She is building a nest from the foam pad on a swingset.
This is an interesting story with a happy ending. My friend David Ferry and I were driving along Hwy 87 at 60 mph near Crystal Beach, Texas, when I glimpsed what I thought was a Least Bittern standing on the very edge of the road with cars whizzing past. I made a U turn and went back where we indeed found a Least Bittern, resting back on its tarsus joints within inches of passing traffic. I picked up the bird and we stood on the side of the road to examine it. My best guess is that (1) it took a glancing blow off a car windshield, perhaps, or (2) It was totally exhausted from migrating across the Gulf of Mexico. It did not seem to be badly injured and its wings did not seem to be broken. Rather than just leave it here on the road to be crushed and killed I decided we would take it to a nearby marsh area off the roadway where it could die in peace and dignity. So we drove off with Dave holding the bird in his lap and heading to a marsh well off the road where I know Least Bitterns were present. We put the bird down on the edge of the marsh and it just stood there looking at us. I was about to just drive away and let nature take its course, but decided to take a few more shots of the bird. I got down low to the bird's level and it went into the characteristic bittern pose by stretching its neck high and trying to look like a swaying bit of marsh grass. It kept a watchful eye on me from both sides of its raised bill and image 1 shows this action. The bird then started slowly walking away from us. I bent down to take another shot and the bittern took flight and flew out into the marsh and out of sight. I choose to believe it recovered and is doing well.
near Crystal Beach,
Galveston Co., Texas
26 April 2018
The photo was taken by Lisa Hatfield. Lizard survived the encounter with the young cat and was released nearby. Though it may have been injured during the encounter, and during subsequent removal.
beSt GuEss bAseD OFf cONtExt cLUeS…
Two pairs in tandem with females ovipositing in rotting wood.
River Trail Park,
Luling,
Caldwell Co., Texas
22 July 2016
I have a 100 gallon tub of water near my house so wildlife can drink. Just as it was getting dark a short while ago something caught my eye and this small White-tailed buck came to drink. Somehow this fella got a plastic jug caught up in his velvet antlers...I hope he can get it off. I had to chuckle at this sight, however, something I had certainly never seen before. Anyway, he drank some water then trotted away. Hope he will be OK!
Observation & photo submitted by @tighephoto (Michael Tighe) via Instagram #macarthurparklake
I've never seen this behavior before. I thought it was a turtle at first glance. It stayed in this position until I had completely passed by, them emerged an flew toward the clutch observed nearby.
My friend took this photo of a coyote sleeping on his patio. The coyote looks very relaxed.
Falcon by Thomas Circle eating a dove
Update:
I found several of these at Cedar Bog again this year. The last one might be Hexatoma brevicornis, so if you have expertise, please D.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/172420801
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/172420799
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/172420798
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/175243975
Note: I have photographed this Hexatomini at Cedar Bog in Champaign County, Ohio for at least 17 years. Always in the same area.
I've added two other observations; one from back in 2004.
Links to those observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/88273567
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/84762884
Here's an observation this year (2022) with better pics of wing venation. Same location.
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/124010854
Cardinal getting territorial with itself in this mirror. It was doing the same thing last week too. It spends a not-insignificant amount of time battling itself.
©williamwisephoto.com Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia. Sunday, April 16, 2023.
See and learn more about the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on my blog at www.okefenokee.photography
Fireworks bothering him maybe?
Woops
;)
Seen hunting some wild turkeys.
Owl house cam footage.
April 1st update:
The eggs unfortunately never hatched
This is Softy, the friendly chipmunk that loves to stop by for treats every now and then!
Contentedly resting after stealing and eating my pet chicken :(
Softy's looking extra cute today!💛
Was chasing a chicken but got stuck /was grabbing on to the fence and was able to fly away later. The chicken was very lucky XD
?
Calliostoma annulatum making a funny face.
While doing homework on a bench, this chipmunk jumped on to see what I was doing. I let her take a look but she only got to the search bar and gave up. So I put on some of my chipmunk pictures for her to see. Posed for observation https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/129984459
Breached at least 8 times over the course of a few minutes
Was found near some apple trees.
I love how you can see their feet, lol XD
Observation is for the juvenile.
This is the same observation as the one by @kenchamberlain here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118122781
Harassed by Red-winged Blackbird...
Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania. I was working in early morning light from a boat on Lake Nzelekela when a crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) seized a Tilapia. 600 mm lens mounted on a Wimberley head and tripod. Natural Light. Pam Osborn image
Brown anole who fell in love with a fairy!