Profile of Darkness

The young red-shoulder hawk was back again today sitting atop the 4-1/2 foot wooden fence overlooking the terrain. I thought maybe he was scouting for palmetto bugs or perhaps rodent… something I would be happy to see go. I was just about to snap a photo when (s)he swooped down and tried to grab one of two doves milling about some 30-40 feet away. He missed the one, but appeared to have tagged the other who then seemed unable to fly. The poor dove banged into the side wire fence but did make it over and into some vegetative cover. I ran to see if I could help the poor thing, but I merely made it more frantic so I backed off. I walked along the fence line trying to find where the hawk had gone. When I looked up, a the dark shadow was sitting on my neighbor's power line.

The dove must have been hopping along and warning its compadres because all of a sudden a flock of doves quickly dispersed with the flapping of wings, startling me in the process. Hopefully they got themselves into a safe haven. The dark shadow will just have to find something other than squab for dinner.

Army Lives!

FINALLY! Tanner was out before dawn this morning but it was very close to his time so I sent him leash-less off into the yard. After a while I heard a lot of commotion and barking so I went to the door to get him in. He was at the fence, barking into the backyard. Could the deer be there? Or is it just one of the rabbits.

I called him in and got the flashlight and shined it around back. WHOA! It's the Armadillo!!!! HORRAY! I ran to get the camera and crept up and took a few photos while (s)he quickly moved along munching away. One photo with it standing up shows the reason for a common name "Turtle Rabbit". I just wish it was a better shot, but with the flashlight between my knees, it isn't too bad.

I need a lighting director or maybe just a grip to hold the flashlight!

So much for the Professor and Maryann

It's GONE! My island is GONE!

I took a walk back by the pond today and was surprised to see that my tussock had sunk so only the tops of the very tall grasses and sedges are showing.

My island appeared out of nowhere back in September 2011 shortly before Hurricane Irene, which was pretty much a non-event for me. It's now 2012 and shortly after Hurricane Sandy that, with the exception of losing my American flag to wind, was thankfully another non-event here. The island has gone back to where it came from...the bottom of the pond.

Just a month ago the tussock was crowded with lots of natives, perfect shelter for wildlife but I suppose the fish are enjoying it all now.

I'm rather sad to see it go. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

Caterpillar Tartare?

A young hawk visited this week and sat on the fence rail as he studied various parts of the garden. He suddenly swooped down into one of the overgrown pollinator sections and came away with a prize. At first I couldn't quite figure out what he grabbed, but then I realized he must have gotten one of the large gooey caterpillars that use Ludwigia spp. as a larval host. I had spotted a rather large specimen of a

Banded Sphinx Moth Caterpillar (Eumorpha fasciatus) a few days earlier. He stared at me and didn't even offer to share what he held in his claws.

New Life List Dragonfly

I noticed a dragonfly which appeared to have squared off wings, something I'd never seen before. Reminded me of those planes we watched in old time movies that rapidly crashed after getting about 3 feet airborne. Said dragonfly was quite elusive and me without the zoom camera, only the point and shoot. I followed stealthily and caught a picture or two, enough to identify the Band-winged Dragonlet (Erythrodiplax umbrata). Upon close-up inspection on computer screen, the wings are normal shape, just the outer edges are nearly invisible making the darkness of the bands give an allusion of wing squareness. Thrilled with a new member of my buggy life list, I now will try to get a better photograph, perhaps some early morning when the dragons are a little less lively.

Wainin' Wabbits?

The weather email alerts starting hitting the inbox early this afternoon. The first two were concerning the western part of my county out by the attractions and I quickly deleted them, too far away to be a concern.  Then the third arrived mentioning my town specifically.  I could hear the rumbles of thunder off in the distance.

 

Severe thunderstorms are practically a daily occurence in Florida during rainy season.  Most arrive with their gusty winds and torrential rain but pass through quickly....a distant memory in short order.  Today's was no different and lasted all of about 10 minutes.  A non-event, at least at my house.

 

I like the smell of nature after a cleansing rain, so I gathered up some cardboard that needed to be put in the recycle bin and headed out to the patio.  Over next to the well pump I spotted a bunny (shown above).  Then I looked out back in the dog-free area and saw another, both Eastern Cottontails.  I spotted a third back by the compost bin, shorter ears and darker fur, so likely a Marsh Rabbit.  Was it water that fell from the sky?  Or did it rain rabbits?

 

There they sit quietly munching away.  I find them simply adorable when they wiggle their noses, contemplate for a second or two and then hippity hop a bit to find another snack.  Mind you, when I get my veggie garden started up again I may have a different opinion about their cuteness.

 

While taking a photo or two I heard a hawk in the distance.  A cardinal flew by and landed in the winged sumac, enjoying the drupes of fruit.  A blue jay landed in the oak tree picking around for who knows what. The mockingbird was at the beautyberry and overhead I watched a wood stork soaring past and a vulture on the hunt overhead.  I quickly offered movement so he wouldn't take too close a look at me.  It seemed so quiet and yet there was such a flurry of fun activity for me to enjoy.  Nothing like nature after the storm.

New Garden Visitor?

It would seem I have a new garden visitor (or two). I haven't actually seen him(her?), but I saw unmistakable signs today. Down close to the pond, I found two piles of scat…deer scat.

I haven't seen deer in the neighborhood for quite a while. They use to cross my street pretty regularly around dusk, just down at the wooded area line about 3 properties away from me. I suspected that they had a regular corridor there.

"My" deer must be really something, as they have to hop a 4-1/2 foot fence to get in. I guess since I restricted the doggies to the front of the property with the new fence that there is no longer the scent of what I suspect the deer would view as a type of predator, or a least a pest they could do without.

So, now I will have to watch at dusk, dawn and in the middle of the night with the hopes of seeing my new garden critters perhaps watering down at the pond. Based on the looks of the scat, it appears they are enjoying the ripening drupes of the winged sumac (Rhus copallinum). Welcome to my world.