Flowers, Birds & Animals

[CALinSC]

I'm not a birder or flower enthusiast, I just take a lot of pictures of whatever catches my eye at the time.

This COVID-19 has sidetracked us for about a year now. Linda and I have taken both of the vaccination shots and are starting to venture out again. We are both at high risk so we have to be careful.

Computers have been part of my daily entertainment for a long time. During this last year I've started a lot of threads that revolve around our travels. Some have been quite popular. However, eventually I run-out of new material and have to move on to another subject. The title for this thread is quite appropriate because while taking pictures of birds is often close to flowers so are flowers and animals.

I'll start this off with pictures taken at the Joshua Tree National Park. It was late spring and everything that blossoms there was coming to life. But, I never did see any birds close enough for pictures.

These are ground flowers and I found the little animal scurrying around trying to avoid me.

1 Joshua Tree NP.JPG 1a Joshua Tree NP.JPG

1b Joshua Tree NP.JPG 1c Joshua Tree NP.JPG

[CaptainPalapa]

Great pics!

[CALinSC]

One spring while parked at a military RV Park at an AFB near Del Rio, TX there was a large undeveloped field across the road behind our trailer. I had been using it to hit and shag golf balls. One morning I noticed the morning dew was followed by small flowers blossoming everywhere. I went back to the trailer and got some scissors and a small basket, then went back to the field and snipped one of every kind that was blooming. I cut them to fit in a small salt shaker and put them on the table along with the morning paper. Linda was thrilled when she got up.

Laughlin AFB TX 4.jpg TX Laughton AFB 1.JPG

[CALinSC]

While parked at a RV Park on the banks of Lake Huron I spotted this unusual pair of birds. Because both species mate for life within their species it seemed very unlikely these two would be such good friends.

Canada Goose - Snow Goose Mackinaw MI - Mill Creek GC - 1.JPG Canada Goose - Snow Goose Mackinaw MI - Mill Creek GC - 2.jpg

[CALinSC]

Gray vultures will congregate twice a year. It’s usually in spring and fall in FL. The gray vulture with its black-gray head is a little smaller than the read headed turkey vulture.

This picture was taken of a couple dozen invading the trees and yard of someone’s home on the Cedar River at Jacksonville, FL. It was right across the river from our RV site at the American Legion RV Park.


137 - jan 2012.jpg

[Notanlines]

Technically we have the black vulture and the turkey vulture. The third type vulture is the California condor and the odds of seeing one are slim!

[CALinSC]

We played numerous golf courses when wintering at Yuma, AZ. We liked Coyote Wash at Wellton on the weekends because it wasn’t crowded like the local Yuma courses.

Antelope Squirrels were commonly found at the first tee area. It was probably because local residents fed them seeds and nuts. They were also quite tame because of that.

5 Coyote Wash GC Wellton, AZ .jpg 5a Coyote Wash GC Wellton, AZ .JPG

[CALinSC]

Taken during a springtime downtown van tour of Nashville, TN.

6 Down Town Tour of Nashville, TN .JPG

[CALinSC]

Here in the SC foothills we have Northern Blue Birds arriving. Along with them are the Brown-headed Cow Birds.

7 Brown Headed cow bird.JPG

[CALinSC]

Most CG/RV Park office areas display some beautiful flower arrangements in the spring and summer seasons. This one was at the Western Village RV Park at Carlisle, PA.

8 Western Village RV Park - Carlisle, PA 6.JPG

[CALinSC]

It got a little chilly here in the SC foothills this past week. When it started snowing the cardinal's roosted and puffed their feathers out to retain their body heat.

100_2788.JPG

[CALinSC]

Peoria, IL

One time while we were parked at the Hawley Mobile Home & RV Park at Peoria, this beautiful red squirrel was hanging around in the trees where we were parked. I tried to get him to come for peanuts but he was not as friendly as most grays.

15 Mt. Hawley MH Park IL2.jpg 15a IL Red4.jpg

15b IL Red1.JPG 15c IL Red2.jpg

[CALinSC]

Jacksonville, FL

These are American white Ibis. The brown ones are juveniles; they will turn white in time.

16 American White Ibis .jpg

[tonyy]

Originally Posted by CALinSC

Jacksonville, FL

These are American white Ibis. The brown ones are juveniles; they will turn white in time.

Attachment 2047

Beautiful birds. Hope I can see them not only on the photos

[CALinSC]

Wells, Maine

Entrance to the Maine Dinner, June 2022.

ME-NH 2022 1 (88).jpg

[tonyy]

Originally Posted by CALinSC

Wells, Maine

Entrance to the Maine Dinner, June 2022.

Attachment 2069

Very beautiful flowers!

[Notanlines]

Tony, to add a little to Cal's post. The all brown Ibis is actually the Glossy Ibis, not a White Ibis juvenile. The birds that are partially brown/white are the juveniles and they will generally lose the brown plumage and be totally white. And yes, if you are in Florida you will see the Ibis, both Glossy AND White.

[CALinSC]

San Simeon, CA

We found these seals basking on a small, secluded beach, just off CA-1, south of San Simeon, CA.

17 Seals .JPG

[CALinSC]

Buffalo, NY - Canalside

We found these wonderful arrangements at Canalside Park in downtown Buffalo, NY. We got there early, had lunch there and left before dark.

18 Buffalo, NY - Canalside .JPG 18a Buffalo, NY - Canalside .JPG

18b Buffalo, NY - Canalside .JPG 18c Buffalo, NY - Canalside .JPG

18d Buffalo, NY - Canalside .JPG

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti..._New_York.html

[CALinSC]

Wells, Maine

On a recent trip to Maine, my motel was in Wells, ME right on US-1.

The "Maine Diner" is a very popular breakfast diner on US-1 in Wells, ME. I always eat there at least once when visiting the area. My hometown is 12 miles inland from there.

19 Maine Diner .jpg 19a Maine Diner .jpg