Invasion!

I’ve had this picture of a rabbit for a while now. Seems like with the recent wet weather there have been more of them in my yard than ever before.

Or, possibly we have more due to the lack of a cat around our house.

Either way, I’m glad that we don’t have a garden full of leafy greens that they like to eat!

- Dan

Watching You…

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a hoot barred owl sitting on a sign along side the road leading out to our house. He was there one evening and then again the next morning. Then, he was gone.

Yesterday, as I drove to work in a light rain, there he was again. He was closely watching the ground – probably looking for some critter to eat. When I stopped my truck on the road to watch him, he looked directly at me and I got this picture.

Pretty cool, eh?

- Dan

A Bright Spot

Leaves are gone off the trees. The grass is brown. The sky is cloudy. People get depressed. The temperatures lately have been hitting near-record lows. Most people are just trying to get through winter and are looking forward to spring.

But, keep your eyes open. There are always bright spots, like the Cardinal that is pictured above.

Let’s not get so focused on surviving winter that we forget to look for the Bright Spots that are all around us.

- Dan

Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving, 2008. The feast was being prepared at the homestead, but one item was missing. So, at the request of my sweetheart, I jumped in the Highlander and headed toward town.

Looking out across a harvested soybean field, I noticed a bald eagle feasting on a deer carcass. Slamming on the brakes, I veered (it was a controlled veering…) into the ditch and grabbed my camera from the back seat. Jumping out I worked on changing lenses as I stumbled through the growth along the edge of the road.

That eagle stayed still long enough for me to grab a few shots of him before he looked at me and gracefully took to flight. Last I saw of him he was heading south toward the river.

Keep you eyes open this winter. Eagles are becoming more common around Riley County.

- Dan

Blue Heron At The Lake

Do you see him? He’s pretty well hidden in this picture.

Many birds are native, or at least pass through, Riley County. Wading birds, like the Blue Heron, are often seen in areas where there are bodies of water or rivers.

This picture was taken near the Stockdale area of Tuttle Creek.

- Dan

My place of employment is on the north edge of Manhattan. Many times wildlife can be seen wondering around our place.

Late last week, I parked my truck at the back of the lot. When I went out to run some errands over lunch, I saw this coyote back by the trees.

Fortunately, I had a camera with me.

So, another reason life is great in Riley County is that many times we can see the wild critters.

- Dan

Last Sunday morning I woke up to the dog barking like crazy! So, I stumbled over to the window and looked out.

At the far end of the yard was this deer looking back at the house.

Aaaah, wildlife in rural Riley County. Now, that’s living!

- Dan