The photo tank, dear readers, is running a bit low, so please send me your good wildlife photos for consideration. Today we have photos by four readers. First, regular Diana MacPherson is still snapping her eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus), and she got a great photo yesterday:
This guy was shovelling seeds into his mouth to put away in his burrow. Notice the ant clinging to his whiskers! Many a time the ant was close to being devoured but never was.
This one’s from Stephen Barnard in Idaho.
Flying in formation: Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) and Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus):
David Policansky, an old friend but a new contributor, sends two photos. First, a red-winged blackbird, photographed on Nantucket flaunting his epaulets:
And a lovely rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus):
From reader Mal Morrison, who sent these last Wednesday:
This morning I went to Prawle Point which is the most southerly point in Devon. I took these while walking the coastal footpath. The first bird is a Eurasian Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) and the other is a Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) which is a type of warbler.
Making my way back to the car I was very surprised when I almost walked into a Badger (Meles meles). It was pretty shocked as well judging from its hair in the second picture! We had a moment when we looked at each other and then it turned tail and slowly walked slowly into the long grass to the right. I’ve never seen one during the day before. It was quite early but two and a half hours since dawn.
Diana, thanks for pointing out it was an *ant* on chipmunk’s face. I saw a tastefully place crumb of some sort!
On the topic of red-winged blackbirds, you might enjoy this: A red-winged blackbird has started dive bombing people as they attempt to enter Canada’s Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. This is apparently the 2nd consecutive spring this has happened. (The attacks don’t seem to be directed at members of any particular political party):
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/angry-red-winged-blackbird-attacks-passersby-on-parliament-hill-1.3109896
Sorry, no photo, but yesterday I saw a racoon rummaging around the top of a garbage can at the 90th street entrance to Central Park. Aren’t racoons supposed to be nocturnal creatures? I ask because this happened at around 3:00. Anyway, he looked up at me and didn’t react. He just lollygagged about for a little bit and then crawled down and walked past me (about four feet away) into the brush. Beautiful creature and a bit bigger than your average-sized house cat.
Raccoons are very common in my neighbourhood and, at this time of year, are not uncommonly seen during the day. Someone told me this is because it is their breeding season and mothers need more food to promote lactation, but I have not verified whether that is true.
Raccoons usually feed at night. during the day they are occupied with riding alligators.
That’s hilarious. He almost looks like he’s doing a Titanic impression.
Come on man, I’m late for an appointment!
Great photos, thanks!
Stephen, the mobbing shot is great: Matching wing angles, the harrier looking right at you.
+1
(can’t type anymore – kitteh sleeping against the keyboard)
I like how both birds are looking as if to say, “hey, what’s going on down there?”
“Yeah, I see you. Remember that if you show this picture to any other Harriers, I know where you live.”
Here’s an exotic species for you, a British/European Chaffinch. We’re just back from UK. Tom
Sent from my iPad
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When living in Wyoming, I would see badgers from time to time. They are amazing creatures, but quite aggressive. I was always afraid one of my d*gs would corner one…thankfully it never happened.
What is that ant doing on the chipmunk’s whisker? How odd. And those red ones usually can bite with a sting.
Terrific formation shot of the Harriers Stephen.
And lovely portrait of the rufous hummingbird. The warm colors are wonderful…looks like a painting. For some reason, it reminds me of an Asian-style watercolor.
Thanks, Mark R. Others have said similar about that hummingbird shot, which remains one of my best after thousands of attempts since then.
That’s a lovely badger.
I might celebrate with one of his namesake ales. I’m pretty sure there’s a Golden Champion in the fridge.
Okay, it should be “pictures or go home”, but have to relate last night’s home invasion. My wife, watching TV in a back bedroom, shouted “There’s a bird in here!”
Wrong, a nice little bat was exploring our house room by room. Unlike every bird we’ve had fly in, it was unpanicked and totally in control, checking [probably mapping] both lighted and unlit rooms, even picking off a cranefly that ws orbiting one of our ceiling lights. After 2 or 3 laps through the house, it left as it came, through the open back door.
A pleasure to watch, and Flo was into it as well — she’d just taught a unit on Nagel’s “What it is to be a bat” in one of her classes.
Yes bats are very calm fliers and very lovely.
Hi Diana:
This has nothing to do with bats, but today I found not one but http://www.gocomics.com/looseparts/2015/06/15/ cartoons for you!
Well, that was a huge html fail.
…But two cartoons for you.
Ha ha! The second one was installed wrong.
Love ’em all, but my favorites this time are the stonechat and the chipmunk.
Lovely to see a badger in daylight!