House Finch - Winter Storm Albert

Winter Storm Albert - December 19-20, 2009

Winter Storm Albert - 12+ inches in Shelton

We had a busy morning today cleaning off all the bird feeders and the deer feed station.  Everyone was happy to get feed today!!!

Isn't he a beauty!!

We have seen 3 bucks this season....this one is the largest.

Marbled Orbweaver Spider

A couple of very pretty Marbled Orbweaver spiders...One enjoying lunch!!
Adult female marbled orbweavers are 9 to 20 millimeters in length with very large abdomens that are mostly orange with brown to purple markings and spots of pale yellow.

Egg cocoons, which contain several hundred eggs, are generally deposited in October and are constructed of white silk formed in a flattened sphere. Immature spiders emerge from the cocoons in spring. Adults are seen from midsummer until the first hard freeze of fall.

It's a Boy!!

Our Spicy will be a handsome buck next year.   You can just see 2 little bumps on his head starting. 

Young Skunk

This little guy came out of the woods around 5:45pm and ran right into the garage. He soon came out  and then went straight to the feeding station in the back yard. He seemed to enjoy getting pieces of suet that the birds were dropping from the suet feeder. He stayed about 40 minutes.

Turkey with youngsters...plus a surprise visitor!!

While filming this video, an unexpected visitor showed up.

Turkey with young

We saw this turkey with her young a couple of weeks ago down the street. Upon returning from our morning workout at the gym, we saw them in our driveway and they ran into the woods. About 30 minutes later, they showed up at the feeding area.

Cinnamon & Clove

Nutmeg's Twins

Bees

Lots of Bees this year. I came upon a yellow-jacket nest while mowing last weekend and got too close. Got a nice little sting on my hand...OUCH!!

Butterflies

Our butterflies really enjoy the "Butterfly" bushes. We had quite a variety.

Coat Transition

These photos of Apple and Pie, taken Aug. 26th, show how Apple's coat is beginning to make the transition for the coming winter. Her reddish-brown spring coat is making the change to grey-brown.

Another Surprise!!

This morning, one of our "regulars", Nutmeg, brought her 2 new fawns. This is the first season she has given birth and we were surprised to see twins. We have never had so many fawns in one season. To recap:

Apple's fawn is named Pie

Cider's fawn is named Spicy

Nutmeg's fawns are Cinnamon & Clove

Here are Nutmeg, Cinnamon and Clove....

The Whole Family Together

For the first time, both Apple and Cider brought their fawns (Pie and Spicy) to the feeding area at the same time. I couldn't get a photo of the group, but here is a video.

Apple and Pie - Aug. 18, 2009

Cider and Spicy

On July 30th, Cider brought her fawn to the property. She has been named "Spicy".

New Arrival - Apple's fawn

About 6am this morning, we had a quick glimpse of Apple's fawn. This was the first time she brought her fawn to the property. Upon going out to deliver the morning breakfast of deer feed and apples, our other resident deer, Nutmeg, was already at the feeding station. Nutmeg's presence seemed to make Apple nervous and Apple took her baby back into the woods. We have named the new fawn Pie.

Goldfinch

House Finch

We have recently put out a Thistle Feeder and have been enjoying seeing a variety of finches.

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

BREEDING: Deciduous forest, woodland, second growth. 1 or 2 broods. Mating system is monogamous.

DISPLAYS: Courtship: male sings in flight pursuit of female; male crouches, spreads and droops wings with tail spread and slightly elevated, retracts head with nape against back; male sings and waves head and body in erratic dance.

NEST: Loosely built of twigs, coarse plant material, lined with fine twigs, rootlets, hair. Cup shaped nest, 5-15 feet above the ground. Male may select site. Female builds nest with help from male.EGGS: 3-5 pale green, blue, or bluish-green, marked with browns, purples; usually wreathed or capped. 1.0" (25 mm).

CHICK DEVELOPMENT: Both sexes incubate. Incubation takes 13-14 days. Development is altricial (immobile, downless, eyes closed, fed). Young leave the nest after 9-12 days. Both sexes tend young.

DIET: Insects, seeds, fruit, buds. Including some flowers. Occasionally gleans from ground.

Eastern American Toad

They are common in gardens and agricultural fields. During daylight hours they seek cover beneath porches, under boardwalks, flat stones, boards, logs, wood piles, or other cover. They are easy to find and their gentle nature makes them good pets. When cold weather comes, these toads dig backwards and bury themselves in the dirt of their summer homes, or they may choose another site in which to hibernate

Black Rat Snake

The black rat snake can reach a length of eight feet, but is usually much smaller. Mating generally takes place in the spring, with 10-14 eggs laid in June or July. Eggs deposited beneath rocks or in manure piles, rotting vegetation, stumps or logs generally hatch in August and September.

Cider in the Garden

Our resident deer, Cider, having a rest in the garden.

Squirrel

Enjoying a sunflower snack on a nice June day.

Spotted Turtle

June 14th: Today we were very excited to find a spotted turtle in the yard. Every June they come to our backyard to nest. Whenever we find a spotted turtle we take a picture of the plastron (underneath shell) for identification. This little lady was first observed nesting on our property in 2005. In 2006 I was lucky to actually observe her laying 3 eggs. They all hatched in late September. Spotted Turtles reach sexual maturity between 7 to 10 years, and they can live to reach 30 years!

Chipmuck

June 14th - Chipmuck getting ready to eat some birdseed which had fallen into a planter.

Wet Raccoon

It seems like it's been raining everyday for weeks!! Here is one wet raccoon who came out for some corn one evening.

Blue Bird - A Sure Sign of Spring!!!

We have several Blue Bird nest boxes in the yard but no one has ever taken up residence....the boxes are usually taken over by our Downey Woodpeckers.