Home Critters!

SQUIRREL OLYMPICS, 7-30-12

Took place in neighbor's yard near tree and  wheelbarrow....

Here's Missy, one who comes to the window sill to ask for peanuts!! She may be the gymnast!....

 It's hard to tell, but this is one of the two baby squirrels we've seen. Awhile back we did see a female carrying a baby down and up another tree in next door yard......

 When peanuts are gone, they will eat Animal Crackers put out for the birds!....

 Broken flower in dish became a squirrel bath!.....

 Naptime....

 Other visitors stopped by since the hummers are gone. This is probably a Comma butterfly (could be a question mark)...

 We've had a few of these Red Admirals who come and go all day. It's a wonder they can fly!!....

Nests, Then and Now!

A look at the nest in June.....

 We were curious to find out if it survived the summer storms. Looks almost the same!......

 We're getting several visitors to the osprey nest now. Note that in front of the crow you can't really see water.....

 Water on Saturday! It was high tide and some of the water plants (spatterdock mostly) are dying....

 This is a gag pic for our naturalist, Greg K. He went all the way to South Dakota for hunting of pheasant among other birds. And we saw one right here!!!!!.....LOL (and no one shot it)

Park Property Fauna and Flora

Most of these are from the Chelsea "farmhouse" office. (Some subjects were far away so please excuse any blur.)

We think this is a Cooper's hawk on our sign at other end of field. Red-shouldered adults also have markings on the chest, but have a lighter head....

 First sight near house of the deer without the moss or velvet on their antlers. A little jousting occurred....

 Here's Big Boy on the left....

 A week later we saw Big Boy and the gang in a field to left of our exit road....

 This doe slowly walked toward the car. I think she wanted a ride!......

 Saw one little colorful patch at the Park on Saturday......

 Our favorite Chelsea maple by the pond is looking good this year!....

Flowers and Fliers

Our patch of Sedum among the Asters, finally started to turn pink and has attracted some butterflies. This is a Buckeye.....

 It posed well, but in the mulch!...

 A Pearl Crescent......

 Pearl Crescent, Buckeye, and Sachem Skipper......

 Another mystery plant. This grew by itself in a pot with 2 dark pink daisy-type plants from Walmart. I had seen those small trumpet like flowers before and think I had a blue one called Torenia. But Google sent me to Toronto! Finally found it and common name is Wishbone flower....

 So far, this is the last osprey view we've had. It was Tuesday, 9-11 and juvie was finishing breakfast.....

 All gone! Happy travels....☺

 Cam nest showed a Great Blue Heron preening.....

 Must be one-legged nap time!!...

Patuxent Ospreys

Aug. 14 video with both juvies. If you miss their loud chirping over the winter, just play this! ☺......

Both juvies were eating in the nest. They looked up, started mantling their fish when all of a sudden an intruder landed right in between them, but immediately left! You can see the wings partly open......

 After work on that day, went to the boat ramp and could see one juvie land in the nest platform. The video cam is on the right and osprey is on the left. Wild rice and other plants are very tall....

 Closer shot~~~can't hardly see the nest!!....

 Back at the office to go home saw an adult drop in with a fish, then leave!!! Glad I stayed!!....

 This Tuesday the same thing occurred after this one chick chirped there for half the day!!...

On Saturday, Sept. 9, 2012, only a Great Blue Heron visited the nest.

Safe travels to all our ospreys!

New Visitor 9-3-12

Today we were visited by a Long-tailed Skipper! It's only the third one we've ever seen! Wasn't sure if it's rare or not, but guide said they live in AZ, TX, and over to FL. They stray to the East Coast and as far north as CN.....

 The body top and attached edge of wings is iridescent green or blue green...

 It darted around like a speeding bullet! Finally was hungry enough so we could get it's picture....

Night and Day

 WandaGene flew all the way down to visit milkweed at Patuxent River Park!....

 Two pictures taken by my buddy, Doris, in the PRP butterfly garden.

Fritillary.... 

 Tiger Swallowtails....

 At home, a Painted Lady visited the lantana...

 On the underside, the hindwing has 4 spots before the edge. An almost identical species has 2 large spots there. Scientists are calling it the American Painted Lady! Always something.....

 Cloudless Giant Sulphur on salvia. They migrate northward in late summer...