Saturday, September 16, 2017

Saturday's Critters #196

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

If you love critters like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

On this day hubby and I took a walk on the local fire road to the lake. We have lived near this lake going on 28 years now and this was the first time we saw a snake in the water. It looked like it was checking us out.



I zoomed in on this Turkey Vulture high up in a tree.


We saw a nice group of Canada Geese floating on the lake.




A couple of Eastern Kingbirds seen in the tree off the fire road.


There was a family of the Eastern Kingbirds in this one tree, can you find three Kingbirds in the tree below. Click on photo for a larger view.





A mosaic with the birds seen during our walk. The Turkey Vulture, the lake, snake, leaves turning colors, a not so clear shot of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Kingbird, Canada Geese, more Kingbirds and the lake.




I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments! I hope you enjoy my post and photos too!



Here is a list of my linky parties;
Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-BirdinThanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

79 comments:

Nancy J said...

Beautiful, each one so distinctive and with its own glorious colours, bright, pale, multi -coloured and more.

Shiju Sugunan said...

Congratulations on finally finding the snake hehe. Very pretty mosaic!

Marit said...

Hello,

Beautiful photos! The Turkey Vulture was very pretty.

Happy Saturday, and enjoy your weekend!

Charlene N. K. said...

Thanks for sharing these interesting critters and for hosting. That vulture fascinates me, and the kingfishers are so cute! I haven't seen these yet.
Have a great weekend!

NatureFootstep said...

Today your thumbnail looekd really surreal. I wonderd what it was. A snake! First time you saw one in the lake ever? Our snakes are swimmers and I see them now and then. At least one of them hunts fish. But your snake seem to stand on the lake floor wich looks weird. :)
Have a nice week ahead.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

A lovely selection of birds you saw and photographed on your walk on the fire road. the snake shot is hilarious. MAny thaks for hosting and I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Prunella Pepperpot said...

Beautiful blue skies Eileen.The snake looks as though it's rather enjoying it's swim.I imagine that you wont be tempted to take a dip after seeing it there!
Wonderful Birds.The Turkey Vulture looks rather menacing!
Have a fabulous weekend :)

Merlesworld said...

Great shot of the snake in the water,
Merle..........

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Somehow, this series today seems extra special Eileen... the snake was a treasure find!!! Happy weekend. YAM xx

Hootin Anni said...

If it'd be another 28 years before I saw a snake on the lake [or IN the lake] it'd be all too soon...EWWWWWWW!

italiafinlandia said...

Hi Eileen,
your snake is sensational!
Today I am posting a critter who is a pet...
Have a sunny weekend!
Luisella

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Sadly, Eastern Kingbirds will be leaving us soon and we won't have their delightful company on every walk. The flip side of that sweet sorrow, however, is that before we know it Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree Sparrows will be here to enliven the landscape - and what could be better than that?

DeniseinVA said...

Great critter photos Eileen, the snake was fascinating. Happy weekend :)

Tom said...

...an interesting shot of the snake, a critter that I like to stay clear of.

Nancy Chan said...

Beautiful critters. I hope the ducks are safe from that snake in the water.

Sussi said...

wow, the snake photo is wonderful!

Stone Cottage Adventures said...

What a beautiful mosaic! Thank you for hosting! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

Memaria said...

Beautiful photos...even the snake photo, although I don't like snakes!
Have a nice weekend!

Lea said...

I always enjoy seeing Kingbirds. I have seen a few leaves beginning to show Fall colors here, too
Have a wonderful week-end!

rupam sarma said...

Amazing pics.
Have a nice weekend.

Jo said...

Hello Eileen, wow on the water snake. I love the Eastern Kingbirds and all your critters. Thanks for hosting this meme.Have a great Saturday. Jo

Jenn Jilks said...

I love the snake! I've had quite a few photos like this. Water snakes can protect themselves, but check out potential predators, like humans!

Brian King said...

Very nice! Great photo of the snake! They make being in the water look effortless.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love those Canada geese! I've been walking to the pond in the evenings to see if any odd birds fly in...but nothing so far. What a week! I'm happy to be here at the party. Sweet hugs, Diane

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Wow - I've never seen a snake swimming, that is a terrific shot. Love the little birds - and that vulture is magnificent. Happy weekend.

Sandi said...

Why did I click on this? I knew it was a snake!

Looks like he just ate something. A fish, maybe, a person. YiiiiiiKES!

carol l mckenna said...

Eileen, that 1st photo is awesome of the snake ~ all your nature shots are divine ~ !

(Happy Weekend, A ShutterBug Explores)

Jeanie said...

I'll let you keep that first photo of the snake. Great shot. But it's a snake!

Cloudia said...

Thanks Eileen!

Lynne said...

Turkey vultures are THICK around here.
Great snake pic . . .
Happy you were the one close to it . . .

Small City Scenes said...

I see the 3 in the tree but I have never seen a snake in the water---yikes. We see lots of Vultures here--probably because of lots of woods and pastures means lots of little goodies to munch
MB

ellen b. said...

Good morning Eileen. Yikes, look at that snake. Great catch. Turkey vultures are so ugly. Is it okay for me to say that? Great photos!

A Colorful World said...

Saying hi from Virginia! Sneaky snake! Love the photos.

Carol Blackburn said...

Super shots! I agree that the snake is watching you and probably thinking, "too big to eat or not." I'd steer clear of it, for sure. LOL

Al said...

Great wildlife - that snake is incredible, and I love how you can see it in the water like that. I'm not sure I'd want to swim near it!

Suzanne said...

Good Morning. You got a good shot of that snake, with a view of almost his entire body through the water. Wonder how long he was! That Turkey Vulture has a strange, baldish head. Is that a large ring around his eye? I love the Kingbirds, they are so pretty! I enjoyed your post. Happy Saturday, Eileen!

Linda said...

The collage is delightful! What kind of snake is that?

Linda said...

Beautiful photos, Eileen! And I am so glad that our Canada geese visit with you! :)

Jeanna said...

Kudos on the snake shot, I'm always trying to get one and only have a few. You can really see why they're called turkey vultures, can't you. Fantastic photo. I live near a lake and see deer, cranes and muskrats. Although there are probably all sorts of birds I don't notice.

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

That vulture posed nicely for you, as did the watersnake, which usually has been very shy for me.Nice skies and waterscapes too!

21 Wits said...

Good morning Eileen, Cute, majestic and scary snake (although great photo) critters you've brought us today. You are the master at capturing them all! Enjoy your weekend.

RedPat said...

A snake in the water is very creepy! I like your sweet Kingbirds much better, Eileen! ;-))

GreenComotion said...

The shape of the snake reminds me of the Sigmoid function :)
Great snaps for the critter meme.
Have a Happy Weekend, Eileen!
Peace :)

Seraphinas Phantasie said...

Hi Eileen,
marvelous photos of all these animals. The water snake is amazing !
Have a great weekend, Eileen,.
Best, Synnöve

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

What a nice walk that is -- and it is always good to see something new on a regular walk -- even if it was a snake!! I saw the kingbird family. Thank you for hosting!!

Christine said...

Hello Eileen and thanks once again for hosting!
What an inquisitive snake but I'm glad he didn't come nearer!
I think you have succeeded in making a turkey vulture look good!
Great photos!
Happy saturday!

Linda Kay said...

Some wonderful pictures, Eileen, although I could do without the snake.

Our photos said...

Wow, very nice ! Pretty amazing, this snake in the lake !

William Kendall said...

The vulture's my favourite.

Lois said...

Nice looking critters, except maybe that snake! Funny how it is peeking out of the water at you.

HappyK said...

Great getting a shot of the snake in the water.
Those turkey buzzards sure are ugly, until you see them soaring in the sky.

rainfield61 said...

The first one almost scared me off.
But I continued to read through to enjoy your beautiful birds.

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello Eileen
That snake in the water definitely had its eye on you!
I did manage to spot the three Kingbirds, and loved how you finished your post with the mosaic, a very nice collection of photographs.

My good wishes for the weekend.

All the best Jan

September Violets said...

Love how that snake is just 'hanging' in the water. You see such interesting things on your walks. Kingbirds are such trim little birds and remind me of my childhood home where they would sit along the wire fences on the roadsides. Great shots Eileen!
Wendy

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I think that I prefer the birds to the snake but that is just from my upbringing :)

Anonymous said...

A wonderful stroll. Wonderful pictures. thank you for a sunny day.

Anonymous said...

Looks like Mr. Snake has a pretty pudgy tummy. Wonder if he had a delicious froggy for lunch.

The Yum List said...

That snake poking its head out of the water is sending chills down my spine!

Linda W. said...

I like your first pic of the snake in the water. You don't see that very often! My hubby and I did see a snake swimming in a lake on a hike we did this summer.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Turkey vultures are an interesting bunch, aren't they?

BeachGypsy said...

Hi there, Eileen, so nice to meet you! So glad you stopped by my front porch and now I am here looking at all your pretty pictures and enjoying them. I love nature pictures. I have never been to Maryland, so am looking forward to seeing all about your state through your pictures. Have a lovely weekend! Oh and P.S.---I am a huge dog lover too! We have two, how bout you? Glad you enjoyed my pictures of the Charleston dogs!

Ohmydearests said...

that snake photo is very interesting! have a beautiful day ahead!

Marco Luijken said...

Hello Eileen,
Great pictures of all these birds and the impressive snake.
Your first two shots are very well taken!!

Kind regards,
Marco

Betty Manousos said...

such a beautiful selection of images, eileen. that shot of the snake in the water just caught my eye. so very creative!

enjoy your sunday! xo

Lynn said...

Oh my - snake AND vulture in one walk!

The last time I was at the house by the river in North Carolina, a flock of geese few by, using the river as a path, then right behind them, more geese sailed by in the water (rather serenely, too.) And then some kayakers. All in the space of five minutes.

Crafty Green Poet said...

lovely photo of the snake and yes I can see all three kingbirds!

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Great shots, Eileen! I've seen snakes swimming in the upper reaches of the Yarra River here in Melbourne, and boy, can they swim!
Thanks for hosting.

Bob Bushell said...

What a beautiful scenery around you, and, the snake swimming, superb.

Debbie said...

wow, what a catch on the snake, i would have thought that was an eel, because of the "chubbiness!!!

turkey buzzards, a little bit ugly, but they are so pretty in flight!! and that looks like a geese-convention!!!

happy sunday, many thanks for linking me in!!!

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

wuving your critters

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Eeeek on the snake!

Pat Tillett said...

Great photos Eileen! You saw quite a few on that day. I don't know that I've ever seen a fresh water snake. I only found 2 of the 3 birds.

Anni said...

Thanks so much for adding your link to this post with us at I'd Rather B Birdin' this weekend Eileen. Always a joy to view your shares!! And....have a great week ahead. Happy Birding.

Pam said...

Yikes on he snake! I used to love to be in the lake but the thoughts of snakes make me nervous. Great pics.

Mia said...

Beautiful photos, Eileen. I have never seen a snake in a lake!!!!! Kisses, my friend.

diane b said...

Eeek don't like snakes.

Sue (this n that) said...

Wow, your sightings are wonderful. I love the snake in the water... the lump in his neck might perhaps be a previous meal?
Good wishes :D)

Francisco Manuel Carrajola Oliveira said...

Fantásticas e belas fotografias.
Um abraço e boa semana.

Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros

Mia said...

Hi Eileen. I am coming back to inform you that I just linked to Saturday's Critters #196. I hope that you like my post. Kisses, my friend.

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