Flowers, Birds & Animals

[CALinSC]

I'm not a birder or flower enthusiast, I just take a lot of pictures of whatever catches my eye at the time.

This COVID-19 has sidetracked us for about a year now. Linda and I have taken both of the vaccination shots and are starting to venture out again. We are both at high risk so we have to be careful.

Computers have been part of my daily entertainment for a long time. During this last year I've started a lot of threads that revolve around our travels. Some have been quite popular. However, eventually I run-out of new material and have to move on to another subject. The title for this thread is quite appropriate because while taking pictures of birds is often close to flowers so are flowers and animals.

I'll start this off with pictures taken at the Joshua Tree National Park. It was late spring and everything that blossoms there was coming to life. But, I never did see any birds close enough for pictures.

These are ground flowers and I found the little animal scurrying around trying to avoid me.

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[CaptainPalapa]

Great pics!

[CALinSC]

One spring while parked at a military RV Park at an AFB near Del Rio, TX there was a large undeveloped field across the road behind our trailer. I had been using it to hit and shag golf balls. One morning I noticed the morning dew was followed by small flowers blossoming everywhere. I went back to the trailer and got some scissors and a small basket, then went back to the field and snipped one of every kind that was blooming. I cut them to fit in a small salt shaker and put them on the table along with the morning paper. Linda was thrilled when she got up.

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[CALinSC]

While parked at a RV Park on the banks of Lake Huron I spotted this unusual pair of birds. Because both species mate for life within their species it seemed very unlikely these two would be such good friends.

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[CALinSC]

Gray vultures will congregate twice a year. It’s usually in spring and fall in FL. The gray vulture with its black-gray head is a little smaller than the read headed turkey vulture.

This picture was taken of a couple dozen invading the trees and yard of someone’s home on the Cedar River at Jacksonville, FL. It was right across the river from our RV site at the American Legion RV Park.


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[Notanlines]

Technically we have the black vulture and the turkey vulture. The third type vulture is the California condor and the odds of seeing one are slim!

[CALinSC]

We played numerous golf courses when wintering at Yuma, AZ. We liked Coyote Wash at Wellton on the weekends because it wasn’t crowded like the local Yuma courses.

Antelope Squirrels were commonly found at the first tee area. It was probably because local residents fed them seeds and nuts. They were also quite tame because of that.

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[CALinSC]

Taken during a springtime downtown van tour of Nashville, TN.

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[CALinSC]

Here in the SC foothills we have Northern Blue Birds arriving. Along with them are the Brown-headed Cow Birds.

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[CALinSC]

Most CG/RV Park office areas display some beautiful flower arrangements in the spring and summer seasons. This one was at the Western Village RV Park at Carlisle, PA.

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[CALinSC]

Taken one spring while browsing around at the strip malls at Kittery, ME.

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[CALinSC]

Foxgloves, Charleston, SC.

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[CALinSC]

One time while traveling from east to west in the farm country on CA-46, we spotted this majestic Beefalo bull. He just seemed to be resting in his own pasture, getting fat and ready for breeding season.

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[Notanlines]

Cal, at one time, weren't we all?:mrgreen:

[Notanlines]

This male and female with their two offspring from this year. Sorry, but taken through the screen. The neighbor has learned that his feeders are way too low. These rascals can empty one in one afternoon.

[Notanlines]

Another first for us in the Florida RV park: We have about 15 Black bellied whistling ducks regularly feeding at our neighbors bird feeder. A first for us.

[CALinSC]

Our young rabbits are already foraging for themselves.

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[CALinSC]

While riding up & down the dirt roads in the large Seminoe State Park near Rawlins, WY looking for wild animals we found these horses. They were just meandering along grazing a little bit as they traveled. We didn't seem to bother them at all.

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[Notanlines]

I see this 'old timer' feed these cats milk and a little food EVERY morning by the hospital in Okeechobee. Two of the three are waiting for him by the mailbox and the third one sneaks out after he gets there. It's the little things in life that make it all worth while.

[CALinSC]

Brown Pelicans on a feeding frenzy in the cool Pacific waters. Pictures were taken from a small fishing pier at a roadside park below the Hearst Castle, San Simeon, CA.

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[CALinSC]

It got a little chilly here in the SC foothills this past week. When it started snowing the cardinal's roosted and puffed their feathers out to retain their body heat.

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[CALinSC]

Peoria, IL

One time while we were parked at the Hawley Mobile Home & RV Park at Peoria, this beautiful red squirrel was hanging around in the trees where we were parked. I tried to get him to come for peanuts but he was not as friendly as most grays.

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[CALinSC]

Jacksonville, FL

These are American white Ibis. The brown ones are juveniles; they will turn white in time.

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[tonyy]

Jacksonville, FL

These are American white Ibis. The brown ones are juveniles; they will turn white in time.

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Beautiful birds. Hope I can see them not only on the photos

[CALinSC]

Wells, Maine

Entrance to the Maine Dinner, June 2022.

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[tonyy]

Wells, Maine

Entrance to the Maine Dinner, June 2022.

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Very beautiful flowers!

[Notanlines]

Tony, to add a little to Cal's post. The all brown Ibis is actually the Glossy Ibis, not a White Ibis juvenile. The birds that are partially brown/white are the juveniles and they will generally lose the brown plumage and be totally white. And yes, if you are in Florida you will see the Ibis, both Glossy AND White.

[CALinSC]

San Simeon, CA

We found these seals basking on a small, secluded beach, just off CA-1, south of San Simeon, CA.

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[CALinSC]

Buffalo, NY - Canalside

We found these wonderful arrangements at Canalside Park in downtown Buffalo, NY. We got there early, had lunch there and left before dark.

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https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60974-d2233218-Reviews-Canalside-Buffalo_New_York.html

[CALinSC]

Wells, Maine

On a recent trip to Maine, my motel was in Wells, ME right on US-1.

The "Maine Diner" is a very popular breakfast diner on US-1 in Wells, ME. I always eat there at least once when visiting the area. My hometown is 12 miles inland from there.

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[CALinSC]

Coopers Hawk

Because we have a freshwater stream, we have more than our share of birds and animals.

This hawk was hanging out nearby because we had a couple of families of voles, about 20 - 30 of them. It took him about three weeks to wipe them out, completely, and a couple of large black snakes while he was at it.

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[CALinSC]

Custer State Park, SD.

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