an owl update.

Besides the occasional calls back and forth along the creek we haven't seen much of our little neighbors for a few weeks. These pictures were taken in June just after a rain.

These little ones are such characters...we caught them on video hissing and carrying on at us though we were on the other side of the creek from them.

All 5 babies, (yes there are still 5!!!), were very interested and curious of us but on guard at all times.

We also caught daddy fishing. This is the "wet and wild" looking father himself. We are not completely positive that he has a second leg. We watched for a while as he would gather up yummies from the creek and pile them on the bank. Then we watched as the little ones flew over, acting very juvenile by hissing and pecking and then he fed 2 of them.

Me went over to the bank after they flew up into the trees and spotted a couple of crayfish claws left over from dinner. ;)

Oh, and our (human) neighbors spotted a barred owl fly into a try in their yard a few weeks ago. We've been hearing a barred owl now off and on at night too! Very exciting!

xo Stephanie

well hello there.

It's so hot here today. Actually just now the sky broke and let large bits of hail fall from the sky. It was so loud and there was so much of it that I yelled as loud as I could but couldn't even hear myself!! Maybe the brief storm will cool it down a little.

It was 81 degrees in this camper earlier...so hot. I have been trying my hardest to get chores and the likes done but have to take breaks in between so I don't over-heat! I decided to take a walk through the creek and wandered up on this little fawn resting in a patch of grass and rocks. I actually climbed back up the hillside through the weeds to get my camera.

I wondered if she were hurt. I got all the way up to where I was almost able to reach out and touch her until she jumped up and ran off as fast as her little uncoordinated legs would allow.

A magic moment indeed.

As for our little owl friends...there just so happens to be 5 babies and they have all learned to fly. They seem to have taken over the hillside along the creek now. They have become the illusive beings that they are...we have only seen the momma hunting since Tuesday night.



until later.

xo Stephanie

baby owl pictures.

3 little owlets were all spotted yesterday, 2 on a branch and 1 in the hole. This morning M said he saw all 3 out when he drove by on the way to work. I was able to photograph only 2 yesterday, the other was up too high in the tree.

Here we have juvenile 1 morphing when we first met. It remained like this for quite some time until I came back around later for more pictures...that's when I was able to capture it as below. So cute and fluffy all covered in down.

Below is juvenile 2, so curious and ready to meet the world. I hope I am able to catch all 3 of them today.

We went down in the evening when M got home from work so that I could show him the babies. We again spotted the grey male-adult sized screech. We also witnessed juvenile 1 trying to take it's first flight and blue jays trying to move it. We watched in terror as 1. the little owlet struggled to keep itself on the little limb it ended up on, and 2. both momma and the male grey-adult hooted and chased off the blue jays. There is nothing we would ever do to disrupt the natural process of nature so we pray that the blue jays do not come back to attempt the take over again anytime soon. p.s. The male adult has got the be the daddy...wonder where the other red male went that was there just last week...

Here's another shot of momma. She is so fat!!

Amazing. ♥ ♥

We have new neighbors!

Last week we began hearing a Screech Owl by the creek just a few yards from the camper. I wandered down there one evening with binoculars to see if I could spot it. There she sat in the laurel watching me, comfortably, purring her little song. So close the binocs were not even necessary. Ever since then all of our neighbors have also welcomed her to the area. She had a big surprise for us yesterday...there are two...a pair!! We spotted them both on a branch together and they are living in a tree just a few feet from there.

Expect more pictures...and hopefully I'll be able to catch both together and some little ones in the future!!

♥ ♥

spring.2011

I can officially say that Spring has arrived here in "the holler"...even as I sit here staring out at a bleak, rainy, 42 degree day. Hey, it's Spring! The weather is excused from being a little iffy from day to day. I just wonder how that differs from our snowglobe winter here?? Definitely over that.

The ramps are up. The grass is growing. The birds are singing. There are daffodils everywhere here...in everyone's yard, along the road...every...where! I have never seen such a sight.

There are also baby animals everywhere! Our closest neighbors have had 6 goats, with more on the way. They also have cows ready. Our other neighbors have lambs...of which I am kicking myself for not going down to visit yet!

This is a little female kid that has been being nursed. Her momma would not take to her so they have been bottle feeding her. I have been helping when I can during the day and have to admit that I have a little soft spot for this sweetie. I call her "Puppy". If you know me...you know I'm silly like that. ;)

She likes to have her head scratched, climb onto my lap and tiptoe quickly after me in the yard. We have high-hopes that she will continue to grow strong and healthy to pull through.

We have even had a few warm nights with rain and in return lots of fog. Lick Run has been rolling right along and sounds wonderfully relaxing.

I have been hoping to hang my hammock from the pavilion soon. I think it might be taken over by M for afternoon snoozes during the weekend though.

In regards to identifying species here, I have a few to share soon after a mushroom hunt we went on last weekend. No morels yet.

Hope everyone is enjoying lovely weather like us.

xo
Stephanie