January Butterfly

Yes, it's winter, but we've had a couple of nice warm, sunny days.  As a result, there have been a number of critters on the move.  Today, while birding with some folks who were visiting from the western part of NC,  we got a treat.  An American Snout butterfly landed on a branch right in front of us.  Snouts are not a butterfly that I see very often so I was quite delighted!

Through My Office Window

My camera does not like rain so when it is wet out I resort to observing nature through the window panes.  

The rain didn't seem to bother these bucks though.  They were taking advantage of a picnic area empty of pesky people.

Happy New Year everyone! 

Christmas Dragons

Working Christmas Day is not so bad when Mother Nature offers up sunny skies, mild temperatures and dragonflies. 

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Christmas.

A Streak of White

Sorry for the poor quality of this photo.  Sadly, it was the best of the 15 I took!  Treebeard and I were taking a walk in the woods this afternoon when he spotted a flash of white.  Being the observant guy that he is, he pretty quickly came to the conclusion that he had seen a white Carolina Wren and the chase was on.  We followed the little flashes of white as the bird made its way through the tangle of undergrowth along a ditch bank.  We got a couple of good looks at it and confirmed that it was a wren.  Unfortunately, it wouldn't sit still long enough for my camera to focus.  At least this shot shows the beak and legs as well as the overall body shape of the Carolina Wren.

American Woodcock

Wow, I can't believe it has been six months since I posted here last.  That's a long time!  I imagine I will become a more regular poster come the end of February. 

In the meantime, please enjoy this hasty photo of a woodcock, a.k.a. timberdoodle, a.k.a. bog sucker, a.k.a. hookem pate...  While on foot patrol, I nearly stepped on this little fellow.  He gave me quite a start when he flushed right beside my boot.  He flew a short distance down the trail and then started his crazy little walk.  Woodcocks are funny birds and if you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend that you watch them.

They tend to hang out in moist areas like woods, swamps, and wet thickets.  They probe the soil with their long bills in search of earthworms and other yummies.  One cool thing about their bills is that they are somewhat flexible.  A woodcock can open the tip of its bill without opening it along its full length.  Pretty remarkable, if you think about it.