Saturday's Critters # 613

  Welcome to Saturday's Critters! Hello and Happy Saturday!

 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!

Click on images for better viewing.

I am sharing lots of butterfly images. In August I was seeing so many butterflies, way more than last year. Wildlife sightings around our yard were the white-tailed deer and lots bunny sightings. 

1. August 1, while washing dishes at my kitchen sink looking out the window I see a mama deer with her fawn. 

2. Aug 2nd, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly, the Monarch Butterfly and a sweet bunny.

3. This baby bunny hangs out under our blueberry bushes.  Adorable, I hope it stays safe! 

4. Aug 3rd, I sat on our deck watching for birds and butterflies.  I saw lots of butterflies around the buddleia bush.  

5. Below is the pretty Eastern Tiger Swallowtailed butterfly. 

"Butterflies are not insects, they are self-propelled flowers."

6. I seem to see more of the Black Swallowtail butterflies. 

7. Aug 3rd, Miney was funny one day, there were so many butterflies flying around she was barking at them.  

"If you smile when you see a butterfly, you have happiness in your soul."

8. Flashback to a 2017 Florida bird, the Snail Kite. We has some great views of this bird at the Circle B Preserve in Lakeland Florida. This sighting of the Snail Kite was a new life bird for me. 

The female Snail Kite has the whitish feathers around the face. Juveniles are brown above and streaked brown and buff below, a buffy throat and eyebrow.

Another Florida 2017 lifer was the Swallow-tailed Kite. Not the best photo but at I least I could record my lifer. 

I am linking up to Heidrun's Mosaic Monday   I hope you can stop by and visit Heidrun and check out the Mosaic Monday post.

Thanks to all my visitors and for your past and present comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves and respects wildlife. Thank you for linking up a critter post.

Check out  Catblogosphere.com

Here is my linky:

Thank you for sharing your critters and post! 

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Can you believe this is the last Thursday of the month? I think as I get older the time go by faster than ever.  I am glad it is Spring and the days are getting warmer with longer days of sunshine. 

I am sharing some more Florida photos, this is Jan 11th we are getting close to the end of our January 2019 trip. We took a day trip to Lake Kissimmee located at the Joe Overstreet Landing, Kenansville Florida.

 This location is private but a lot of birders post nearby sightings of different rare birds like the Smooth-billed Ani. I thought I saw the Ani while driving the main road, it was flying towards some trees. This area has the Swamp tours if you are interested. We did not have time for the swamp tour, we had a busy day planned going to various places, next on the list was Vero Beach. 

There were a herd of cattle standing under the trees, lots of Swallows in flight and Cattle Egrets standing around. 

We saw lots of Cattle Egrets, Swallows, Grackles, Cormorants and GB herons. 

The Snail Kite has something in his mouth, maybe a snail?

Near the Lake Kissimmee were 2 Bald Eagles in a tree, I think there was a nest in this tree.

Next to the road we saw a group of Sandhill Cranes. 

After leaving the Joe Overstreet area we drove to Vero Beach. We wanted to check out the area and take a walk on the beach. We a few Black-bellied Plovers on the beach.

There was something that just drew my eyes to these three palm trees on the Vero Beach. 

The water and sky at Vero beach were beautiful, I love the various shades of blue. 

I am always thankful for blue skies and warm walks on the beach.
I am thankful for Spring and long days with sunshine. 
I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday



Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

Saturday's Critters #174

Saturday's Critters #174

Wishing all a Happy Easter and weekend!

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

More from the Circle B Reserve.  The Barred Owls were seen during most visits, right near the parking lot. Some visits we saw one owl, maybe two Barred Owls together and even three owls seen close together on one day. Can you find both Barred Owls in the photo below?

The Black-bellied Whistling Ducks always a favorite sighting.

A Snail Kite

The American Bittern was usually easy to find.

The turtles come out in the sunshine.

Green Heron

The Black Crowned Night Heron.

I always enjoy seeing the Cattle Egrets.

A pretty Great Blue heron pose.

As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.

Snail Kite

Hello,

I never got around to sharing this Florida lifer, the Snail Kite. I was able to see this raptor a few times at the Circle B Reserve in Lakeland Florida.

 The Snail Kite is a bird of prey and is included in the group with the Eagles, Hawks and old World Vultures.

The Snail Kite has a dark deeply hooked beak.

The female has dark upperparts and streaked pale underparts.

I believe the Snail Kite migrates in the winter, breeds in the Caribbean, South American and Southern Florida.

Thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

My list of memes for today, I hope to see you there. Thanks to both of the host below.

Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday