A Regular Visitor

It seems that no matter how cold it gets, this very big squirrel is first at the bird feeder. Yes, this is Napoleon himself.

'Tis the Season....

Winter Has Arrived

And the raccoons seem to be sleeping it off. True, there are still lots of squirrels raiding the bird feeder, and I had a visit from one of the local skunks last night. (No smell thank goodness). But it feels a little too cold to stand outside waiting for the jays, cardinals, or ravens to come to the feeder. So I went back into the archives for some photos taken last june and july. ATB!

Kimmie

'I'm looking over a four leaf clover' - and keeping an eye on her youngsters as they eat.

OK, Quit Pushing!

Kimmies kits, well three of them last July. A bit of pushing going on there - but no bad feeling.

Bright Eyes

This is one of Kimmies youngsters, almost full grown last July.

Mother Kimmie Resting

Photos taken last June and July. Kimmie is as big as she looks here - yet is very gentle and loves to bring her family by so I can pretend to be a babysitter.

Winter is Here!

No big surprise though. More later as I dig myself out.

Now then.....

Do we have a deal?

Yes, it's me - again.

Right, let me consider this, OK?

Still Napoleon

OK Rusty, this is how it's gonna be......

Meet Napoleon

This is the big boss of the feeder, only the ravens dare to tease him. (I think it's a him). Just look at those claws!

Stuffed?

I'm not going to leave anything for those pesky birds.

Just call me Napoleon...

- or perhaps he just has a bit of heartburn? (Grin).

Sniffing out something new?

This and the next few photos were taken with a 300mm telephoto. (Borrowed). I was worried about being able to hold the camera steady enough. I must say I found this lens easier to use than my regular kit lens, and I only lost two photos because of camera shake. This lens seemed very easy to focus - either manually or with autofocus as it gave me a very bright image in the D-70 (Nikon) viewfinder.

Dinner call

I think at this point he was getting ready to call for more food.

Delicious

The rest of the morning was spent on stuffing himself.

The Last Rose of Summer

What a surprise! This was taken November 12th - after at least five killing frosts, this brave miniature rose bush put out one more bloom.

Nevermore?

Are my friendly ravens about to return for the winter?

Bird Food?

The few remaining berries.

Lets see whats good here.....

B.J. looks over the mess of seed to see if his favorite treat is here. (It is).

B.J. looking for the prize

And there it is, he sees the peanut.

I'm outta here!

He got the peanut before Mr Fuzzytail - oh boy.

Drat! That Jay got my peanut!

What can I say? It's a riot to watch these characters!

Have to be content?

This one is the bully of the local fuzzytail gang. But the bluejay outsmarts him every time.

Remembrance Day November 11th.

Lest We Forget

Old Friends

Kimmie and two of her kits (now grown up) dropped in this evening - I guess to say hello. (More photos on the side). Kimmie - or better known as Big Momma, is huge, and the two female youngsters with her are pretty big too! Yet they are as friendly as ever, and very easy to get along with.

Just look at those inquisitive, and trusting eyes. He (or she) showed up early one evening at the door of the retreat, said ‘hello’ (sort of) then vanished. I don’t think I ever saw him again. They are gentle creatures normally.

Winter Evening

There is a strange perspective to this photograph. The photo looks like the camera was not held level - except the tree trunk is OK. The reason is the tree line to the right of the tree trunk is a little less than two miles away. If you magnify the image you might just be able to pick out the church steeple that appears in another photo here on the blog. The shore to the left side of the tree trunk is varies from five to about eight miles away. This is perhaps a situation that could be corrected using a view type camera with full tilt bellows. Hmmm, I wonder if the tilt control in PhotoShop might handle this properly?
Photo taken November 2008.

Contrast!

The hydranga still has color!

First Snow

This looks serious, but it did not last.

Winter Comes

A new beginning

Fresh Seed Out - the critters move in.

OK, now where did I see that peanut? Got to get it before that loudbeak Jay sees food.

Mr Blue Strikes Back

Hmmph - about time he left. Stuffing his face like that...

Mr. Fuzzytail again.

Hmmmmph! Noisy character - where is my Bird-Be-Gone spray?

Mr. Blue (Jay)

Right, I don't mind sharing.

OK, but the peanut is MINE!

Doggone that pesky squirrel

I know there was another peanut here a minute ago.

Well How About That!

Doggone pesky squirrel....

More Fall Color

Hydrangea anabelle. Heading for a long winter sleep.

Fall Color is where you find it.

The frost has finished the hostas. The day after this was taken they had lost their haloween orange and are now a bright yellow. Waiting now 'till next spring to bloom again.

Final Bloom?

In spite of a killer frost the night before, this brave little flower remained in it's full glory.

Well now - whats on the menu?

We seem to have a pair coming to the feeder these days.

A closer look at dinner

This looks good!

It's my lucky day...

I love walnuts.

I'm outta here - but....

Be back later!

Hey Look Who Arrived!

The blue jays have been around for a while, but they don't seem to like having their photo taken. But if the feeder is empty in the morning they raise an awful fuss until I serve them breakfast. Now with a little luck I will get photos of the cardinals and blackbirds. It's not surprising they are so cautious, I'm only at most five feet from the feeder.

End of a Day

Just having fun with Photoshop.

Winter Afternoon Sky

This was taken mid november three years ago. It was freezing cold while I waited for the sun to set just behind the church steeple across the bay.

At it's best. (Sedum)

A very deep red - which will remain until the blooms are covered with snow.

These Shorter Days

The early setting sun - and late rising sun in the morning gives me a feeling of distorted, shifting time.