Monday Critter Search...tough one
Annie Deighnaugh
7 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (60)
blfenton
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRelated Discussions
bad timing re snow and critters
Comments (11)thats ironic regarding the stakes. I am using a new service this year and they put in their own big wooden stakes along the edges of driveway in November. However, that made no sense to me because the stakes got in the way of pushing snow back where it needed to be pushed back. For the first snow of the season the driveway and turnaround were very narrow already. It needs to start out well back to allow for seasonal "creep". So they came back last night to re-assess and fine tune the plowing. I said its okay to remove the stakes so you can widen the plowing area properly. But they just went to the other extreme. Hopefully, I can train them to get it "just right" in the future. LOL Down by the road they were probably trying to distribute the snow in a large area and avoid a huge mountain so that I would not have a blind spot exiting the driveway. Good intentions. Bad implementation. sorry... I'm rambling, whining, venting.. One of these days I'll get a snowblower and do it myself. Or move to a condo!!!...See MoreGarden Critter update 6212016
Comments (15)I feel your pain.....we live in a neighborhood that demands living one with nature (no fences) which is a good thing to a point but such a challange....we decided to try to trick the deer.....fishline first....that lasted a couple of weeks..so thought ok lets use black parachute cord so it would make more of an impression but not be visible much as we are surrounded by forested lots.....worked all Spring.....hot dang....thought we were finally going to see what are plants are supposed to look like...had no idea how lovely my hostas could really be.....then a poor skinny doe showed up....so pathetic.....dropped two twins behind our lot just as we had walked outside.....adorable.....felt sorry for her so i put food on the other side of the fence line.....gobbled it up......she respected our space until she decided she would slide under the fence line one day and follow me around the garden on my walkabout. My husband hollered for me to turn around and there she was chewing her cud waiting to see where i would go next. I chatted with her to go back to the other side of the fence...sprayed deer off and sprinkled milorgonite and she obliged for three weeks.....but i ran out of apples and corn......so today she showed up in the front yard eating my new hollies...she didnt know deer dont like them......then she invited a friend for lunch in the back yard. Waiting for the hopping fawns and relatives.......... Beetles discovered my knock out roses today as well. Between the immunex and neem and sevin, milorgonite,deer off, and anything else stinky in my garden shed, we need to wear gas masks in the yard. We live 2000 ft up and mornings and evenings have always been lovely to sit out....not this year.....my hubby had to buy a propane fogger plus we have bought so much yard guard the stock is going up...and the bugs STILL bite. We have never seen any of the copperheads, rattlers or corals that share our space but i have a feeling this might be the year......we had a bear swim across the lake across from our house last summer...i am waiting for him to show up anyday as the produce in the garden is just beginning to ripen. I just had a conversation with myself as to exactly why i garden.....??? Still waiting for my answer......i will never open the garage door again without looking up........creepy....... freaky...See MoreFind the Critter
Comments (40)I've learned something new! How to do this stuff! Anyhow, here's what I thought I found: What looks like a fawn to me, in relation to the answer Jasdip posted. A chipmunk Little gray bird, a dove, perhaps? I had also thought that the black shadow immediately to the right of my "1" might be a black squirrel. Wrong. . . . . And yes, Annie, I kind of thought that was a snake, too, But it changed a lot when I enlarged the picture. Aren't imaginations fun? ? ? Rusty...See MoreGreat Backyard Bird Count - Friday Feb 15 to Monday Feb 18, 2019
Comments (10)When we were living at mom's house out in Jefferson county, I would feed white proso millet. I think I have counted about 6 house sparrows over there since she started feeding birds in 2012. The native sparrows love the proso millet and we would have song sparrows, white crowned sparrows, towhees, gobs of juncos, and even a harris sparrow one time all of them devouring that seed. When I moved to Phoenix the first thing I did was hang an oriole feeder from the mesquite tree that hung over the wall around my yard. I didn't have an actual hummingbird feeder at the time but had brought the oriole one with me from Denver. The hummers didn't mind and I had some wonderful Anna's HB's come to visit almost immediately. The pair of Gila woodpeckers that lived nearby also absolutely loved it. A few months later I came home from work one day and the entire thing was completely fillef with "candied" bees! They had made their way into the sugary water but couldn't get out and had drowned! I really wasn't interested in attracting bees (honeybees I personally consider an invasive species, and it is also assumed that all feral honeybees in southern Arizona are the Africanized version). So, I went out and bought an actual hummingbird feeder, which has smaller openings, and packed away the oriole one. The woodpeckers were mad at me for a bit but were assuaged by the suet (NO MELT recipe of course!) I put up for them. In addition to the bees that ruined my chances of ever attracting hooded and Scott's orioles, the neighborhood I was in had hoards of collared pigeons and house sparrows. So when I first started feeding birds other than the nectar sipping kind, I knew that the millet was a no-no. I decided to go with just a nyjer/thistle feeder and got house finches and the seed that dropped on the ground was enjoyed by the overwintering white crowned sparrows. Eventually I decided to try my luck and put out a feeder of black sunflower seeds. As I had expected, the collared pigeons showed up in droves, but I also had Inca doves so that was pretty neat. However, contrary to your observations Skybird, it didn't take long for the house sparrows to find the sunflower seed either and soon I had scores of them gobbling it up, too. At some point I decided that in an effort to mitigate the pigeon problem (I counted close to 80 in my tiny yard one day) that I would only infrequently fill the sunflower seed feeder. When we found ourselves in Platteville last fall I knew we had house sparrows. So, when I dug out my bird feeders, the first thing I put up was the big nyjer feeder I had in Phoenix. It attracts tons of American goldfinches (I have counted close to 50 at any given time). But then I was noticing the big flocks of white crowned and tree sparrows so I decided that I was going to have to take the "bad with the good" if I was going to feed birds and just accept that house sparrows are just an unfortunate fact of life in this game. Sure enough the house sparrows showed up the second I put out the black sunflower seeds. So far the blackbirds, of which we have hundreds thanks to extensive cattail stands found along the slough and the ponds, have stayed away from the feeders, though they perchin the tree they were hanging from. I have yet to see a single squirrel. The biggest problem is the mice. Despite our barn cat Claudia's best efforts, they are certainly around and we found evidence of them stashing seeds from the feeders. I REALLY do not want mice in the house our under the hoods of our cars to chew up the wires. I would much rather have flying house rats than actual rats. As for mess clean up, the constant wind that comes "sweeping down the plains" takes care of that and we don't have any lawn around the house anyhow. But regardless, due to the rodent issue, the feeders got moved out in a field about 100 yards from the house today. Hopefully the birds find them soon. I am also hoping some of the guys who don't come up close to the house, like meadow larks and horned larks, might stop by with them way out there. I'll have to see if they eat seeds... No glowing on my part, at least yet. I suspect that the carcinogens caused by the ever growing number of cars, fracking, and all the other gross stuff that is associated with the exponential development that is going on around here is far worse for a person's health than going for a hike out at Rocky Flats. I think a June field trip with you guys out there would be a tremendous idea! I know I am kind of a flake when it comes to this stuff, but I really would like to try to make it happen! Solitude is a thing that is growing ever harder to find. Even out here we have constant traffic on the road in front of the house. People going between Denver and Greeley and all the God forsaken fracking traffic. I remember as a kid, even Brighton was like heading out to the middle of nowhere. Loveland, Greeley, and Ft. Collins felt as distant as the far side of the moon. Now Cheyenne is almost part of the Front Range metro area. Every time I see another corn field around here with a piece of heavy equipment parked in it my heart sinks. More and more I regret not taking the jobs I was offered a few years ago at wildlife refuges in northwestern Nebraska... I actually tend to avoid National Parks because they are just so over crowded it ruins the whole expierince for me. To me, the greatest treasure isn't unique geology, history, or wildlife. Its being away from people. Organ Pipe was spectacular in that respect. I could drive the entire western loop of the monument and, except for the road and a few abandoned ranches, not even see evidence of other human beings. As you have found with Capitol Reef and Natural Bridges, in a lot of places the desert seems to be one landscape that is yet to be completely innundated by mankind. Even many of the local and state parks around Phoenix, which is the fifth largest city in the country and has three times as many people as Denver, I could spend all day and count on less than both hands the number of people I had to share the space with. Heres hoping your bushtits and yellow flicker showed up today, or will soon! I didn't get a count in since by the time we were done with errands the weather turn a turn for the nasty. If it holds out a little bit for us tomorrow though, I'm definitely going to try!...See More
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
7 years agoHere's the 2 faces I see. I know it's not what we are looking for. But they sure look like faces.
janey_alabama
7 years ago
Rusty
7 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoVertise
7 years agoVertise
7 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
7 years agoVertise
7 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
7 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
7 years ago
jim_1 (Zone 5B)
7 years agolucillle
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoVertise
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoravencajun Zone 8b TX
7 years agoVertise
7 years agoVertise
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agojim_1 (Zone 5B)
7 years ago
caroline94535
7 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
7 years agoVertise
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoVertise
7 years agoVertise
7 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
7 years agoVertise
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRusty
7 years agoAnnie Deighnaugh
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoNo need to suffer any longer. You have been looking at an octopus.
Still can't see it? Watch the video...amazing stuff!
lgmd_gaz
7 years ago
Jasdip
7 years ago
mama goose_gw zn6OH
7 years ago
murraysmom Zone 6a OH
7 years agoravencajun Zone 8b TX
7 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoAdella Bedella
7 years agoVertise
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
Fun2BHere
7 years agoDakota
7 years agoVertise
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago
The first one I thought was it was the crab, left red circle. He is well camouflaged! Then I saw the spotted jellyfish or whatever it is, upper right red. Some sort of fish face nestled down, purple circle on the left. Among other possible faces!
After google divulged it was an octopus, I saw the rust colored octy face with tentacles, blue circle on the right. They come in that color.
Vertise
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agorhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
7 years agoVertise
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoVertise
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoRusty
7 years agoRusty
7 years agoDakota
7 years agoVertise
7 years agoravencajun Zone 8b TX
7 years ago
Olychick
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoUser
7 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Feed Wildlife With Flowering Currant
Blossoms and berries make this plant irresistible to birds, bees and other critters — and a treat for the eyes too
Full Story
PETSDealing With Pet Messes: An Animal Lover's Story
Cat and dog hair, tracked-in mud, scratched floors ... see how one pet guardian learned to cope and to focus on the love
Full Story
CURB APPEALHouzz Call: How Do You Hide Your Trash?
No one wants to see those trash and recycling bins. So where do you stash them while you wait for the garbage truck? Show us your designs!
Full Story
LIFETell Us: Do You Know How to Live With Your Parents?
If you've tried multigenerational living under one roof, we'd love to hear the details
Full Story
MOST POPULARFind the Right Glass Door for Your Patio
It’s more than just a patio door — it’s an architectural design element. Here’s help for finding the right one for your home and lifestyle
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESHow to Work With a Professional Organizer
An organizing pro can help you get your house together. Here's how to choose the right one and gain your own clutter-clearing skills
Full Story
COLOR12 Tried-and-True Paint Colors for Your Walls
Discover one pro designer's time-tested favorite paint colors for kitchens, baths, bedrooms and more
Full Story
REMODELING GUIDESCool Your House (and Costs) With the Right Insulation
Insulation offers one of the best paybacks on your investment in your house. Here are some types to discuss with your contractor
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESWhat Kind of Roses Should You Grow?
Want to add the beauty of roses to your garden? Find out which ones, from old-fashioned to modern, are right for you
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDES5 Prairie Wildflowers That Can Heal Your Soil
Get free, organic soil fertilizer with nitrogen-pumping plants that draw pollinators too
Full StorySponsored
Columbus Design-Build, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, Historic Renovations
ravencajun Zone 8b TX