Show your Bugs and Critters

[RugerNurse]

Our new parakeets, Kiwi and Blueberry, as aptly named by our kids.

[Manixguy@1994]

Our new parakeets, Kiwi and Blueberry, as aptly named by our kids.

Love these little feathered ones. Sweet kids were involved , makes it special . Dan

[Manixguy@1994]

Just passing through looking for a snack. Dan

[RugerNurse]

Just passing through looking for a snack. Dan

Love bobcats. Where is that from?

[Manixguy@1994]

Just passing through looking for a snack. Dan

Love bobcats. Where is that from?

Woods outside of Havana, Illinois . Good friend owns 60 acres of timber . Dan

[RugerNurse]

Just passing through looking for a snack. Dan

Love bobcats. Where is that from?

Woods outside of Havana, Illinois . Good friend owns 60 acres of timber . Dan

I’ve been down in that area, I used to live in. Chicago. I didn’t know bobcats lived there. Supposedly there are some in the state parks here in northern Indiana but I’ve haven’t spoke with anyone who’s seen one yet

[Manixguy@1994]

Just passing through looking for a snack. Dan

Love bobcats. Where is that from?

Woods outside of Havana, Illinois . Good friend owns 60 acres of timber . Dan

I’ve been down in that area, I used to live in. Chicago. I didn’t know bobcats lived there. Supposedly there are some in the state parks here in northern Indiana but I’ve haven’t spoke with anyone who’s seen one yet

I have only seen one once hunting deer in the Shawnee National Forest . I have heard them in my area around the Mackinaw River bottoms at night . My property is just off the bottoms so see a lot of wildlife in back of yard , Fox and Deer are common and occasional Coyote. I have many raptors visit because of feeders . Dan

[Aladinsane]

I was able to actually get a shot of this Pileated Woodpecker the other day!! Interestingly, its head is more orange than red.

[Aladinsane]

Just passing through looking for a snack. Dan

Excellent! I love bobcats! I've been lucky to have seen a couple in the Smokies, and several on and around our property over the years, including one that was hunting our cat!!

[Manixguy@1994]

I was able to actually get a shot of this Pileated Woodpecker the other day!! Interestingly, its head is more orange than red.

IMG_8797.jpg

I love the Pileated Woodpecker and had one in backyard a few times . I actually found a nest in bottoms and saw one go in . Their holes are oval shaped and of course large ! Dan

[Aladinsane]

Squirrels out back:

[Aladinsane]

Elk spotted as I was driving to the trailhead in the Smokies:

And a Barred Owl seen on the Appalachian Trail:

[vivi]

Kiddos latest catch. We see them in the yard often. I love their coloring.

[Paul Ardbeg]

A rare sight in this part of the Netherlands, spotted a Seal on the beach close to where I live. It's clearly not camera shy

[vivi]

lol

[Manixguy@1994]

MG2

[Skywalker]

Love to see cranes. Such cool birds.

[Mushroom]

Meant to post these sooner but better late than never I suppose.

Just a handful of critters I saw during my time in Amsterdam this year. There is a nice public park surrounding a lake next to the hotel that hosts the Spyderco meet. I spent a lot of time walking through there and saw a few critters during those walks.
This was the first critter I saw after arriving. Eurasian Coot

These Eurasian Magpie were the most abundant critter I was seeing there. The blue color on their tails is beautiful and they’ve very smart birds.

During the walks through the park I was hearing parrot calls. Then sure enough, I saw them! I tried to get pictures but these guys were impossible to get close to, they were extremely skittish and stayed high in the trees. They’re Rose-Ringed Parakeets and they’ve established a population all around the city. I saw them in a small park close to the city center as well.

One of my favorite parts about the park near the hotel were the free roaming Highland Cattle! They seemed tame, probably could’ve walked right up to them but I wasn’t sure so I tried to keep a reasonable distance.

[Mushroom]

On my last walk through the park I spotted this pair of Great Crested Grebe. I watched them find each other in the lake then they started their seasonal courtship dance! I would’ve recorded more of it but my bus to the airport was due in and I had to leave. Fascinating to see the start of it at least.

[Mad Mac]

Ginger was doing her snake bark
and the neck of this little guy was spread like a Cobra.
Around here we call them puff adders.
They are only mildly poisonous, unless you are a gopher.
I secured Ginger at a safe distance to avoid getting bitten.
This Eastern Hognosed Snake had deflated before I could snap a pic.



Below you can better see the distinctive hog nose.



I had brought my shovel to dispatch her find
if it was a copperhead
but I let this one go
much to Ginger's disappointment.
She really hates snakes and loves to help me kill them
having been bitten several times
and suffered the consequences,
a swollen face or neck.