Summer vistors

Over the Spring, Summer and early Fall I have had a few fun little visitors.  I always have birds at the feeders and an occasional deer, coyote or raccoon, but this year I had a visit from a Jack Rabbit, only one day off from last years Jack Rabbit visit, according to my wildlife tracking calendar.

What a cutie!!  He only hung out for a day, but it was fun to watch him frolick around and enjoy the local fare.

Over the Spring months I was visited often by a Sharp-shinned Hawk.  Probably a female as she was large.  We crossed paths on several occasions, quite literally, as she dove in for a meal, and often missed.  I felt bad for her, but I do so love my other birds.

One day she missed getting a chipmunk and landed on my old spool table, giving me just enough time to capture this shot.

Deer and raccoons came by all through the months too.

I also had the pleasure of getting this shot of two goldfinch fledglings on their first day out, although shot through the kitchen window.

Wildlife Wonders

One of the things I find most enjoyable about snow is how it records it's visitors.  

I was out feeding the birds the other day and noticed deer tracks and raccoon tracks through the snow.  It was fun to follow their path to the water hole, along the fence and around the feeder.  

Sometimes I wonder where all the wildlife is, going for days without a sighting in the yard.  It's times like these I realize they are always here, not just because I saw them.

These little prints are from a visiting raccoon.

Visitors from the Forest

Mom raccoon and her two youngsters stopped by today.  They were so cute playing in the trees near the house.  Of course just earlier they were cleaning up the bird seed on the ground.

 Night before last the two kids were playing just outside my bedroom window on a branch.  I could hear them chattering to each other.  Probably daring the other to climb out on it!