Slide Shows I Made-Happy Holidays Everyone!

Collages From Dec. 13th

These might be the last collages I post for a while. Unless I see something worth photographing, like deer or something. I'm starting my radiation treatments Wednesday morning so I'll be gone a lot. But I still have the weekends off from that horrible stuff. The first two weeks won't be too bad I don't think. It's after that I will start to feel the burn of it all and who knows what else. If I can sit at this computer without having more discomfort than I've already had for the past year then I'll still be posting hopefully.
I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. Enjoy the good times with family and friends and eat all that good food. I am going to miss that part this year. Eating anything I want. :( I'll make up for it someday..Ha! Hugs to all! Ginny

My Strange Green Bird-Female Scarlet Tanager

About The Scarlet Tanager

The Scarlet Tanager is only 7-inches long but its plumage, especially that of its adult male, is very attractive and unmistakable. Bright scarlet head and body with black wings and tail, youd think it would be so easy to see these songbirds in their quest for food. This is not the case though as this particular species of birds like to look for food high in the tree canopy where they are hidden by the dense foliage.

The female Scarlet Tanager is less attractive with its olive-brown wings and tails edged with yellowish olive green. The females back and head are dark greenish becoming yellowish especially on the belly. During courtship, the male Scarlet Tanager starts singing in alternately high and low pitch before performing its courtship displays from low branches. Holding its wings drooped and away from the body, its neck stretched out to display its scarlet back, the male Tanager then displays his brilliant color to the female birds.
Once the female responds and pairs are formed, then the monogamous pair proceeds to build their nest and stay together for a long time. With the mating season complete, nesting can thus begin.

Cool Facts

• On the wintering grounds in South America the Scarlet Tanager joins mixed species foraging flocks with flycatchers, antbirds, woodcreepers, and resident tropical tanagers.
• The female Scarlet Tanager sings a song similar to the male's, but softer, shorter, and less harsh. She sings in answer to the male's song and while she is gathering nesting material.
• The response of the Scarlet Tanager to habitat fragmentation varies from place to place. In the heart of its range in the Northeast, it can be found in small forest patches. In the Midwest, similar sized forest patches would have no tanagers. These conclusions are based on Project Tanager at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology; more information can be found here and here.

I have been told that this could very well be a female Scarlet Tanager that didn't make it South. I had never seen one before a couple weeks ago. It was out here every day but for the past two days I haven't seen it. I hope it didn't freeze to death when we got all that sleet and snow. The poor thing. They all go south for the winter. Maybe it lost it's mate or got disoriented somehow. I always thought it looked cold. It would puff it's feathers those last days I saw it. Maybe it wasn't feeling well and got lost from the flock. At least it had plenty to eat while it was here. I can't imagine it flying south all alone. But I can't think about that. Makes me too sad.
This is a collage I made of just him over a week ago.

December 10th-12th-Wild Birds-Opossum-Squirrel

I haven't taken many photos in the past few days. Haven't been feeling that well. But I did get a few. I have loads of birds around here. Mostly Bluejays and Mourning Doves. A few cardinals and lots of sparrows. I have this green bird but I don't know what it is. I thought it was a goldfinch but it's beak looks too large. Maybe someone can fill me in on what it is. Got another photo of my little Opossum.

Another Snowy Day-Windy Too!

We had quite a bit more snow this morning. It was a nasty morning and the wind was bad. I'm glad I didn't have to go out in it. It did taper off by noon and got a bit warmer but the wind was still there. These are a few pictures of the birds and squirrels today. It's getting harder to throw the food out. The snow is getting too deep. So I throw it along the building where it's bare yet. Hope my foxes can get through the snow as it continues to get deeper. I worry about the three legged one. But I think he is strong and a survivor!

Snowy Days

We've had some snow for the past few days. Time to catch up. I want you all to know that my crippled fox is still alive and seems to be healthy and doing well!! He also seems to have chewed off those awful protruding bones. So maybe he will live if the hunters don't get him again. I have to wait for two more months before hunting season is over for those little guys. It ends Feb.
15th.
He was right outside my living room window the other night. I did not get any photos because I would have had to open the window and I didn't want to spook him. It was great just to observe him from behind my curtains. When he did see the curtain move later he took off real fast. At least he can run yet!
And after seeing another Gray fox with the same leg missing on Youtube, it gave me hope. She has had two litters of pups since losing her leg!

December 1st And 2nd Collages-Critters

Squirrels, birds, an opossum and one lone fox. I am sad. I have not seen my hurt fox at all. He might have died or been shot again and killed. I guess I will never know unless I happen to see him. But only one fox has been out there and that one was always with another. I wish I hadn't gotten so attached to them all.
You can see our first snowfall. It was just a dusting in this area and was melted before noon. The squirrels seemed to enjoy it. Got the moon as clouds were passing by on the night of the 1st. Full moon is tonight, the 2nd, but it's raining here. So glad I got it last night. They aren't that great this time. Sometimes I can get the moon shots nice and clear and other times I can't. Did manage to get one clear one.
I finally got a picture of the little Opossum. He's a young one. I managed to open the window and flash him but he made his way back up the embankment fast when he realised someone was right there talking to him... He was cute. He looks big in the photo but he's small. Compared to others I've seen around here. Have not seen the big ones in ages. This one might end up being fox food if he isn't careful. I hope I see him often. Don't see many skunks. Just one or two come later at night.

Collages From Nov. 25th-Thru 28th-2009

Odds and ends. Have spotted a hawk around here lately. He swoops down, trying to get a bird or squirrel sometimes. Scares my Cockatiel so much that poor Ricky flies into the wall and screams and screams. I try to tell him that the hawk can't get him but he won't listen...Ha!
I haven't seen my crippled fox since the 24th. Just his siblings. I'm hoping that it's because he comes later when I'm not at the window. I'd hate to think that something has happened to him.

My Crippled Fox Is Still Alive!

I spotted him back by the woods just as it was getting dark but couldn't get a photo. Then later I was in my open window taking random flash shots with my camera and was so happy to see that he was in the photos when I got them on my computer. I can't be sure but it does look like that bone is gone. I sure hope he has chewed it off so he can heal up and maybe have a chance on surviving this winter. But I was so happy to see him! It's been three days..
He's with his siblings. I added the single cropped photo of him so you can see that the bone isn't showing. At least I sure hope it's gone. But in the dark it's hard to see that well.

Collages from Nov-22-23-2009-Wildlife

This little woodpecker loves to come to that seed bell every day. Not sure what kind he is. Maybe a Downy. I have a pair of Goldfinches hanging around out there. They are still eating of the Thistle sock that I have hanging on a tree out front of the building.
I have not seen my crippled fox since the 20th. He might be coming but it's so dark now when they come that I can't see who's who. I do open my window and take flash photos but if he's out there, he will run away when he hears the window open. But I haven't gotten him in any of the photos again. I have got to stop worrying so much over him. What will be, will be.
I got these shots of the moon tonight also. The 23rd. It had been cloudy all day but after dark I started seeing a few clear spots and the moon was out there bright as ever. The bluish ones are because some clouds were passing over it.