Saturday, January 18, 2020

Saturday's Critters # 318

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!


If you love all God's creatures 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!


 I am sharing more birds and critters from our December Road trip, we were in Florida for 5 of the days.

The Gopher Tortoise likes sandy soil, dunes and coastal grasslands. They dig a burrow and spend most of their lives in the burrow. This Tortoise shares their burrow home with possibly as many as 360 other species including snakes, mice, fox, skunk, frogs, rabbits, armadillo, lizards and burrowing owls. The burrow can be 52 feet long and 23 feet deep.

Down the road some at another beach, we found 2 Gopher Tortoises outside their burrow.


Add caption

We stopped to see what birds were at the Matanzas Inlet, Flagler County Florida.  If there was a time for my birding scope ( hubby says I told you to pack the scope)  this was it. The birds were too far away, it looked like  a large flock of various gulls, terns, shorebirds and I assume Black Skimmers.


 A Semipalmated Plover.


 Pretty sure these are Willets. Id update: thanks to Ken and Anni the birds below are Dowitchers.




 









 Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful comments!





Here is a list of my linky parties;

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the host Anni.

100 comments:

  1. Cool shots. Big Tortoise--plural. We don't see them here
    MB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I enjoyed seeing the tortoise, they are cool. Thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  2. Big tortoises and pretty birds on the beach. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nancy, for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  3. Wonderful this photos! I lov this Willets that are so sweet and the Gopher Tortoises!!!This place with its beautiful wildlife, I am thrilled1
    Have a nice weekend, Elke

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Elkes, for the nice comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  4. What beautiful photos you have for us today! I like the turtles.
    I have read that the Gopher tortoise can be 40 to 60 years old in nature, even older in captivity.
    I wish you a nice and sunny weekend, Eileen! 🤗

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did enjoy seeing the tortoise in their habitat. Thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  5. Love the Plover Eileen. We do have Ringed Plover in N.I. but not this one. Thanks for hosting and have a great weekend and week ahead.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Plovers are cute. Thanks Margaret, for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  6. You were fortunate to see the tortoises out of their burrow then Eileen! I love how they share their burrow. Our wombats have shared their burrows during the fires with other creatures I have recently been told.
    Great bird shots (even the ones at a distance because we can still see what you describe) :D)
    Cheers and all good wishes to you xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello, Sue! I am glad the wombat share their burrow during the fires. The tortoise were fun to see.
      Thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  7. Hari OM
    Oh I do have a fondness for the wee shore birds... Happy weekend! YAM xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Yam, for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  8. Today I'll pick the Tortoises as my favourites. Thanks for sharing info about these critters.
    Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Tortoise were my favorite too. Thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  9. I find those Gopher Tortoises really fascinating. i would have loved to have seen them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was cool finding the tortoise, 3 found in one day. Thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  10. So far the only Gopher Tortoises I have encountered are those I rescued from roads. Maybe those pipers in the close flock are dowitchers. I am imagining that they are probing sewing-machine-like. I do not get them inland so am not very sharp at identifying shorebirds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Ken,
      I am sure there were some Dowitchers there too. But, I see a dark spot on their tails, which makes me think of the Willets. It is nice of you to rescue the tortoise crossing the roads.
      Have a great day, thanks for the comment.

      Delete
  11. Hello Eileen. Wonderful photos. Plover is a beautiful bird. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Anu, for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  12. ...I feel a bit warmer on this cold winter morning after seeing your critters, thanks Eileen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tom, thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  13. I had no idea the burrow could be that big, it's like a critter hotel. a skyscraper gone sideways... I love to watch willets run around at the beaches...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandra, that's a good description, a skyscraper gone sideways. Thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  14. The Gopher Tortoises are a pleasure to see. Wonderful bird photos as always.
    Have a wonderful weekend, Eileen and thanks for hosting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bill, it was neat seeing the tortoise. Thanks for the comment and visit. Enjoy your weekend!

      Delete
  15. I really like the tortoises and the plover photo is wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh my, I love the tortoise photo. That's a great shot.
    Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a great st of photos, as usual, Eileen! Really liked the tortoises.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Eileen....those aren't willets. Willets are nearly one shade of gray and longer, thin legs [also gray] I'm thinking dowitchers or dunlins..but, with the beak and coloring I'd say dowitchers

    LOVE the tortoise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Here's a link to compare your photo of dowitchers vs. willet

      https://nationalzoo.si.edu/scbi/migratorybirds/featured_photo/images/bigpic/lbdo24.jpg

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

      Delete
  19. PS: Thank you for hosting and have a great new week!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Ahhh...the tortoises are my favourite. The little plovers enjoy our beaches in August and September.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love them! I've never even heard of willets!
    Thanks for hosting! have a good one!

    ReplyDelete
  22. You see so many different birds at the beach! I am SO ready for a beach vacation! Love the tortoises too. Enjoy your weekend! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Hello Eileen,

    Beahtiful photos as usual! The tortoises are very pretty.
    Happy weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  24. do-witchers, wow...that's quite an interesting name. the gopher tortoises are quite interesting, i don't think i have ever seen them, even in a zoo!! great shore birds, i'm "shore" hubby was right (darn it) the birding scope would have come in handy during this adventure!!

    have a great weekend eileen, we're getting snow!!! YaY!!! many thanks for hosting!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. That's fascinating information about the Gopher Tortoise Eileen. Who would have guessed about the size of their burrows and the other creatures that share their homes? Shame about the lack of scope but they are heavy do take up a lot of room with a tripod too. Thanks for your hosting again.

    ReplyDelete
  26. The Gopher Tortoise are definitely fascinating to see and read about ~ lovely nature shots!

    Happy Moments to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I loved reading about those tortoises and I love the word tortoise. Imagine those burrows! Our tiny little painted turtles are sweet but no match and I think all they've done is sink in the mud for the winter.

    ReplyDelete
  28. No matter what we are using it's never far enough. With the cameras today we can get a good photo and take time to identify the bird after it has flown away.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Gopher Tortoises! I would love to see them!
    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Gostei muito de ver e adorei as tartarugas bem estranhas! bjs, praianos,chica

    ReplyDelete
  31. Nice pic of the plover! Have a nice weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Those tortoises are amazing. A lot of creatures depend on them to provide housing!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi Eileen,
    Very beautiful species of turtles!
    But I prefer the beautiful birds;)) !!
    Have a good weekend.
    Hugs,
    Ailime

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi Eileen!

    Förstås så har jag aldrig heller sett en sköldpadda i dess naturliga miljö, för mig här uppe i Norden är alla dessa bilder av fåglar och andra djur exotiska. Ibland så tänker jag att vår nordiska natur är så begränsad på grund av det kyliga klimatet men det finns mycket att upptäcka även här om man bara tar sig tid och är nyfiken.
    Fina bilder Eileen!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Tortoise! Really cool. Loved seeing all the sea birds, too. Happy weekend to you, Eileen!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Ciao, complimenti per queste bellissime fotografie.

    Sono una tua nuova followers mi farebbe piacere se venissi a trovarmi sul blog: https://capriccidellaste.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  37. so interesting to learn a bit of the Gopher Tortoises. Don´t think I have heard about them before. Not even on any tv-show. :) At my place nature is quite boring right now. More like rainy spring then winter. Loved to see vaders :)
    Have a gret week.

    ReplyDelete
  38. That must have been a great trip. I have never heard of the Gopher Tortoise before, very interesting! The Semipalmated Plover is new to me also, such a pretty little bird. Always great when our blogging friends help out with identification. You have helped me ID many birds for which I am always grateful. Have a great weekend Eileen :)

    ReplyDelete
  39. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  40. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  41. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  42. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  43. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  44. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  45. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  46. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  47. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  48. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  49. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  50. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  51. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  52. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  53. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  54. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  55. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  56. what's up with your comments. It looks like they've all been removed by a blog administrator. Very weird!

    Your photos are anything but weird! Magnificent tortoises -- what a grand sight to see!

    ReplyDelete
  57. Preciosas imagens, Eileen!
    Fiquei especialmente encantada com a foto das tartarugas!
    Adorei ver! Beijinhos
    Ana

    ReplyDelete

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

BTW, Anonymous comments unless a name is included will not be published. Also, comments with links will be deleted.

Have a happy day, Eileen

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "Sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts." Rick's Cafe, N...