August 12, 2021:
The Great American Goldfinch Feast Continues!
Throughout recent days, numerous male American Goldfinches continue to gorge themselves on seeds from the many Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) and Coneflowers (Echinacea) in our backyard.
Today, I would like to share several images of these energetic and colorful birds, from the afternoon of August 5, 2021.
At the end, I also threw in a photo of a young male Ruby-throated Hummingbird sipping on native Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), taken the same afternoon.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
August 10, 2021:
The Most Recent Barred Owlet Encounter:
On the evening of August 2, 2021, I found one of the two Barred Owlets in our woods.
Unfortunately, I haven’t encountered any of our Barred Owls in the week-plus since then, but I suspect that at least one of them is still around.
On a couple of recent mornings, I have found the bird bath in our lower patio garden, significantly emptied.
It’s likely because an Owl has used it the prior night.
In the meantime, I’ll keep looking for them.
We’ll see!
For now, here are three images of the Barred Owlet from eight days ago.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
August 9, 2021:
Barred Owlet Visit:
Our Barred Owls are still around intermittently!
On the evening of July 30, 2021, I found at least one of the two Barred Owlets in our woods.
I actually can’t remember how many Owls I observed during this twenty minute encounter.
In any case, here are several of my favorite images from this evening, presented in temporal sequence.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
August 8, 2021:
Closing Out The Weekend:
For several weeks now, we have had many American Goldfinches, almost exclusively males, feasting on the ample Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) and Coneflowers (Echinacea) in our backyard.
Our yard has also recently been graced by occasional Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, now mainly females.
As this weekend draws to a close, for a brief diversion, I’d like to share a few images of these two avian species, with a Blue Jay WITH ATTITUDE thrown in, all from the afternoon of July 29, 2021.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
August 7, 2021:
White-tailed Batchelor Party!
This Saturday afternoon, August 7, 2021, we had a special treat in our backyard!
Having just picked a few tomatoes in the garden, I was walking back to the house, when I noticed a White-tailed buck browsing at the front edge of our woods, adjacent to the garden.
So, typical for me, I brought the tomatoes into the house, grabbed my camera, and headed back out into the yard.
As I resumed looking around in the woods, I realized that there was actually a “Batchelor Group,” comprising four White-tailed Bucks, browsing in our woods!
Wow!
I maintained a respectful distance from the Bucks, allowing them to remain comfortable in my presence.
In return, they permitted me to observe and photograph them for 40 minutes, before they gracefully lept over the fence at the back corner of our woods.
It was the best deer encounter which I have ever had in our yard!
You just never know when Mother Nature will have a nice surprise for you!
For your entertainment, here are several of my favorite images of today’s “White-tailed Batchelor Party.”
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
August 6, 2021:
Backyard Aerobatics:
For the past several weeks, pretty much every day, I can find two or three Ruby-throated Hummingbirds zooming around in our backyard.
Earlier in the Summer, they tended to be adult males. More recently, they are usually adult females.
As you will see, they are particularly attracted to Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), which my wife has strategically planted in several different locations in our yard.
As we head into the weekend, I would like to share a series of images of a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, from the afternoon of July 21, 2021.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
August 5, 2021:
Barred Owlet Siblings:
As promised, today I would like to share several images of our two Barred Owlets together, from the evening of July 18, 2021.
They spend a lot of time together, and appear to genuinely care for one another.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
August 4, 2021:
The Barred Owlets Continue To Grow Up!
One or more members of our Barred Owl family continue to intermittently visit our yard!
On the evening of July 18, 2021, both of the Barred Owlets were in our woods!
As you will see, they are starting to look quite grown up!
Today, I’d like to share several of my favorite images of individual Barred Owlets from this evening.
Tomorrow, I plan to post a few images of the two Owlets together, from the same evening.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
August 2, 2021:
More Summer Blossoms:
Today, I would like to share images of several more Summer blossoms from our yard, all planted by my wife:
Rose Mallow Hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos); Bronze Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare); Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis), a favorite of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds; Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica); Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma); Verbena hastata; Purple Coneflower; and three shots of Day Lillies.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day.
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
August 1, 2021:
Brave Barred Owlet!
Near dusk on July 6, 2021, one of our two Barred Owlets flew out of the woods, and decided to attempt a little hunting on the decks abutting the back of our house.
This provided me with an unusual and fun photographic opportunity!
Today, I’d like to share several of my favorite images from the Owlet’s little adventure.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
July 31, 2021:
More Entertainment From Our Barred Owl Family:
Here are several more images of our Barred Owls from the evening of July 6, 2021.
As the final two of these photos demonstrate, I noticed that Mama Barred Owl was using our Barred Owl Box to store food which she had caught!
Pretty clever!
These images include:
Six shots of the two Barred Owlets; Mama Barred Owl; and two photos of a Barred Owlet and Mama Barred Owl at our Barred Owl Box.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
July 30, 2021:
Barred Owl Family Show!
On the evening of July 6, 2021, all four members of our Barred Owl family were in our yard.
They permitted me to observe and photograph them for about 1 1/2 hours, until dusk fell.
It was a great encounter!
Today, as we head into the weekend, I would like to share an initial set of my favorite images from this evening:
Four photos of Papa Barred Owl; and five shots of the two Barred Owlets.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
July 29, 2021:
Backyard Visitor:
On the evening of July 3, 2021, a lovely White-tailed Doe briefly visited our yard.
I was able to get a few images of her, before she gracefully lept over our fence, and continued her browsing elsewhere in our neighborhood.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
July 28, 2021:
Backyard Pollinators:
Today, for a little “change of pace,” I would like to share images of several all-important pollinators in our yard, from June 23, 2021:
Three photos of Bumblebees on Coneflowers; Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on Astilbe; Honey Bee on Coneflower; two images of Honey Bees on Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum); Horace’s Duskywing Butterfly on Mountain Mint; White Striped Wasp & Honeybees on Mountain Mint; and a White Striped Wasp on Mountain Mint.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
July 25, 2021:
Rounding Out The Weekend:
To round out this weekend, I’d like to share a final set of images of our two Barred Owlets, from the evening of July 5, 2021.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
July 24, 2021:
More Barred Owls:
This Saturday, for your amusement, I’d like to share additional images of our two Barred Owlets from the evening of July 5, 2021.
I’ve also included one shot of Mama Barred Owl, (the third photo in this series).
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
https://www.facebook.com/SeaDocGenk
https://www.instagram.com/seadoc13
July 22, 2021:
The Barred Owls Return!
On the evening of July 5, 2021, after a two week absence, Mama Barred Owl and her two Owlets were back in our woods!
The Owlets had matured significantly since the last time I had encountered them!
Their plumage was less downy and much more “adult-like.”
They were both very active, and their flying had definitely improved.
At least one of the two Owlets was beginning to make serious attempts to hunt on its own.
As I review them, I would like to share an initial set of images of the Barred Owlets from this evening, with one shot of Mama Barred Owl, (the seventh photo in this series), also included.
Enjoy!
Stay safe and have a great day!
