Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



Active Topics || Favorites || Member List || Search || About Us || Help || Register || Login
Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
 4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Subject Topic: Look what I just saw in my yard! Post ReplyPost New Topic
Author
Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >>
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: Sept 11 2005 at 3:03pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth

Folks, feel free to add your observations here, especially in this "fly-by" time of year.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is the first black-throated blue warbler I have ever seen in my yard!

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuid e/Black-throated_Blue_Warbler.html

__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
alicegunther
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1992
Posted: Sept 12 2005 at 8:20pm | IP Logged Quote alicegunther

Beautiful, MacBeth. You get such an impressive variety of birds--I think it's all the nature friendly planting you do.

It is a great idea to share our backyard finds. Two days ago, my girls found a fawn-colored wood frog at the base of a white spruce. It is a lovely little frog and very interesting to feed. The girls read that wood frogs originated in the Artic Circle, so they named him "Midnight Sun."

__________________
Love, Alice
mother of seven!

Cottage Blessings
Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
Back to Top View alicegunther's Profile Search for other posts by alicegunther Visit alicegunther's Homepage
 
Lissa
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Jan 28 2005
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 748
Posted: Sept 13 2005 at 3:22pm | IP Logged Quote Lissa

This little guy is not a rarity in these parts, but we're always happy to see him. A five-lined skink lives under our porch and spends his (her?) mornings basking on our front steps. Scroll down to the second picture, the one with the blue tail--that looks exactly like our little friend.

The website says males' tails turn brown as they mature, so perhaps our skink is indeed a female. The blue tail is gorgeous.

__________________
Lissa
Back to Top View Lissa's Profile Search for other posts by Lissa
 
Victoria in AZ
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Feb 16 2005
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 672
Posted: Sept 13 2005 at 3:37pm | IP Logged Quote Victoria in AZ

Um, mushrooms. We have a proliferation of mushrooms in our yard

Ds composed this poem:

Mushrooms, mushrooms,
everywhere,
and not a 'shroom
to eat.

__________________
Your sister in Christ,
Victoria in AZ
dh Mike 24 yrs; ds Kyle 18; dd Katie 12; and one funny pug
Back to Top View Victoria in AZ's Profile Search for other posts by Victoria in AZ
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: Sept 13 2005 at 7:57pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth

Victoria in AZ wrote:
Um, mushrooms. We have a proliferation of mushrooms in our yard

Ds composed this poem:

Mushrooms, mushrooms,
everywhere,
and not a 'shroom
to eat.

!!

Victoria, are you in a damp part of AZ, or do you water? Any idea what kind of 'shrooms?

__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
Tina P.
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: June 28 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1638
Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 1:06am | IP Logged Quote Tina P.

We had a deer in the *back* of our backyard (we have woods back there). Where we live (England, at present), the deer are about as big as a German Shepherd. Oh! And when we lived in Alabama we had a cow walk through our *front* yard. Does that count?

We have tons of birds, but none besides pigeons that I can identify. I *hear* them. I heard a beautiful one very early this morning, but I couldn't see it through all the woods back there and didn't recognize its song. I can't even reproduce it for you.

Maybe you should come and visit, MacBeth. You'd be able to ID all the birds just by hearing their songs, I'll bet.    

__________________
Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
Back to Top View Tina P.'s Profile Search for other posts by Tina P. Visit Tina P.'s Homepage
 
MaryM
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
Posted: Sept 16 2005 at 1:23am | IP Logged Quote MaryM

Lissa wrote:
This little guy is not a rarity in these parts, but we're always happy to see him. A five-lined skink lives under our porch and spends his (her?) mornings basking on our front steps.


When I first read this I thought it said "skunk" - we do have one of those. My husband has seen it a couple times at night and every once in a while we smell it. Yuck!

And lots and lots of bunnies! An ocassional fox and racoon. And we live in suburban Denver where I wouldn't expect this. It's been in the last 5 years or so, so obviously they are losing their natural habitats to growth.

__________________
Mary M. in Denver

Our Domestic Church
Back to Top View MaryM's Profile Search for other posts by MaryM Visit MaryM's Homepage
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: Oct 21 2005 at 3:05pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth

Another day, another warbler.



__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
momwise
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: March 28 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1914
Posted: Oct 21 2005 at 6:52pm | IP Logged Quote momwise

MacBeth wrote:
Folks, feel free to add your observations here, especially in this "fly-by" time of year.


my dh works at the Boulder Airport, which is on the Eastern edge of town...it's about 20 min. from the Denver suburb where we live. He was standing outside 2 days ago when he saw a rabbit out of the corner of his eye. He turned to look at it and at that moment a red-tailed hawk swooped down and just like that...he had some dinner. He ate the whole thing (well he left a little bit for a raven and magpie waiting on the roof) there in the parking lot.

__________________
Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
Back to Top View momwise's Profile Search for other posts by momwise
 
Kelly
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 21 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1211
Posted: Oct 21 2005 at 10:02pm | IP Logged Quote Kelly

My brother and I were taking a night stroll around the block, and as we left my driveway, noticed my dogs going bananas at the edge of the yard. We went over with a flashlight and found...a 6' ALLIGATOR! And no, we do not live on a lake or near a lake!

We got a rug and 'rassled the critter into one of those huge commercial garbage cans. My, he was fierce, hissing and charging away. Once he was in, though, we had a bit of fun the next day asking the housekeeper to go drop something in the garbage.    As we were wrangling the 'gator into the garbage can, my dh called from a fancy business dinner in LA. When I told him what we were doing, you should have heard the gasps around the table. I suppose that in LA, one simply doesn't wrestle alligators...unless you're Steve the Crocodile Hunter or someone!
Back to Top View Kelly's Profile Search for other posts by Kelly
 
Kelly
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Feb 21 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1211
Posted: Oct 21 2005 at 10:03pm | IP Logged Quote Kelly

PS. We DID let the alligator go the next day!
Back to Top View Kelly's Profile Search for other posts by Kelly
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: Oct 22 2005 at 12:25pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth

Kelly wrote:
PS. We DID let the alligator go the next day!


Did you take it somewhere far away?

__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: Oct 27 2005 at 4:13pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth

OK...it wasn't really in my backyard, but it was in Jamaica Bay Refuge (a 15 minute drive), by JFK airport...5 WHITE pelicans!!!!

This is very unusual (I have seen grey ones, but only in midsummer). I think I heard that some were missing from FL. Kelly, are they yours?   

__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
Angie Mc
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Jan 31 2005
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11400
Posted: Nov 03 2005 at 10:27am | IP Logged Quote Angie Mc

Aiden just spotted a killdeer in a puddle in the middle of our grass. We have a puddle because we need to "overseed" our "summer" grass so that we will have "winter" grass or some such desert thing . The killdeer was pretty exciting compared to the rock doves and great tailed grackles that are having a field day with our extra water and seed.

Love,

__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
Back to Top View Angie Mc's Profile Search for other posts by Angie Mc Visit Angie Mc's Homepage
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: Dec 14 2005 at 9:15am | IP Logged Quote MacBeth

Now, this is rare: Juvenile sharp-shinned hawk right outside my sun room window, where I hang my feeder. It was so close the kids could tell the color of its eyes (yellow--a real id clue!).

Hey--this is cool! I just clicked on the voice, and all the little birds at my feeder took off!

__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
amyable
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: March 07 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3798
Posted: Dec 14 2005 at 9:36am | IP Logged Quote amyable

MacBeth wrote:
Now, this is rare: Juvenile sharp-shinned hawk right outside my sun room window, where I hang my feeder. It was so close the kids could tell the color of its eyes (yellow--a real id clue!).

Hey--this is cool! I just clicked on the voice, and all the little birds at my feeder took off!




We saw hawk the other day too - not unusual to be seen up in the sky here, but very unusual to be seen walking around the neighbor's yard! I was driving by so couldn't tell what kind it was.

That's so funny about all the birds flying away from your feeder! We used to get the blue jay in our pine tree out back to "talk" to us by playing our CD of blue jay calls.

__________________
Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
Back to Top View amyable's Profile Search for other posts by amyable
 
MacBeth
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar
Probably at the beach...

Joined: Jan 27 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2518
Posted: Dec 18 2005 at 12:17pm | IP Logged Quote MacBeth

amyable wrote:
We saw hawk the other day too - not unusual to be seen up in the sky here, but very unusual to be seen walking around the neighbor's yard! I was driving by so couldn't tell what kind it was.



That is odd behavior. There must be something very attractive on the neighbor's lawn!

__________________
God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
Back to Top View MacBeth's Profile Search for other posts by MacBeth Visit MacBeth's Homepage
 
SaraP
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star


Joined: Dec 15 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 531
Posted: Dec 30 2005 at 3:13pm | IP Logged Quote SaraP

We have WOODPECKERS!

We recently moved to a big, rural property and I put up a suet feeder and my 4yo made pinecone and peanut butter gifts for the birds and my-oh-my do we have visitors!

But I am embarrassed to find that although I know that I used to know many of them by sight I am having a hard time identifying them now. I know the downeys/hairys and I think I had a flicker of some sort out there this morning, but beyond that I'm drawing a blank. I'm hoping DH will pick up on my hints about the Sibley field guide as a potential bday present.

__________________
Mama to six on earth, two in heaven and two waiting in Russia. Foxberry Farm Almanac
Back to Top View SaraP's Profile Search for other posts by SaraP
 
Sarah
Forum All-Star
Forum All-Star
Avatar

Joined: Aug 17 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1624
Posted: Dec 30 2005 at 6:12pm | IP Logged Quote Sarah

We saw some small falcon-type bird tormenting two blue jays-chaing them from tree to tree. I'm not really sure what it was-a peregrine falcon? And. . .I don't know why he'd (or she if it was a peregrine) would be chasing a blue jay(s).

This is kind of funny...
My father-in-law, in KC, Kansas opened his garage last week at 4:30 am on his way to Topeka to go deer hunting and guess what was staring him in the face, in his driveway, upon opening his garage door--two deer, a big buck and a doe. . .in the city and he's not seen that before. Isn't that weird-the morning he was to go deer hunting, staring right at him in his driveway? I just couldn't get over that. Those were the only deer he saw all day!

__________________
Six boys ages 16, 14, 11, 7, 5, 2 and one girl age 9


Back to Top View Sarah's Profile Search for other posts by Sarah
 
Angie Mc
Board Moderator
Board Moderator
Avatar

Joined: Jan 31 2005
Location: Arizona
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11400
Posted: Dec 31 2005 at 10:02am | IP Logged Quote Angie Mc

SaraP wrote:
We have WOODPECKERS!



We see Gila Woodpeckers in our yard. Weirder yet, is when we see one pecking away at the street light in front of our home. My children are convinced that they aren't very bright .

__________________
Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
About Me
Back to Top View Angie Mc's Profile Search for other posts by Angie Mc Visit Angie Mc's Homepage
 

Page of 17 Next >>
  [Add this topic to My Favorites] Post ReplyPost New Topic
Printable version Printable version

Forum Jump
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Hosting and Support provided by theNetSmith.com