Crops & Clips: Flashback to April, 2013

This continues my monthly retrospective on past experiences, memories from three years ago. I will continue to search the archives for photos which represent a few selected themes: Living CRITTERS of all kinds, beautiful SKIES and REFLECTIONS, as well as MACRO images and GOOD FENCES. I have met this challenge for the past 15 months in a row, so let's see how far I must travel into the month of April, 2013 to achieve my goal!

I started the month out right, while observing the local Bald Eagle nest, as a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks landed atop a light standard along the road (April 1, 2013):



The next morning the female eagle provided a nice fly-by photo opportunity:



A not-very-handsome "critter" was reluctant to get out of our path on April 8. This Opossum had not quite finished eating a rat which had been killed by the mowers, as its tail still protruded from its mouth:



The juvenile Bald Eagle was still returning to the nest to be fed:



A Marsh Lily provided a nice macro study:



On April 14 we visited a ranch in Hendry County to the north, where Barred Owls had a nest, ...



...a Swllow-tailed Kite flew overhead...



...and a wild sow shepherded her piglets:



At the ranch we also saw a Crested Caracara,...



...Wild Turkeys,...



...Burrowing Owls,...



...and Roseate Spoonbills:



So far, we have seen a plethora of "critters," but I could not pass by this Gray Squirrel in our front yard:



Thanks to the breezes which produce ripples on our Florida lakes, we are halfway through the month without a single nice reflection. Now we return to Illinois, to find a restless sky over the entrance to Nelson lake Forest Preserve, ...



...and on April 29 find a fledgling Great Horned Owl in a local park...



...as well as a weak excuse for the reflection of a dabbling pair of Mallards:



Still no fences, unless Theresa allows me to count this poor imitation of one in a construction zone, with a Tree Swallow beautifying its post:



If you squint while looking as the flood water recedes in Jones Meadow Park, you may see another fence in the distance:



On April 28, another macro-- a White Trout Lily:



On the last day of the month, a Northern Waterthrush cast its true reflection in a brook, but can you see either? (click to enlarge)

 

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Linking to Misty's  CAMERA CRITTERS,

Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,

Linking to GOOD FENCES by Tex (Theresa). 

Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy

Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James

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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