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Local wildlife
Sep. 2nd, 2009 05:41 pmI filled and hung up the hummingbird feeder two days ago, as I had contemplated, and lo, they come! We've observed several hummingbird visitors today. Actually, the first hummingbird that I saw approach the feeder this morning was chased away by a second bird, with angry squeaking, but the second hummingbird did not partake at that time. I think it's been back since, though. I can't really tell individuals apart, so I don't know if we have several birds in the area or just two repeat customers. They have green backs and pale bellies, and at least one of them has a patch under the chin that sometimes looks red and sometimes black, depending on how he's facing the light. I hope I can take a picture of one, but the birds are fast and my camera is a tad slow, plus there's a glass window between us, so I don't know how well it will work.
(Our feeder is this model, btw.)
One of the two yellow lantana plants in the front border has grown quite sprawling and is a big draw for black swallowtail butterflies. I saw at least a dozen black butterflies on it while I was pulling out of the driveway on Monday, and that's part of what prompted me to put up the hummingbird feeder. I frequently see hawks circling over the area south of our neighborhood where there are no buildings.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
aristeros is not impressed by seeing hawks, as they were common where he grew up, but I always like watching them.
While walking the dog in the mornings, I often see rabbits — the dog usually notices them after I do, if at all. A couple of weeks ago, I took him out for an evening walk, a rare treat for him, and we startled what was probably a deer. All I saw in the darkness was a patch of fluffy white at about shoulder level that quickly ran away.aristeros and I saw a young deer out in daytime several days ago. The playground at the loop end of our U-shaped road has a length of chain-link fence backing it, perhaps fifty yards long to judge from my memories of long-ago PE class. As we drove past, heading out to lunch, we saw a deer running back and forth along the fence on the playground side. It didn't seem to realize that it needed to run only a little farther to get away.
(Our feeder is this model, btw.)
One of the two yellow lantana plants in the front border has grown quite sprawling and is a big draw for black swallowtail butterflies. I saw at least a dozen black butterflies on it while I was pulling out of the driveway on Monday, and that's part of what prompted me to put up the hummingbird feeder. I frequently see hawks circling over the area south of our neighborhood where there are no buildings.
aristeros is not impressed by seeing hawks, as they were common where he grew up, but I always like watching them. While walking the dog in the mornings, I often see rabbits — the dog usually notices them after I do, if at all. A couple of weeks ago, I took him out for an evening walk, a rare treat for him, and we startled what was probably a deer. All I saw in the darkness was a patch of fluffy white at about shoulder level that quickly ran away.
aristeros and I saw a young deer out in daytime several days ago. The playground at the loop end of our U-shaped road has a length of chain-link fence backing it, perhaps fifty yards long to judge from my memories of long-ago PE class. As we drove past, heading out to lunch, we saw a deer running back and forth along the fence on the playground side. It didn't seem to realize that it needed to run only a little farther to get away.