Friday, January 31, 2014

Feral Tabby Cat Visits Backyard Birdbath



Feral Tabby Cat Visits the Backyard Birdbath. First in a series of videos documenting my attempts to socialize or relocate a wild cat that had started hunting birds and squirrels in the backyard. It had killed several Mourning Doves by this time. This cat was very wary and would run into the woods behind the backyard at the first sight or sound of me opening a door. I started the process by observing it from a distance without being detected. It is a big gorgeous cat, but clearly not compatible with Backyard Birding and wildlife, especially our young owlets in the late winter. 

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Backyard Birding, bengal cat, birding, cat, feral cat, Tabby cat, wild cat, Birdbath,


Feral Tabby Cat in the Woods - Amazing Cat Camouflage



Feral (Wild) Tabby Cat in Woods behind the Backyard hunting birds and squirrels. The colors and pattern are about perfect to blend in with environment. Second in a series of videos documenting my attempts to socialize and/or relocate this truly wild cat that had started hunting birds and squirrels in the backyard. It had killed several Mourning Doves by this time. This cat was very wary and would run into the woods behind the backyard at the first sight or sound of me opening a door. I started the process by observing it from a distance without being detected. It is a big gorgeous cat, but clearly not compatible with Backyard Birding and wildlife, especially our young owlets in the late winter. 

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Feral Tabby Cat in the Woods - Amazing Cat Camouflage


Squirrel Juggling Peanuts !



Cute squirrel juggles peanuts - its nesting season and if the squirrels can't learn to carry more than one peanut at a time to the nest the Blue Jays will have them. Our blue jays are actually bigger than some of the squirrels and definitely tougher and to be feared! Perseverance pays off in the end! Filmed with a cell phone. 

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cute Squirrel juggling peanuts

Video: Squirrel Juggling Peanuts !

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Painted Buntings - Most Colorful Songbird in North America!



Two new mature male Painted Buntings arrived recently. This is the first time this winter we've had two full-color males at the feeder at once - in past years there has been as many as 6 to 8.  The females and immature males are a jade or emerald green color - see them at:

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Brown Widow Spider Invasion !


Brown Widow Spider Mother and her multitude of youngsters are heading out for a night of feeding. Oddly Mr. Brown Widow is nowhere to be found - - oh --- right! Poor guy. The problem is they are living in my chaise lounge - the Brown Widows are getting to be a bit of a problem these days. They love lawn and patio furniture and this is one backyard critter that I do have to dispose of. They are more toxic than Black Widows, but they are not as likely to bite or bite hard, but they have a habit of making their homes where people like to sit. Their "webs" are sloppy and often have hanging debris in them looking untidy and old or unused, but they are not. Look before you sit! I plan to do a more in-depth blog on the Brown Widows in the future - maybe it's two warm winters in a row, but they are everywhere now!

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Brown Widow Spider Invasion


Brown Widow Spider Invasion


Monday, January 27, 2014

Altocumulus Cloud Sunset Time Lapse set to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata



Altocumulus Cloud Sunset Time Lapse


Two-hour time lapse of beautiful altocumulus clouds (my favorite cloud type) at sunset set to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata makes for a relaxing feast for the eyes and ears. Was fortunate to see these clouds coming right over the Backyard and set up the camera just as they arrived. These are technical Altocumulus stratiformis perlucidus undulatus  progressively invading the sky (UN WMO Cloud Atlas) and because they are moving right at the camera the time lapse effect is most dramatic. Typical with this type of cloud they tend to thicken up as the move over and a nice pink sunset effect is seen.

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Wild Parrots - Feral Blue Crowned Conures in Central Florida!



20 or so Wild Parrots - I believe Blue Crowned Conures -  feasted on the ripe fruit of our Loquat tree this afternoon. First time ever seen in our yard - they are native to South America, but are probably a feral colony established from escaped pets over the years. Unfortunately  they attracted the attention of a big hawk who scared them away before I had time to video them at length. But we have a bumper crop of loquats this winter and I hope they will be back - it's easy to tell when they arrive because they make a tremendous racket, but grow quiet as the eat. They blended in with the dense green and yellow of the loquat tree and it wasn't until they all took off I realized how many there were. A new bird species documented in the "Backyard" and one of the most unique to date - beautiful birds!

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Sunday, January 26, 2014

Free Downy Woodpecker Call Ringtone - Subscriber Appreciation!

Free Quality Downy Woodpecker Ringtone Download for YouTube Subscribers and Blog Readers!

Free Downy Woodpecker Call Ringtone for your phone. I will try and have a new and interesting nature ringtone at least every other month for Blog readers and viewers of the companion Backyard Birding...and Beyond YouTube Channel.

Here is the Link to the free Downy Woodpecker Ringtone. On a desktop PC it will take you to a Google Drive page with the name "Downy_Woodpecker_Call.mp3" in the upper left of the page with a download arrow and there will be a "download" button in the upper middle . The download address will have a coded URL, but will be put in your download directory with the name: "Downy_Woodpecker_Call.mp3". However, on some smart phones you'll only see the download button in the middle of the page and the coded file-name may be put in your download directory and look like a bunch of numbers and letters - this is not a problem - simply rename it to "downy woodpecker" for example - it just takes one extra step.

You can download it to your desktop PC and transfer to your phone's ringtone directory via USB connection or download it directly to your phone. I will not provide technical support as there are many devices out there. On my Droid I simply downloaded it and it is stored in the download directory and then I copied it to the ringtone directory and selected it as a ringtone.  I also copied it to the alarm and notification directories as it would be great for these as well. Most devices are similar. Good luck. Thanks for watching and reading and enjoy your new ringtone!
 Link to the free Downy Woodpecker Ringtone.


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Thursday, January 23, 2014

Hand Feeding Blue Jays Peanuts- Backyard Land Sharks!



Succeeded in hand-feeding our rather large Blue Jays, but almost lost a few fingers in the process ;-) 
Gradually "trained" them to come out in the open to an open hand after bringing the peanuts close to cover initially.  I now have them coming to me to eat at a window in somewhat of an orderly fashion. They are not too concerned about how much skin they get with the peanut as they are not ones to dilly-dally in an open hand! Trust only goes so far. The ubiquitous Blue Jay is taken for granted, but up close and personal they are strong, athletic mini-predators that can take out a lizard, small snake - or a peanut in the blink of an eye and they are the watchdogs of the backyard!


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hand feeding blue jay peanuts


Sun Dogs, Contrails and UFO's in Florida - Oh My! January 17th 2014



Brilliant Sun Dogs, contrails and a UFO? - too much excitement for one afternoon!  Caught these intense sun dogs on my cell phone camera late Friday afternoon (1/17/2014) near sunset. Fortunate to have a strategic palm tree to shield the intense sun! A sun dog (or sundog), mock sun or phantom sun, scientific name parhelion (plural parhelia), is an atmospheric phenomenon that creates bright spots of light in the sky, often on a luminous ring or halo on either side of the sun as in this classic case. Sundogs may appear as a colored patch of light to the left or right of the sun, 22° distant and at the same distance above the horizon as the sun. Sundogs are commonly made by the refraction of light from plate-shaped hexagonal ice crystals in high and cold cirrus clouds and are best seen and are most conspicuous when the sun is low as can be seen in the photos and video. The "UFO effect" that develops during the video is most likely caused by over-saturation of the camera sensor by the intense solar radiation.

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UFO contrails and Sun dog (or sundog), mock sun or phantom sun, scientific name parhelion (parhelia), atmospheric phenomenon


UFO contrails and Sun dog (or sundog), mock sun or phantom sun, scientific name parhelion (parhelia), atmospheric phenomenon

Video: Palm tree provides the perfect centerpiece for Sun Dogs in Florida!

Osprey Calls and Eats Fish in the Backyard



Osprey fish hawk fish eagle in Florida
Video: Osprey Calls and Eats Fish in the Backyard

It was exciting to have an Osprey (also called Fish Hawk or Fish Eagle) bring a fish to a tree behind the Backyard and proceeds to eat it and make some great calls over the next 30 minutes. This video shows the beginning and end and I do mean the business end - with the best calls! This was mid afternoon and the light and angle wasn't perfect, but the big raptor was close and enjoying the fish so much that it paid me no mind. It was a treat to be able to watch this magnificent bird for over 30 minutes. Near the end it lets fly some serious poop so be prepared. The third biggest raptor to visit the backyard after the eagles and turkey vultures. I have never been able to film an Eagle's visit however. The Osprey is one of my favorites as it eats only fish from the drainage canals and lake in the conservation area behind the Backyard and I like to fish as well!

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Osprey fish hawk fish eagle in Florida

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

It's Squirrel Appreciation Day!







Squirrel Appreciation Day is January 21st - These young squirrels are excited and can't stop talking about it. It's time to pause and reflect and say thanks to your squirrels. Buy them some peanuts and feed them through the cold winter days as well as the birds! Get in touch with your "Inner Squirrel". To really appreciate the intelligence, social skills and work ethic of these furry little friends Check out the definitive Red Squirrel YouTube Video Playlist!

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Squirrel Appreciation Day! Red Squirrel

Squirrel Appreciation Day! Red Squirrel

Squirrel Appreciation Day! Red Squirrel








Friday, January 17, 2014

American Goldfinches Arrive in Florida for Winter



Small flock of American Goldfinches arrived in the backyard today - must be cold up north! A few Goldfinches have been passing through for weeks now. This is a mixed bag of immature and non-breeding males and females on their winter grounds. Two resident Painted Buntings are in the mix and are just a little stouter than the Goldfinches. One immature male Goldfinch with just a bit of scruffy black feathers on his head has some attention deficit issues toward the end.

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American Goldfinch in Florida for Winter

Video: American Goldfinches Arrive in Florida for Winter

Red Bellied Woodpecker Nest Box Inspection



A male Red-Bellied Woodpecker performs a very thorough inspection of the Woodpecker Nest Box I installed last year and seems to give it his seal of approval. He knocks on the walls and roof and it sounds nice and solid - a good place to raise a family. I have a camera inside the nest box this year and hopefully they will make a nest there this season and raise their young. The squirrels have shown no interest in it this year so maybe they will leave the woodpeckers alone - I think that is why the woodpeckers failed to use it last year.

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Red Bellied Woodpecker Inspects Nest Box


Friday, January 10, 2014

Eastern Screech Owl Camouflage and Defensive Survival Techniques



Eastern Screech Owl Camouflage and Defensive Techniques - A Mini-Documentary. YouTube videos of a White-faced Scops-Owl "performing" by being frightened (i.e. abused) into changing it's appearance on a Japanese TV show for laughs led to names such as Transformer Owl, Evil Owl, Dracula Owl etc. In fact, many small owls use "Concealing Postures" or the German word "Tarnstellung"  to survive in a very hostile world. Perhaps the very best small owl that does this and so much more is the relatively little observed or studied Eastern Screech Owl. Hours of footage over two years of one female Red-Morph Eastern Screech Owl guarding her nest box in Florida were combined into this short mini-documentary so that these amazing creatures can be appreciated for their tenacious survival instincts and dedication to raising their young in a natural environment. 

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Transformer Owl Eastern Screech Owl

Transformer Owl Eastern Screech Owl

Monday, January 6, 2014

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch With Thaicom Television Satellite From Cape Canaveral 1/6/2014



Cape Canaveral 1/6/2014: SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch With Thaicom Television Satellite From Cape Canaveral. Be sure and set YT to 1080 HD! Another successful SpaceX launch - the good news is that low clouds cleared briefly just at launch so I caught the early stages, but high level clouds obscured the view after just a minute or so. The view really depended on where you were, but I doubt if many people in Florida got a decent view this time. The view for the last launch on December 3rd in the video below was superb, but any launch is a great launch!

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch With Thaicom Television Satellite From Cape Canaveral

Video: SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launch With Thaicom Television Satellite From Cape Canaveral

17th Annual Florida Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival January 22-27 2014

Florida's "Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival" starts January 22nd in Titusville, Florida. Its one of the largest such shows in the U.S. With some luck attendees will spot the most colorful songbird in all of North America, the Painted Bunting, which winters in the Space Coast of Florida. Generally holding in dense thickets of oaks and even Brazilian Pepper scrub they are very hard to spot in the wild away from backyard feeders. One of my favorites is the Brown Thrasher, another bird that generally holds to dense scrub thickets. It is also woodpecker season and while its always exciting to see the Downy Woodpeckers and the giant Pileated Woodpeckers - your goal should be to spot the exceedingly rare Red Cockaded Woodpecker. Of course raptors in wide open spaces and shorebirds and water birds by the score are a given! Come on down.

Painted Buntings in Florida




Brown Thrasher in Florida






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Sunday, January 5, 2014

Comb Tooth Mushroom - Magic Fungi



The Comb Tooth Mushroom (Hericium coralloides) - A Magic Mushroom if ever there was one - and closely related to the Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom see:
I came upon both of these large specimens on a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains last August and I am now a dedicated mushroom watcher - I had never seen such amazing mushrooms. Who knew they could be so fascinating. These are arguably the most stunning fungi one is likely to encounter and they are both highly prized for recipes and medicinal properties.  It is said this mushroom tastes like Lobster and is good used in a Chowder! It is also one of the least likely group of mushrooms to be mistakenly identified as they are so unique. The Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom has larger "teeth" that are more like stalactites hanging from a cave roof while the Comb Tooth Mushroom has much smaller "teeth" and looks more like a piece of brain coral. These specimen were at or near peak condition and of course I left it for others to enjoy!   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hericium

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Comb Tooth Mushroom - Magic Fungi

Comb Tooth Mushroom - Magic Fungi

Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom and Comb Tooth Mushroom Comparison
Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom and Comb Tooth Mushroom Comparison

Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom - Magic Fungi



The Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom (Hericium americanum) - A Magic Mushroom if ever there was one.  When I came upon this large specimen on a hike in the Great Smoky Mountains last August it stopped me in my tracks - I had never seen such an amazing mushroom. This is arguably the most stunning fungi one is likely to encounter and it is highly prized for recipes and medicinal properties. It is also one of the least likely mushrooms to be mistakenly identified as it is so unique. This specimen is at or near peak condition and of course I left it for others to enjoy!  The closely related Comb Tooth Mushroom can be seen at:   http://youtu.be/-LN21l6F6xY

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Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom



Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom and Comb Tooth Mushroom Comparison

Bear's Head Tooth Mushroom and Comb Tooth Mushroom Comparison

Transformer Owl - The Original Mini-Documentary



The Real, Wild "Transformer Owl "! They have been called Transformer Owl, Shapeshifter Owl, Evil Owl, Dracula Owl etc. In fact, many small owls use "Concealing Postures" or the German word "Tarnstellung"  to survive in a very hostile world. Far from evil or scary, they are amazing small creatures that have unusual adaptive ability to change their appearance. Perhaps the very best small owl that does this and so much more is the little observed or studied Eastern Screech Owl. Hours of footage over two years of one female Red-Morph Eastern Screech Owl guarding her nest box in Florida were combined into this short mini-documentary so that these amazing creatures can be appreciated for their tenacious survival instincts and dedication to raising their young in a natural environment. 

More info at: http://screech-owls.blogspot.com/2012/09/transformer-screech-owls-taking.html   and
http://screech-owls.blogspot.com/2013/05/transformer-owl-takes-down-curious-and.html

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Incredible Ability to Alter Appearance - Transformer Owl - The Original Mini-Documentary

Friday, January 3, 2014



Brown Thrashers are rarely seen in the backyard - even more so in the open having a drink. A rather striking looking bird they are always a thrill to see.

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