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theNetSmith
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Location: Texas
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| Posted: May 24 2006 at 12:21am | IP Logged
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okay...so technically, this Texas Rat Snake wasn't in our back yard, but it was close. Janette was bringing the kids home the other day and saw this guy cross the street in front of the car (about 3 blocks from our house). she called me from the cellphone and i biked over with the camera.
there isn't much in the pics to give you a size reference, but we guesstimated that he (or she) was about 4 feet long. they are known to grow to between 5 and 6 feet, i believe.
my apologies for the size of the pics. wanted them to be large enough so you could see him well...
-Tim
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MacBeth
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Probably at the beach...
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| Posted: May 24 2006 at 8:40am | IP Logged
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Nice snake, Tim. Nice camouflage, too.
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
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cathhomeschool
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Texas Bluebonnets
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| Posted: May 24 2006 at 9:02am | IP Logged
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MacBeth wrote:
| Nice snake, Tim. Nice camouflage, too. |
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Yeah, at one point Tim and the kids were standing about a foot and a half away from it, yet no one could figure out where it was!
You ladies have mentioned the trouble with cats... We have trouble with cats too, but lost our nesting momma nuthatch and her 4 eggs to what we're sure was some variety of snake. I was so sad!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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MacBeth
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Probably at the beach...
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| Posted: May 26 2006 at 7:11pm | IP Logged
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The first I've seen since we moved in-----oriole! It buzzed through worrying a much larger crow. I have not found his nest yet, but it must be close.
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
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amyable
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| Posted: May 26 2006 at 8:28pm | IP Logged
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We were excited to see a red bellied woodpecker momentarily at our feeder the other day. We have heard it pecking around in the woods for weeks!
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Dawn
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| Posted: May 27 2006 at 5:23pm | IP Logged
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We just had a hummingbird moth in our yard! We thought he was a hummingbird, he looks and acts so like one, but when we saw the pictures we realized he was a moth. I'd never heard of one before!  We also found a furry white moth which we have yet to identify ...
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tracym
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| Posted: May 27 2006 at 7:09pm | IP Logged
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Dawn,
I am so glad you posted this!! We had a hummingbird moth in our yard last week and never could identify it! We didn't have the camera handy so no pics either. But this is defintely what is what. The kids thought it was a hummingbird but I was thrown off by it. We actually caught it for a short time but no luck when I was googling birds/insects. Thanks!! We've never heard of it either before-how fun!
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Tracy M- mom to Allen 12, Laura 9, Joeseph 7, and Anthony 4
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Kelly
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| Posted: May 30 2006 at 3:06pm | IP Logged
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We have a nest of baby hummingbirds in our garage. They are so tiny...and so RAUCOUS! Everytime we walk into the garage for anything, they start to squawk, loudly!
Any experienced birders out there know if it would be bad to take a flash picture of the nest (when the mother bird is away, that is)?
Kelly in FL
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Donna
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| Posted: May 30 2006 at 6:37pm | IP Logged
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Kelly wrote:
| We have a nest of baby hummingbirds in our garage. |
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No Way!!
It's my dream to find a hummingbird nest. Please take pictures.
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Donna
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| Posted: May 30 2006 at 6:40pm | IP Logged
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We just spotted a pileated woodpecker . We, of course, named him....Woody  .
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stacykay
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| Posted: June 10 2006 at 12:12pm | IP Logged
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Does anyone know anything about possums?
We have two little ones in our backyard. They were gallavanting around in the grass, until my horde frightened them under our pine trees. One has climbed the tree, and the other is cowering under some low branches.
Adults are not attractive  , but these two are cute ! Do you think their mama is around, and they are just exploring? They are about 5-6 inches, nose to tail. So tiny.
Thanks!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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alicegunther
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| Posted: June 10 2006 at 2:36pm | IP Logged
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stacykay wrote:
Does anyone know anything about possums?
We have two little ones in our backyard. They were gallavanting around in the grass, until my horde frightened them under our pine trees. One has climbed the tree, and the other is cowering under some low branches.
Adults are not attractive , but these two are cute ! Do you think their mama is around, and they are just exploring? They are about 5-6 inches, nose to tail. So tiny.
Thanks!
God Bless,
Stacy in MI |
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I know very little about them, except that they are not too bright and very vicious, even the little ones. I think they would bite if the children came too close.
What an incredibly interesting sight though!
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stacykay
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| Posted: June 10 2006 at 2:46pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for adding caution. I did tell my boys to keep away. We snapped one picture for our backyard menagerie file , and the boys have moved on to soccer in the "behind the house" neighbor's yard. I did look at some animal rescue sites, finally, and while these two do appear very young, possibly too young, to be away from their mama, we are not intervening (I am a cautious and protective mama, too  .)
God Bless,
Stacy in MI
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Dawn
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| Posted: June 12 2006 at 4:47am | IP Logged
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We found what we believe are a whole bunch of tiny grasshopper nymphs. Also, a neat caterpillar that we thought was a Gypsy Moth, but now we think may be a Forest Tent variety. We got my camera working just in time so I posted the photos at my blog.
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Donna
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| Posted: June 12 2006 at 4:59am | IP Logged
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This wasn't in my backyard...but, yesterday we took the kids to Pine Creek State Park where they have been monitoring a Bald Eagle nest. It is majestic. The sight send chills up your back. There are several fledglings in the nest that are expected to take flight in the next 2 weeks or so. I wish I could get pictures...but the nest is across the creek and not easy to see without a scope, which the park sets up for visitors to view the birds. An amazing sight!
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Kelly
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| Posted: June 15 2006 at 9:00am | IP Logged
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A couple of days ago, we were riding when the horses started spooking. I told my dh it had to be a snake and we peered closely into the brush, only to discover...a flock of tiny wild turkey babies! But suddenly, our admiration of the cute little guys was interrupted by a loud turkey call and the arrival of Turkey Godzilla Mother! With feathers fluffed up and waving her wings, she rushed at us to protect her young ones, gobbling loudly the while. Our very large horses didn't slow her for a minute. Rather than further incur the Wrath of the Enraged Turkey Mother, we turned back the horses---who were only too happy to oblige for fear of that mean horse-eating turkey. It was quite exciting, and a real lesson in the maternal instinct as found in nature.
Kelly in Godzilla Turkey-Mother Territory, FL
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ladybugs
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| Posted: June 15 2006 at 10:09am | IP Logged
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We have aphids. 
Yes, even at Ladybuglodge.
Our neighbor has been busily working on his fence and because of such, we haven't really been in our backyard...however, we did walk to the grocery store the other day and Juliana saw the coolest spider...it was totally red and about the size of a pin...maybe this one????
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cathhomeschool
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Texas Bluebonnets
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| Posted: June 15 2006 at 2:05pm | IP Logged
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ladybugs wrote:
| Juliana saw the coolest spider...it was totally red and about the size of a pin... |
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Sounds like it could've been some sort of red mite or chigger too. Spiders are much cooler and more welcomed in my book, though!
Sorry to hear about the aphids. We've had them on and off. Not fun.
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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MacBeth
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Probably at the beach...
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| Posted: June 15 2006 at 2:27pm | IP Logged
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ladybugs wrote:
We have aphids.
Yes, even at Ladybuglodge.
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You can eat them, you know. My boys used to when they were little.
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
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MacBeth
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| Posted: June 15 2006 at 2:29pm | IP Logged
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MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Look what I just saw in my yard!
