Ops and Osps!

 In the previous set of pictures, we saw Mom opossum carrying two babies on her back. Might this be one nibbling the leftover kitty dinner chow?....

 The next night, there were two!!...

 Tiny, in the bowl, ran off after the camera flash!...

The last month of osprey season.  This was a favorite perch behind the Visitor's Center, but we don't know which ospreys. The tree is at top of river bank.  They never wear name tags!...

 

 The last one we saw that day.  We're sure it is heading South!...

Neighborhood Critters

One of the night visitors to the deck. The following night, we saw THREE (a first)!

This nice box made an instant hit with BW (Black & White) under the deck table, so we added some towels and BW and grey sister,Lippy, took a nap. They both seemed to be under there on a night when it started to rain, so I put their food dish there, too.

Later, with a short break in the rain I went outside. Heard some "clanging,banging" sounds and looked around back! THREE Dinner guests in the cat chow!!!!!

"I eat with my hands.  Since it's difficult to wash "cat crunchies", I usually wash my hands first in the water dish!"

On this evening, BW patiently waited while Racketty Coon finished it's snack of cat chow. When it raised up from the bowl, it stretched out and moved it's left front paw to touch BW's tailtip!  I stomped my foot  to prevent any animal wars!

The next night I tried to get the raccoon away from the cat food by tapping my foot a couple times on the dish. Didn't work!  You need to cause more motion and noise!

 On this night, Baby Bear Raccoon was drinking

water from a large bowl (out of sight).  I was trying to get a picture, but it started running toward us and actually went between my legs to the back deck!

Mom possum giving Jr. a ride.

On closer look, a twin's nose can be seen riding the other side!

The Vireos are Back.....

Sept. 10, 2014

Finally got a hummingbird picture~~ first since May at home! (It's in the center).....

Park Eagle Nest Before and After Storm

Nest at ending of eaglet season....

  

 Looks like it's still there one week after "monsoon rains" of 8-12-14!... 

Didn't It Rain, Children?

Tuesday, August 12, 2014, was almost Monsoon Day.  It rained off and on most of the day, but in the afternoon it poured more than I've ever seen in the Park area. I left the Park at about 4:30 PM and didn't encounter any problems until approaching a spot I've never seen flooded on Croom road, which takes you from Park to main highway, 301.  This spot is a fairly open narrow field under the power lines, not a creek!...

 

 The Durango and I paddled through, (not recommended) but I don't even think there was that much water 10 minutes before!  Stopped at the firehouse down the road, thinking they should probably set up some cones or something, but no one was home. Tried to call Park because some staff was still there for a meeting, but phones were busy.

 

Later in the evening, I received some pictures from those who left the Park late. Stephanie, our acting Director, said they called firehouse for some aid, but by the time they came, water was receding.  She got out at 6:30PM.

This is a special place and any Momsters who were on the Park field trip about 5 years ago might remember that we stopped here to look on the Right at the eagle nest! Yes, this is that stream valley.  (Stream usually runs through pipe under the road!)....

 Naturalist, Greg Kearns, took the next pictures and a video....

 

 



Nature Photos

At Chelsea farm Office, we've been seeing the big boy deer  with new fuzzy antlers!....

 A small goose family heading toward the pond...

 On July 3rd, we got a first look at two Spottie fawns almost hidden in the tall field.

A few turkeys were at the far side of a wheat field, but they left us a souvenir!  Might be good for a headdress!....

Here's a robin at home with some white stripes---leucism in birds...

 Hooray! A large, dark bird in a Park tree!  A black vulture has taken over an eagle perch.....

 "Is it safe to come out?" asks groundhog, Leonard, from under the Park shed?...

 A playground!  Leonora or Leonard have a family.....

 At home we saw our first Painted Lady on the verbena.....



Patuxent Osprey Cam

Pictures of monitors are not very good, but had to show the 3 eggs in the cam nest. It is broadcast on UStream......

 

An exciting week began Tuesday AM, when there seemed to be extra excitement with both ospreys in the nest. The male was squawking and female was shaking something from under her belly. She stood, and a tiny bobblehead could be seen! We were alerted that there might be a second hatch that day--(not before 4 PM)....

Patuxent Park Ospreys, Early June

Here are some photos taken by Park Naturalist, Matt Felperin. He's had some classes at NCTC. How lucky to be in a boat!!......

 

Adding a milestone kitten event picture....