Let Them Eat Squirrel

5:45 AM

Looked like Mama Owl had a squirrel she was feeding to The Lone Owlet

Turtles at Dawn

Ducks at Dawn

Dawn

Towers at Dawn

Mudback of Notre Pond

Curious coyote pup

Tired-looking coyote mom

Settling in to sleep after a good squirrel breakfast

Pre-sunset

Black Pheobe catching flies at sunset

The Lone Owlet at sunset

Nice pink at sunset

Ducks at dusk

Dusk

Can you find Jupiter and Venus?

Jupiter and four moons

Jupiter and Venus are easier to see in the above photo.

Grounded

The smaller owl was out of the tree on the ditchbank when Jake and I went on our early morning walk. Three coyotes were eyeing the owlet. I chased off the coyotes, ran home with Jake, grabbed a box, ran back, put the owl in the box, took it home, put it in the library, covered it and shut the door so the cats wouldn’t bother it. Luckily, Daddy Owl did not attack me, and Mama Owl was nowhere to be seen. I took the owlet to Animal Rescue in Albuquerque.

Daddy Owl watching th grounded owlet.

Owlet in the box

Sunrise

Lesser Goldfinch

The three coyotes were playing on the ditch bank across the ditch from the owlet’s tree when Jake and I resumed our walk.

Sunset

The lone owlet

Venus made a brief appearance through the clouds.

Jupiter and the crescent moon.

Towhee Tuesday

Blue Grosbeak at dawn

Mama Owl: “I see you pesky paparazzo!”

Mama Owl feeding and grooming the owlets at dawn

Yes Mama Owl, the pesky paparazzo is still here!

On the virge of sunrise

Towhee waiting for the sun to rise

Here comes the sun

“Talk to the tail, Paparazzo!”

A coyote pup followed Jake and I around on our walk in the bosque and on the riverbed.

Summer Tanager

The pup, standing closeby, cocked his head when I spoke to him

Bushtit

The little tike brushed by Jake while we were looking at the Bushtits, then he turned and looked at us like asking, “Well? Did you notice?” I saw him brush by Jakeout of the corner of my eye. Jake didn’t react, as if he didn’t notice.

Wile-E Coyote, Jr. followed us out to South Beach and acted like he wanted to play.

At first, he got too close for the Bazooka to focus (minimum focus in 11 feet), so I had to take a few steps back to get him into focus.

Jake ignored the poor pup’s advances, so the pup found a stick to play with, and then looked a bit sad as we waked away.

Blue Grosbeak

He was singing the blues

The pup followed us to the top of the levee and watched us cross the bridge over the Clearwater ditch, as we disappear behind the cottonwoods along the irrigation ditch. We didn’t see any adult coyotes on our walk in the bosque and on the riverbed.

A hummingbird with a “Don’t mess with me!” look on his face was between us and the coyote pup as we crossed the bridge on our way back to see what the owls were up to.

Mama Owl and Owlet where relaxing.

Laurie got good photos of the mama goose with her two goslings when she went out for a walk this morning.

Blue Grosbeak at dusk

I believe this is a female Black-headed Grosbeak.

Mama Owl waiting for Daddy Owl to bring dinner.

Owlets patiently waiting for dinner.

Can you find the hummingbird and the grosbeak in the above photo?

Sunset

On The Wildlife Side

Snowy Egret at Dawn

Wood Duck

This might be a Yellow-breasted Chat

Coyotes on the run

Mama owl and owlet sleeping and sunrise

Guard Hummingbird and sunset

One owlet at sunset

Wynona Beaver hanging out with us at sunset

Can you find Wynona in the above photo?

Can you find six coyotes in the above photo?

Owlets at dusk

Hummingbird at dusk

Beaver Coyote Overdrive

Goosey Dawn

Crow

Beavers have been taking care of business dragging willows to the river.

Coyote: “Is that Wynona taking care of beaver business I spy?”

Wynona taking care of beaver business

Wynona: “Take that stupid coyote and paparazzo!”

Handsome Coyote

Vato was hanging out on the fridge when I dropped by to pick up Jake

Spunk

Silver

No clouds dusk

Venus

Ralph & Herbie* Coyotes

Twilight

Herbie: “Hey Ralph! let’s see if we can find some kitty!”
Ralph: “I have some business to attent to first!
Herbie: “What do you mean, ‘Business to attend to?'”
Ralph: “I have to go ‘potty’ as the human’s say!”
Herbie: “Oh wow man! OK! Hurry up.”
Ralph: “Hey Herbie! Check it out, man! It’s a real masterpiece!”

Herbie: “Hey Ralph! Quit kicking dirt in my face!”
Ralph: “Hahahaha! Eat my dust, Herbie!”

*Reminiscent of Cheech & Chong’s “Ralph & Herbie” on their “Big Bambú” albumn, 1972.

Spunk: “You and the coyotes have gone too far with that crappy ripoff from Cheech & Chong. Those coyotes are uncreative, creepy characters with nothing but kitties on their twisted little minds. And you! You’re a sicko, pathetic, perverted paparazzo! I’m so embarrassed I’m crawling into a bean sack so I don’t have to look at you!”

Jake: “I think Ralph and Herbie are hilarious. I love crappy, mucus humor! You’re just an old sourpuss, Spunk! Lighten up a little and enjoy some lo-fi canine humor!”

Spunk: “At least my masterpieces are really Art! Unlike Ralph’s crap.”

Gwendolyn: “Hey, Spunk! Remember that I contributed to your latest masterpiece.”

Dusk