CRITTERS:
We started the month at our second home in NE Illinois, where most of the birds were still busy raising their families. My first photo of the month, on July 5, 2012, featured this abundant warbler of the prairies, appropriately named Common Yellowthroat:
Two days later, along the street next to our condo I encountered two majestic raptors, a Red-tailed Hawk...
...and an American Kestrel:
A cute baby Tree Swallow posed for me atop its nest box on July 10:
On the same day a male Indigo Bunting thrilled me with its color:
A Dickcissel sang to us on July 17, just before we returned to our Florida home:
Back in Florida on July 24, a beautiful eight-point White-tailed buck emerged from the side of the path into our local wetlands:
At the local rookery, a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron nestling crouched low, also on July 24, 2012:
Linking to Misty's CAMERA CRITTERS,
Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,
Linking to I Heart Macro by Laura
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REFLECTION:
I caught my first reflection of the month on July 12, when a Bald Eagle carried off a duckling at nearby Nelson Lake:
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FENCE:
A visit from our Illinois granddaughters at the end of July saved me from the disaster of not having randomly included any fences this month's photos (July 27, 2012):
In fairness, I also must show our younger Nieta. They were here before embarking on a Caribbean cruise to celebrate their Miami cousin's QuinceaƱera (fifteenth birthday):
Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa).
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SKIES:
I finally captured a skyscape from the back patio as clouds moved in from the ocean at sunrise, July 30, one day before the deadline I set for this game:
Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy
Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni
Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart
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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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Hello ken, another great collection of images. The birds photos are awesome. And your granddaughter are beautiful. Gorgeous sky capture. Have a great day!
ReplyDeletealways love your bird shots! beautiful skies, sweet grands. a great set!
ReplyDeleteYou always have such wonderful photos...I really enjoy them. That last shot is awesome.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful creatures and a wonderful sky!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful array of interesting things. Loved seeing them all.
ReplyDeleteSome great critter shots, and I love that dramatic sky!!
ReplyDeleteWhile your skies are gorgeous, your bird photos are incredibly awesome. The baby bird looks like a character in one of Disney's animated movies.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
Magnificent sky shot ~ very gorgeous ~ Mother Nature at her best and yours!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend,
Happy Fourth of July to the USA
artmusedog and carol
Well done. - Always some amazing bird shots. The Kestrel sure was pretty as was the Bunting. Loved the Buck deer, just a great shot.
ReplyDeleteYour granddaughters looked so cute there and that last sky shot was stunning.
The baby Tree Swallow is so adorable. Lots of other great wildlife shots in this post. The Eagle reflection and the sunrise shot are really beautiful, as are your granddaughters.
ReplyDeleteA great series of shots!
ReplyDeleteHI Kenneth Now wasn't tha Tree Sparrow good to post so well for you.Looks very well fed! another briallant post with wonderful photographs. The beauty of the sunrise, your gorgeous grand daughter, the fantaastic capture of the Eagle in flight, the look on the young Herons'eye as you snap the shot, ALL these moments in your photography are brilliant.
ReplyDeleteoh my..what great photos. The winner for me has to be the sweet chubby baby swallow!!!
ReplyDeletewhat a magical your bird shots...really awesome photos
ReplyDeleteStunning photos! Love the skies and the birds, especially!
ReplyDeleteThat hawk is impressive but the sky shot took my breath away.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunrise, the sky are well painted.
ReplyDeleteA great collection of bird photos, all of them beautifully captured. I particularly liked the eagles reflection and your sky pic. Have a wonderful weekend
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSydney – City and Suburbs
Amazing capture and reflection of the bald eagle.
ReplyDeleteAn amazing collection of photos! All these beautiful birds... And the sky is stunning!
ReplyDeleteHi Ken, just stopping back to say thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Have a happy 4th of July weekend!
ReplyDeletehard to pick a favorite but I'm going with number 1
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful photos you've got.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Great shots. Lovely grand! Happy Critter Day!
ReplyDeleteI love that cute baby tree swallow.
ReplyDeleteGreat sky and shot,greeting from Belgium with a hot weather
ReplyDeletehttp://louisette.eklablog.com/
Some really top notch images Ken!!
ReplyDeleteThat sky just blows me away...what a beauty.
The Yellowthroat is just amazing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I love the raptors and the buck.
ReplyDeleteKCS, I love that sunrise pic! Also your granddaughters are great.
ReplyDeleteSuch drama with the eagle and the unfortunate duckling!
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Talk about getting close to the White Ibis!!!! WOW! I know they are common but that's such a cool bird to me. Not one I see often. Love your photos always. The young in the nest is great. They always look so grouchy:) You have lots of great birds around your area and I enjoy seeing them. As for the Eagle! Good job:) Nature is brutal but it's awesome to observe. Better than any movie out in the theaters right now.
ReplyDeletewow, so many gorgeous bird images. Loved the little tree.swallow :)
ReplyDeleteVisiting from Bird D´Pot
You are always a winner! And so are we because of your generosity! Gorgeous birds...some are more showy, but I have to say that the baby swallow is my favorite. A perfect picture and difficult to get, as I usually only ever see their little faces peeping out hopefully!
ReplyDeleteFabulous scenery and wildlife photos all around. Nice to see the young 'uns too.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post of all kinds of fun and I am always taken by the faces of Swallows, that baby is so precious!
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how close one can get to the waders down in FL. Up here...no way!
ReplyDelete