Crops & Clips: Flashback to September, 2018

As I do each month, I enjoyed looking back over my archived photos, taken three years previously, to remember how things were then and maybe get some idea of what to expect this year. As usual, I searched for images which reflected favorite memes: critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and clouds, reflections, flowers and fences, as well as scenes which speak for themselves. 

We started the month at home in Florida. Southbound fall warblers were starting to pass through, but prevailing winds directed most of them to the west (Gulf) coast. My warbler photos were limited to--

Louisiana Waterthrush:

Prairie Warbler:

Female Common Yellowthroat:

Black-and-White Warbler:

In the rookery (which has since been essentially abandoned), a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron roosted in a tree which would soon be cut down:

A tiny Bella or Rattlebox Tiger Moth rested on a blade of grass:

When is a goose not a goose and a duck is not a duck? Two gooselike members of the avian Order of Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese and Swans) enjoy rather uncertain positions as to where they fit into the classification scheme. Both bear some resemblance to each other and to the Shelducks, a group of large ducks which are smaller than geese. 

Male Muscovy Duck and Egyptian Goose (Drakes or Ganders, take your pick) posed nicely in our back yard, exhibiting rather similar characteristics of heavy bodies and thick goose-like necks. Both of these introduced exotic species are populating the urbanized areas of south Florida.

We visited our daughter's family in Illinois, our first return after selling our condo. Wasting no time, we headed to Nelson Lake, our favorite hot spot. In the prairie, Milkweed Bugs clustered on a seed pod of their host plant:

Fall flowers turned the fields to yellow:

A stately old oak at the edge of the golden prairie hosted Red-breasted Nuthatches which earned their nickname of "upside-down birds:"

I applied "oil painting" effects to this photo of a red barn and silo across the road from the preserve (click to enlarge):

Aging Tibetan Mastiff Agramonte and his buddy Casador lazed in our daughter's back yard:

By the end of the month we were back home in Florida, where a juvenile Green Heron provided evidence that at least some of the herons had nested successfully in the rookery:

It was a good month for flight shots, this of a Tricolored Heron...

...a Red-shouldered Hawk carrying prey...

...Great Egrets...

...and a Killdeer:

A perky Ovenbird on September 24:

At sunrise on September 25, the Harvest Moon reflected on the still surface of the lake:

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Linking to:

Garden Affair

Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

Camera Critters

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Natasha Musing

Our World Tuesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World

Timeless Thursday

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Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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Crops & Clips: Flashback to February 2018

I combed the photo archives taken three years back and searched for images which reflected favorite memes: critters of all kinds (especially birds), skies and clouds, reflections, flowers and fences, as well as scenes which speak for themselves. We spent the entire month of February, 2018 at our home in Florida and processed 409  images. 

On February 1, as we entered the Wounded Wetlands we encountered a confrontation between a Northern Mockingbird and an American Kestrel which had stolen its perch. The mockingbird actually succeeded in chasing off the kestrel:

The kestrel retreated to a cluster of Royal Palm fruits:

In the rookery, badly damaged by Hurricane Irma, a single Yellow-crowned Night-Heron roosted on one leg:

Nearby, a Green Heron:

The local Bald Eagle male (Pride) tended to his 19th known progeny (" P Piney 19"):  

With three birders from New Jersey whom I got to know on the Internet, I visited Shark Valley in Everglades National Park. A Black-crowned Night-Heron posed nicely:

The park was rich in bird life. From the trail along the canal we watched waterbirds preying on the plentiful fish:

This female Anhinga speared an exotic catfish and swallowed it whole:

A Great Blue Heron caught and ate a Walking Catfish:

An American Alligator basked along the canal:

Out on our Wounded Woodlands, a Bobcat watched an unaware young lady on a bicycle, followed by her dog:

She stopped to use her cell phone, but the Bobcat was now more interested in what I was doing:

A Red-shouldered Hawk balanced in the wind:

Egyptian Geese flew over:

Two Egyptian Geese near the barrier rail fence along the Road to Nowhere:

A pair of Mottled Ducks reflected on the calm surface of the lake:

Monarch butterfly on Lantana:

A boy and his dog in a kayak on a fog-shrouded morning:

Just after sunrise on February 12:

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Linking to:

Fences Around the World

Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

Camera Critters

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Natasha Musing

Our World Tuesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World

Timeless Thursday

________________________________________________

Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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Crops & Clips: 2020 Yard Birds

The Coronavirus lockdown has now been going on for nearly eight months. We have not seen our children and grandchildren (and great-grandchildren) in more than a year. Of course we have not seen the inside of a restaurant and usually order our groceries online for curbside pickup. 

Visits with family have been virtual, as have most of our medical encounters. The only human outsiders who have entered our home this year have been: a plumber, an electrician and a barber (or should I sound uppity and call her a hair stylist or beautician, which of course she is), all masked and so much appreciated.  

Our back yard has been another story. Over the years we have hosted crowds of visitors, feathered and furred. 

A distinguished visitor was a Wood Stork, twice this past week. This immature bird still has feathers on its head and upper neck, lacking in older birds:

Egyptian Geese have invaded in recent years:

Herons include this Tricolored...

...an adult Little Blue Heron, photographed through the window of the back sliding glass door...

...and an immature Little Blue Heron, far across the lake. Its characteristic bill-down "nearsighted" hunting posture made it easy to spot:

Flocks of Ring-billed Gulls will linger if the fishing is good:

Some Ring-bills flew in before sunrise on December 21

The adult male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds abandon their young to the care of their mates and migrate early. One appeared in November:

An immature male replaced the adult this past week. He has a speckled throat, while that of the female is clear white:

An Osprey swooped low over our back patio:

A Great Blue Heron posed for a moment before flying off:

A Great Egret foraged across the lake:

Our most numerous long-legged wader species has been the White Ibis:

Almost as common are the established feral Muscovy Ducks. We can't fly out, but they they can fly in:

Mama Muscovy rests on our goose decoy:

The goose seems not to mind all these critters riding on his back--

...a Double-crested Cormorant adult, showing off his double "crests:"

...a Mottled Duck hen, whose drake was reluctant to join her:

...Anhingas, recently a youngster, and back in 2014 before our duck decoy "drowned," a spread-winged adult female:

...in 2016, a Spotted Sandpiper:

...and way back in 2012, a Great Blue Heron:

Our only (visible) furry creature this year has been a Gray Squirrel:

The view at sunrise, December 21 from our "wildlife viewing platform:"

 

Our tabletop Nativity scene. Merry Christmas!

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Linking to:

Fences Around the World

Nature Thursday

Skywatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Saturday's Critters

BirdD'Pot

Camera Critters

All Seasons

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

Natasha Musing

Our World Tuesday

Wild Bird Wednesday

My Corner of the World

Timeless Thursday

________________________________________________

Please visit the links to all these posts to see some excellent photos on display
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