Today's Post is Brought to You by the Letter "B"

Last week was a busy week in my back yard.  The beginning of May, I changed the batteries in my motion sensor cam and redirected it.  I was hoping to catch the edge of the swamp as there are always lots of prints in the mud under my viewing log.  The black flies were eating me alive so I didn't take the time to change the date and time.  I finally retrieved the camera at the end of last week.  It was FILTHY!!  All muddy and a big glop of I don't know WHAT in front of the motion sensor.  I brought the whole thing up to clean it off and reviewed my catch.  I think this guy's responsible for the condition of the camera.  I chose a blurry photo of him to spare some gory details.  The horizontal log (the bigger of the two) is my viewing perch to survey the swamp.  This guy (eleven or twelve, I'm guessing) is apparently hunting frogs just beyond my log.  He knows my camera is there and sometimes ignores it and other times performs.  This particular day he drops to his knees and waggles the dead frog in front of the camera and then I'm guessing he left the frog on top of the camera as a gift for me.

Something else found it first (THANK GOODNESS) and had a tasty snack, leaving my camera rather dirty in the process.  I cannot say exactly what it was as it was much too close to the camera, but we're guessing it could have been a young Black Bear.

 My daughter took this shot out my office window, maybe 25 feet or less from the house.  Mid-afternoon she got a call from a neighbor across the street saying the Black Bear was crossing the road into our yard.  Before my daughter could grab the camera or bang on the window, he had grabbed a bird feeder.  He is sitting just on the other side of the stone wall, working on the contents of the feeder.  She took a few pictures and then opened the window and yelled.  Our day nurse was headed home and banged a pot and pan as she crossed the yard to her car!  The young bear came back that evening for the front feeders but I had already grabbed one.  I could have had an amazing shot as he stood on his hind legs to pull the thistle feeder down but I've already lost two shepherd hooks to this hungry guy.  Instead of grabbing the camera, I slammed the front door and he took off like a shot.

One final shot from the swamp cam, a Bobcat!  I have the camera set for a burst of nine pictures and only got this one!!  Wish it would have captured his face but I'm just thrilled to have finally caught a picture!  Two summers ago I had a Bobcat kit chasing a bird in my backyard and I don't think many people believed me.  A picture is definite proof!

Seen at the Swamp

Two afternoon shots a day apart before I brought the camera up from the edge of the swamp.

I had no idea anyone else was tromping around down there.  Boy, was I surprised!

Wildlife for a Wednesday

I've moved the wildlife camera from the edge of the swamp to get a look at the side of the house.  For a few weeks now, the cats are getting all fluffed up and we can't see anything outside that might be upsetting them.....till we heard barking last night!

Wordless Wednesday - Tiny Terracotta Treasure

Well, she stayed for a month.  It was amazing to watch her repair her web most mornings.  To be on the other side of the window at eye level to her web workings was just incredible.  I attempted to take some video of her intricately weaving her web - three different techniques to complete it - but I cannot seem to master the focus!  The camera would focus on the trees beyond her and she ended up a big blur.  She disappeared a few times last week, apparently to the top of the door frame.  Then on Friday, she left a big bug all wrapped up in the center of her web.  Coming down Saturday morning, the above sight greeted me.  By eleven Saturday morning, she was back in the middle of her web, snacking on the bug.  Sunday she had completely repaired her web, just moved it up a smidge higher to be closer to the egg case.  Today, however, she is nowhere in sight.  Not only is she nowhere in sight, her web is completely gone!!!

View from the Swamp

Some fall pictures from the swamp. After dropping my camera in the swamp, I've been without for the summer. Yesterday I only managed to get down at noon time so things were pretty quiet ~ a few turtles sunning themselves on some logs, startled one waterfowl but I have no idea who it was, it flew quite noisily to the other end before I had myself in a spot where I could see clearly. The last picture is my "gateway" to the water's edge. I have to duck underneath this arch. It's so exciting to have a camera again, now I just have to learn how to use it!

Catastrophe!

Haven't been to the swamp in almost 3 weeks! Amazing hour, the Canada Goose pair have established their nest on the rock (maybe this is the year for chicks), watched a beaver swim away to the far end of the swamp while a Great Blue Heron flew to my end. I was watching the heron and trying to manage some digibin shots when I heard a splash behind me. I ignored it at first and then thought, a giant snapping turtle could be climbing up on my log behind me!!! So, I turned hoping the heron wouldn't startle and leave and nearly fell off my log - the beaver was 12 feet away from me noisily chewing on a stick. Snapped a few pictures, sent a pic message with my phone, turned to see if the heron was still there and the beaver left. Watched him swim out of site. Decided to advance down my log to check the heron nests at the far end of the swamp. Big mistake, ....I forgot to put my camera in my pocket...right out of my hand into the swamp! Bubbles as it sank....could barely see it but managed to fish it out with a long stick. Very sad end to a fantastic morning!!! I guess it is VERY GOOD that I don't have an amazing camera after all!!!

"Can You See What I See?"

I became a puzzle fanatic this winter and LOVE the "Can You See What I See?" series by Walter Wick. I love the challenge of finding what might be hidden in the big picture. I've changed my heading picture (so tired of snow) to show a glimpse of the far end of the swamp. There are two Great Blue Heron nests in the picture, one has one adult sitting in the nest, and the other has two adults standing. I know, I need a better camera.