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Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Nature Notes: Trying to blend in

I almost swept the katydid off my door's window thinking it was a leaf but then I saw the legs.
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If the katydid had been in my yard it would have blended in with the leaves but the window wasn't good for that.
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The mourning doves blend in so well on my deck that I frequently don't notice them when I first look out.
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Their feet are the only noticeable thing with a quick glance.
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The female cardinal above was noticeable but not quite as flashy as the male below. The male cardinal is still in a transitional stage so not as flashy as he'll be as an adult in winter feathers.
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They have finally decided to post Shelley Lake with signs discouraging people from feeding the ducks and geese.
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In spite of the sign I saw a family feeding the ducks.
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Even though the lake didn't use to have signs about feeding the wildlife, it always bothered me that people would feed them in the summer but never in the winter when it was cold.
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I've never fed the geese and ducks at this lake but when it's especially cold I've thought it might help them if I got the kind of food they needed.
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It never made sense to me that people feed them in the summer but don't do it in cold difficult weather.
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When I walked at the lake Friday, I didn't see as many Canadian Geese as I usually do but there was a variety of different ducks.
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I'm used to seeing various vertical objects in the lake.  Some are connected to the dam mechanisms while other vertical objects are parts of trees that get lodged upright when they fall during storms.
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I zoomed in on something I thought was a tree limb lodged upright in the water.
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I never would have thought of great blue herons as blending in but this one had me fooled from a distance.
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I was glad I had enough zoom to get a closer look or I would have thought it was just a tree limb.
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Once it started stretching out its neck it was unmistakeable.
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I took a zillion pictures of it.
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They are such graceful and gawky birds all at the same time.
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One of these days I hope to catch a shot of one with a fish in its mouth.
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I've seen them catch fish but never got the shot.
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I always love to see tall grasses with their seeds .
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Usually I see some Canadian Geese in these grasses at the lake but not this time.
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Although we don't reach peak fall colors until November where I live, there are already a few leaves changing early.
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The brown thrashers have been hogging the bird baths on my deck.
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They are fun to watch.
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14 comments:

Judy said...

Love the reflections of the Heron shots.

Black Jack's Carol said...

What a beautiful post, with lovely, subtle photos of the life that can blend into our surroundings and escape our notice.

As for feeding wildlife, I hear you! The truth is that it is often for our amusement. Many do not think about the consequences of feeding wildlife (dependancy and suffering during months when fewer people visit, illness due to nutritional deficiencies because the animal/bird is full of bread and other "junk" and not motivated to eat a more natural diet). One of the things that makes me saddest is that children remember "feeding the ducks" fondly long into their adulthood and pass that experience on to their own offspring. If we take time to buy proper food, and feed only during times when food is unavailable, it would make a huge difference, i think to the well-being of the wildlife we love to watch.

Rambling Woods said...

What a great idea for post..I loved all the "hidden" wildlife. Yes..feeding is usually bread which is so bad. But waterfowl eat a lot and you would need to buy a "game bird" pellet which is a cereal like product that is unmedicated as in no antibiotics as we give chickens and they could eat that. That is what I use when I need it...Michelle

Nature Rambles said...

So interesting to see what's going on on in your part of the world. The lake shots are stunning.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I learn something new at 57, a katydid. We have it in Sarawak, but didn't know the name. Katydid.

Vores have said...

Very nice image series showing.
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Hanne Bente

eileeninmd said...

Great collection of Birds. The Heron shots are some of my favorites. But, they are all wonderful photos.

jewaicious said...

The heron shots are wonderful. The thrashers always amuse me with their expressions. I love the way you captured the reflections, and the birds in hiding.

Pat said...

Beautiful shots. I really love the heron with its reflection. I have not seen any Brown Thrashers this year and really miss those lovely birds.

EG CameraGirl said...

Oh, so that's what a katydid looks like! Love your heron photos!

Dianne said...

the heron photos are art!
amazing reflections
I love the little birds when they're wet, they look so sweet and funny

Cezar and Léia said...

They are all adorable birds and your pictures are very artistic, you got beautiful reflections!
Well done!
Léia

Nature Rambles said...

Hello Carver, it's me again! I'd be delighted if you check out my latest post. I've uploaded a video where my son plays the drums.:)

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Love this post! It reminds me to really "LOOK" -- sometimes the least obvious things in nature are the most beautiful. Just lovely, every photo!