Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for June, 2013

First run of the morning to feed the Bluebird hatchlings

Posted in Wild Birds, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »

At 5:45 AM there was is not much light yet; however the Eastern Bluebirds are busy feeding their hatchlings. Going to be a very hot day; Thursday, but a Cold Front is on its way and may bring some storms tonight but a real cool down for 4-6 days with highs in the lower 80’s to about 85 and much lower humidity.

I was lucky to get this shot invery low light with a Canon 1DS and an of 2400. He was about to enter the house with a grub when I got the shot off. I was using a Canon EF600L IS at f/4.0.:

 

IMG_3328

Read Full Post »

Photo of cute Red Fox Kits

Posted in mammals, Mountain Scenery, tagged , , , , , on June 26, 2013| Leave a Comment »

From the backyard. They have grown quite a bit and, as is normal, they all have white tips on their tails. There are 3; only 2 of the 3 pictured:

 

7348635282_d942eb416d_o

Read Full Post »

A Rare Scarlet Tanager this summer

Posted in Wild Birds, tagged , , , , , on June 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I have seen about 2 dozen Summer Tanagers this summer, but only 2 Scarlet Tanagers. Thats unusual for me as it is usually 2 – 1; Summer ==> Scarlet. But he landed on a dead lower branch of a old Red Oak in the backyard:

IMG_4443

Read Full Post »

Redheaded Woodpeckers very close to fledging 3-4

Posted in Wild Birds, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 23, 2013| 3 Comments »

9109919045_7dd52204c1_o

Thinking that they would fledge 3-4 yesterday 6/22, I spend several hours closely watching the nesting hole; it did not happen. I went back today, more feeding, and slightly bolder chicks. I did, however, get lots of action shots of the pair’s final days for feeding the nestlings in their nesting hole:

IMG_6624IMG_6625IMG_6629IMG_6666IMG_6681IMG_6733IMG_6771IMG_6071IMG_6126IMG_6149IMG_5914IMG_5937IMG_5935IMG_6666IMG_6732IMG_6731IMG_6722IMG_6846IMG_6864IMG_6867IMG_6868IMG_6898

Read Full Post »

Tiger swallowtail an hour after dawn

Posted in Moths and Butterfiles, Wildflowers, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 21, 2013| Leave a Comment »

This beautiful butterfly was active very early today (the longest day of the year) on the very same thistle heads that the Amercian Goldfinches have been feasting on thi9s week. It is unusual to see butterflies out so early in the day:

 

IMG_4557

Read Full Post »

A Tangerine Summer morning

Posted in Mountain Scenery, mountains, tagged , , , , , , on June 20, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Not far from Highway 7 south of Jasper:

IMG_5450

Read Full Post »

WOW !! a banded American Goldfinch on thistle

Posted in Mountain Scenery, Wild Birds, Wildflowers, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 20, 2013| Leave a Comment »

It is very unusual to see a banded bird here in NW Arkansas (for me anyway). Here is an American Goldfinch with a double band on its leg. She is feasting on the huge thistle crop this year. Goldfinches are late nesters here in Arkansas; they wait for the seed crop to come in – so they are just now starting nesting, as the other birds are winding down their nesting activity:

IMG_6511

Read Full Post »

NW Arkansas drought has been alleviated

Posted in General, The River, Weather, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 19, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I have to keep reminding myself that we are only 2-3 weeks from drought conditions starting over again ! However  as of last week, even before 1.5 inches of heavy rain, things are Looking Up !! This information from NOAA.

 

1016110_612279982125217_711605744_n

Read Full Post »

Crazy Bull Elk in the River covered with a Paw Paw branch

Posted in mammals, Mountain Scenery, mountains, The River, tagged , , , , , on June 19, 2013| Leave a Comment »

This Bull Elk walked through a Paw Paw patch just prior to entering the river; he waded around in a deep hole to cool off. After an hour, he was still covered up and still in the River. I guess he liked it !!

IMG_5775

Read Full Post »

First Blue Grosbeak of 2013

Posted in Wild Birds, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 18, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Its been a hot since last Wednesday; not the real temperature; rather, the humidity. I think the hottest day was about 96F but the Heat Index was 110F. It becomes hard to work outside by late morning (say 11 AM). I have been building a shed and a patio. Yesterday, and Sunday night we had 4 thunder showers with very little lightning but tropical-like downpours. Not a ton of rain; but enough. I believe the rain gauge at my weather station says we got 1.18 inches of rain in those 4 showers. Also, it stayed cooler yesterday due to cloud cover for part of the day.

Several adult Purple Martins have been spending a lot of time at my Martin House. They seem to enjoy watching work on the shed, me using power tools, and talking. I did not get any this year in March-April and was disappointed – my theory was it was due to the long cool wet spring. However, my friends on Shiloh mountain and up at Wayton, AR. seemed to have no issues with Purple Martins and have plenty.

Also, this week the White-tailed deer began dropping fawns; which is also late.

9076882574_2f6c959776_o

Just as I finished working yesterday a Blue Grosbeak darted into a Orchard grass island in my back yard. I have been keeping my camera with me but have had little chance to take any photos.

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »