Camera Critters Sunday -- No Eyeore here!

In fact, these guys were very friendly! I spotted them on small rise in the field and was struck by their silhouettes against the beautiful, almost spring-like sky. But when I stopped the car, they quickly came right to the fence to say Hello! Too bad I had nothing to offer but an opportunity to be seen around the world by Camera Critter fans! Click the CC Logo above for more entries today!

Camera Critters Sunday -- get those skeeters!

I'm not really sure what this is, but someone said it was a "mosquito hawk". If that means it eats mosquitoes (or "skeeters" as some call them around here), then I'm all for it!
Click the CC logo above to see more Camera Critters from around the world today!

Camera Critter Catching Dinner

This fella has been wading around our cove for the last few days snatching minnows. Not sure if that's a delicacy or why he's hanging around here more often since the water got so shallow. They're certainly easier to swallow than some of the fish I've seen these guys catch!
Click on the logo above to see more Camera Critters from around the world.....

Camera Critters Sunday -- Keep away from this one!

New rule for ants: If it's big enough to cast a shadow, keep away!


As I was getting into my car on Wednesday evening, I noticed this creature too close to my sandaled foot for comfort. I moved my foot and grabbed my camera from the car and started a pursuit. She apparently didn't want any part of the paparazzi as she immediately started a rapid retreat across the road. These photos aren't very good because she was moving quickly and I was trying to use the macro setting while keeping my bare toes away from her! Once she crossed the road, she quickly lost herself in the grass of a vacant lot. Saturday I remembered to ask my resident bug expert what I'd seen and was told that it was a"Cow Killer Ant" (also called Velvet Ant) and that it was a good thing I didn't let it sting me. A quick Google this morning turned up the following at "whatsthatbug.com":

This is a Velvet Ant, a flightless female wasp that is commonly called a Cow Killer, and she stings like the dickens. Eric Eaton add: "Velvet ants can 'squeak' by rapidly rubbing their abdominal segments against one another, which might account for the "hissing" sound the submitter mentioned. Between the warning colors and the noise, you'd be foolish to pick one up"

Creep on over to Misty Dawn's to see more Camera Critters!

Hummers like to play!

No way to do this scene justice with my G5 and my skills.....but it sure was fun to watch! We had the water sprinklers going and this little humming bird was having a ball bathing in the falling shower. She/he spread feathers I never knew they had! Flitting back and forth, pausing to drink from a leaf, it was just amazing to watch.
Head on over to Misty Dawn's Camera Critters Sunday blogspot for more critters from around the world!

Camera Critter on Cedar Creek

This is a late post but it's the debut photo of this newly created raccoon! Some friends of mine had to cut down a tree and decided to make creative use of the stump. So this little fellow now graces their yard and shares their wonderful view! The chain saw artist worked on it Saturday and Sunday and we rushed over right at sunset to see it for the first time.

Head on over to Camera Critters, hosted by Misty Dawn for more critters of all shapes and sizes!

Camera Critters Sunday -- Are You Looking at ME?

This was supposed to have been part of a short series....I was chasing a Hot Air Balloon down a dirt road the other day and came to a quick halt when I saw this fellow watching the balloon! But when I stopped, he/she suddenly turned to keep an eye on ME. Llamas (and donkeys) are used around here to help protect lifestock. Apparently, they are quite good at keeping 4-legged intruders (and perhaps 2-legged!) out of the pastures!

The series won't be happening. It was early morning and I could only shoot into the rising sun, so I didn't get decent shots of the balloon!

Graze on over to Camera-Critters, hosted by Misty Dawn, to see more critters from around the globe!

My 100th post and Camera Critters Sunday

It took me more than 100 days to do it, but I'm finally making my 100th Post on CDP! I've met many, many wonderful people through CDP who have been a constant source of encouragement and inspiration. There are certain ones who stick with me day after day and are so generous with their comments and helpful with their tips that I'd like to thank them publicly:

Our favorite islander, Babooshka. Our famous Ohioan, Abe Lincoln. Our Friendly Parisian, Eric. Two NW wonders, Kim and Raf. My "neighbor" in Texas, Jim.

You are all the BEST!! Thanks for sharing your world and your knowledge! And because today is Camera Critters Sunday, Nate would like to join me in thanking the hosts/hostesses of some of the Theme Sites on which we've participated and also found new friends: Katney at Katney's Kaboodle: Odd Shots Monday
Jonna at Jonna's Life: Two fer Tuesday
Mrs. Nesbitt at Mrs. Nesbitt's Place: ABC Wednesday
Tom and Jane at Wigger's World: SkyWatch Friday
TN Chick: Photo Hunt Saturday
Misty Dawn: Camera Critters Sunday
Anna Carson: Color Project

Theme hosts and hostesses do this as a labor of love and they've helped create wonderful communities and forums for photography! THANKS! They've all been very supportive of my efforts along the way, as have many of their frequent participants. There are too many of you to name, but you know who you are! Thanks to you, too! I don't get around to as many sites as I'd like, and rarely leave comments when I do, but I'm going to work on that!

My family and friends have also been very supportive and I'd especially like to thank my nephew, Zach. I've been encouraging him to start his own blog. He took the photo of Nate above and I've posted a few more of his shots of Nate and our lake sunsets lately. Don't you think he should get started??

Camera Critters Sunday

Believe it or not, this is the continuation of the Pigeon Rescue story started yesterday! After doing some online research, I realized that setting a broken wing and providing proper nutrition and a safe home for the pigeon was more than I could do. So I did more research and found a wonderful new home for the poor soul. It's called Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and it's just south of Dallas in Hutchins. Find out more about them at RogersWildlife.org
See more Camera Critters at Misty Dawn's.
See more of my photos and the story at my other blogs, Corsicana Daily Photo and Bird's Eye View.

Camera Critters Sunday -- Nate again!

Photo today courtesy of my brilliantly talented nephew Zach! Nate loves having someone to come play ball with him and Zach did a great job of catching the action on his camera. Talk about a coordinated duo! See another shot on my Corsicana Daily Photo site and click on over to Misty Dawn's site for more Camera Critters!

Camera Critters Sunday--Stealth Bomber?

Did a Stealth Bomber land on my front porch?

No, it's some sort of moth....anybody know what kind? Very small, as you can see from the last shot.

Hop, waddle, fly or gallop over the Misty Dawn's for more wonderful Camera Critters.

And HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Camera Critters Sunday

He was trying to scare me away and it was starting to work.....
Check out the other Camera Critters over at Misty Dawn's site!

Odd Shots Monday and belated Camera Critter Sunday!

Since I skipped Camera Critters on Sunday because it was June 1 and therefore City Daily Photo Theme Day, I decided to use this Odd Shot of my favorite critter. Nate was just a few months old and on his first camping trip when we discovered his affection for the bottle! I assure you it was completely empty, though!

Nate wishes his Aunt J a very HAPPY FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For more Odd Shots this Monday, click on over to Katney's Kaboodle.

Camera Critter Sunday -- Elusive Cormorant

These guys are a challenge to photograph. If they're in the water, they can dive at any instant and you'll have no idea where to watch for them to re-surface. We jokingly refer to them as "drowning ducks" around here because one of our friends was sorely distressed the first time she saw one dive. When it didn't come up and didn't come up, she was shouting "the duck is drowning, the duck is drowning!". Now it's a game to see who can guess where they will come up! Last weekend we were out on the boat and came across this guy. I decided to see how close we could get. The last photo here is actually the first I shot. The other two I had to zoom to get, so they're not very sharp. Considering that I was both the captain and the photographer, I guess they're not too bad! You would think that photos 1 and 2 are reversed, but they're not. He/She was considering vacating the premises, but apparently decided we were relatively harmless and decided to stay. See more Camera Critters moderated by Misty Dawn.

Mother's Day/Camera Critters

Last weekend we had just finished a fabulous dinner at Hernandez Mexican Restaurant (more on that in another post later) in Malakoff when we spotted this family under the porch roof. In honor of Mother's Day and in participation with the Camera Critters Sunday meme, here's a shot of dinner-time at Hernandez'.

Camera Critters Sunday

Camera Critters Sunday -- click and check them all out! I've spent way too much time this morning trying to catch photos of this guy. For the last 3 or 4 days, he has been tapping on my windows. We have 3 double windows and 2 sets of French doors facing our deck and he has tapped them all. Which has kept me hopping from window to window to window trying to anticipate his next appearance. When he perched on my turtle friend to rest, I just had to click for this Sunday's theme photo! It looks like he and the turtle are enjoying our view as much as we do!

Here's Buster!

Several of you have made lovely comments about my postings from Buster's yard. So, I thought today (Camera Critters Sunday) was the perfect day for you to meet Buster! You can tell by his business-like demeanor that his yard crew, house-keeper, boat-man, cook and valet would all be the best! We couldn't ask for a better neighbor! Be sure to visit Misty Dawn's site by clicking the Camera Critters link above and see more great critter shots!

Camera Critters Sunday theme

You'll allow me one more Mallard shot this week, right? I mean, you're my friends ... love me, love my ducks, right? If you click on the photo to enlarge, you'll see that he was DWS...Drinking While Swimming. I've found another theme blog you might want to check out. Click here to see other posts: Camera Critters Sunday