brief clip of a flurry-squall we had this afternoon.

Autumn Day-trip to Cat Sanctuary

Quintessential sunny breezy Autumn day today.

Took a video of the Fishkill Creek when we dropped off donations at the Beacon Cat Sanctuary.

Stopped at the Alps Sweet Shop in Fishkill on the way back.  They had a lovely window display.

Crickets

Got crickets in the garage.  This one is particularly vocal.  

Best enjoy him now since cold weather's coming and we won't hear their songs again until next year.

Inchworm

A little inchworm making its way on our Geranium planter.

Hen & Poult with "Boys-club"

Today the "mother & child" were being followed after by the "all boys club" of 5 toms that live in the neighborhood.

Mama Turkey with Poult

Mama turkey with poult stopping by for a visit.

(Security camera pic)

Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar

Hickory Tussock Moth Caterpillar  (Lophocampa caryae)

And yet again I'm down on the ground taking a picture when a neighbor walks by  :)  ["Hi Cecilia."]

Spike Horn

430 p.m.  Spike horn having an afternoon nibble.  

Like it when he eats the weeds!

Great Spangled Fritillary

A very weary looking Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele) visiting our pink Buddlea.

Turkey Hen chase Cat

About 5 p.m. this evening, a mother turkey with poult in tow shows how to run off an interloper.

(Poor photo quality due to these being screen grabs from our security camera.)

Bedraggled fox

Around 9:45 a.m. a bedraggled fox was in the neighborhood.  

These pics are taken from our security camera.

What isn't seen in the pictures is the group of 5 male turkeys just on the other side of the driveway watching the fox.  

Nor can be heard the group of birds -- crows, bluejays, etc -- calling frantically from nearby trees.

Woolly Bear

WOOLLY BEAR !

Down on the ground for this pic too --  Only this time a neighbor caught me in the act.  :)   ["Hi Kay."]

Mama and baby turkey still running about.  

(Laid down on the front lawn to get this video.)

Mama deer nursing 2 fawns.  Look closely to see the two tails wagging.  

(Sorry, video had to be short so I could transfer it from my ipad.)

Skunk

Set a trap to see who's been digging at the play-yard fence -- got a skunk.  (Video is a bit shaky as I was crouching down to get the shot.)

Baby Catbird

Baby Catbird perched on a rock after fledging early this morning.  

[Its nest was in the same Eastern Hemlock from which I evicted a nest of bees back on July 23, 2018.  That tree is like an apartment complex.  We'll see how the Hemlock does after I trim it back hard once everyone moves out.  Been waiting to trim it for some time now.]

A nice morning to lounge in the sun.

While across the street, one doe with 4 fawn.

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Apparently baby deer aren't the only ones to get stuck on the opposite side of a fence from their mom.

Later, happily togther.

Cicada Shell

Found this abandoned exoskeleton (exuviae) of a cicada while weeding the garden.

While a Yellow-shafted Flicker explored the yard.