Saturday, June 30, 2018

Chattering Red Squirrel Demands Breakfast





This is what it is like being woken up by a spoiled Red Squirrel demanding to be fed breakfast. They have many vocalizations some are even quite bird-like. This is one they often use on each other to keep their fellow squirrels away from their food or are generally upset or as part of their alarm call repertoire, but like Blue Jays they have many nuances - one of which is to demand food. I guess I should feel honored to warrant a special squirrel slang to communicate with me.
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Friday, June 29, 2018

Father Bird Literally Kicks Kids Out of the House



Father Eastern Towhee literally throws his kids out of the "kitchen" with a few swift kicks to the head. He has been coming to the feeder with the chicks each morning for some time now and feeding them, but this morning it appears he's giving them a serious hint not to follow him around begging for food. They can make it on their own now! I know this is not the clearest video as I had to shoot through the screen door and missed the early part of the action, but had to share this little slice of bird life.
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Black Bear Signs



Black bear behavior and signs around people and deep in the Forest.
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Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Hummingbird Territory Battles



Male Ruby Throated Hummingbirds fight over a female, feeder and territory. While they may appear delicate they are tough little birds and even in super slow motion you can barely see the hard hits they put on each other. The males have the signature ruby red throats and the mature females a white throat for the most part.
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Hummingbird Territory Battles


Young Red Squirrel Herding Chipmunks




Herding Cats is easy compared to this young Red Squirrels futile attempts to control 3 young Chipmunks just out of the nest. Mature Red Squirrels know to save their energy.
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Saturday, June 23, 2018

Big Eyed Click Beetle


Also called a Big-eyed Elater and Eyed Click Beetle or Eastern Click Beetle (Alaus oculatus). A fascinating bug with big fake eyes to deter predators and an amazing jumping ability that results in its trademark "click" sound and the nickname Click Beetle. It is so fast it can't even be seen clearly in slow motion. Filmed on June 20th at Congaree National Park South Carolina.


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Big Eyed Click Beetle

Friday, June 22, 2018

Young Marsh Rabbit Eating




The young Marsh Rabbit has a lot of personality and is becoming a part of the Florida Backyard. The squirrels are getting used to him as he seems oblivious to their consternation of the squirrels who have apparently not seen a rabbit in their territory before. More on that later. I just hope the little guy can survive the hawks and snakes and other dangers!
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Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Ruby Throated Hummingbird Male


A male Ruby Throated Hummingbird close-up. Amazing how they control the appearance of their throat feathers from dark black to bright red.


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Ruby Throated Hummingbird Male

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Southern Flying Squirrel


The amazing and rarely seen Southern Flying Squirrel is the smallest and most ancient squirrel in North America. I'm hanging out with a bunch of them in the Great Smoky Mountains so more to come as we get to know each other. To see these amazing creatures in flight from a few years ago see: https://youtu.be/yYqAhJPF1NI


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Southern Flying Squirrel

Friday, June 15, 2018

Squirrels Ride Out a Severe Storm in Florida




Squirrel Riders On the Storm! Amazing account of two Backyard Gray Squirrels that ride out an intense official Severe Thunderstorm on the outside of the house. Their natural survival instincts lead them to do exactly the right things to survive, something humans can learn from. They were welcome in the house but chose to stay put outside. Imagine what it is like to ride out these Florida Lightning Storms in the tree tops all the time?
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Squirrels Ride Out a Severe Storm in Florida



Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Young Marsh Rabbit Visits Florida Backyard


Surprised to find a tiny young native Marsh Rabbit in the Backyard after recent flooding rains. Have never seen a rabbit in the Backyard or dense conservation area and neither have the squirrels apparently - more on that later. No feral cats for almost three years and just increasing population of the rabbits may have finally resulted in their reestablishing this as a territory. There should be Marsh Rabbits here anyway. They'll have to watch out for hawks and this one seems pretty caution. I'm no doubt the first human it has seen. Marsh Rabbits are considerable smaller than cottontails and this one is probably just out on his own and very tiny. Besides having small ears if you look closely you'll see their tail is brown on top and white on the bottom compared to the common cottontail.


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Young Marsh Rabbit Visits Florida Backyard


Monday, June 11, 2018

Anole Lizards Fight for Mating Territory


Like miniature dinosaurs in an old B-Movie Crested Brown Anole Lizards are fighting for prime Backyard mating rights and territory! Although rather violent at first glance if you watch closely its more about wearing down the opponent into submission and doing pushups. Previous prizefights can be seen at: https://youtu.be/CmYnQO_Csn0


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Sunday, June 10, 2018

Pileated Woodpecker Close Up


The most exciting of Backyard Birds, this stunning big male Pileated Woodpecker really knows how to make an entrance! He can peck away at my fence all he wants - that's fine with me. This is the first time I've caught one on film working the Backyard fence instead of back in the dense jungle. If you watch closely you'll see their amazing tongue lapping up passing ants. Filmed in Florida.


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Pileated Woodpecker Close Up

Friday, June 8, 2018

Raccoons Move In To Escape Flood


Seeing Raccoons in the daytime is not unusual this time of year as they are busy raising their kits and need more food. Excessive rain and flooding of the jungle behind the backyard has driven more wildlife into the Backyard than usual. Mother Raccoon has decided it is safer for her kids to live under my studio so she ripped through the lattice with relative ease.


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Raccoons Move In To Escape Flood


Thursday, June 7, 2018

Red Shouldered Hawk Hunting Camouflage




Raptors are not known for stealth but this Red Shouldered Hawk hunting snakes and maybe a squirrel in the Florida Backyard has found the perfect hunting stand. It is also using the morning light at its back to make it almost impossible to see and even film because of the glare. This has been the "snakiest" Spring I can remember and they are like gourmet sushi for the hawks!
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Red Shouldered Hawk Hunting Camouflage

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Black Racer Snake at Full Speed - Squirrel Runs Away!





Fastest Black Racer Snake at full acceleration is a sight to behold and so is a Gray Squirrel that runs away in fear! What is the fastest U.S. snake is open to debate depending on environment and circumstances, but watch this Black Racer kick it into high gear on grass and its hard to imagine any faster snake. A person would have to break stride and run to keep up with or ahead of it. Squirrels have been filmed attacking snakes to protect their territory and family before, this may be the first time one has been filmed running away up a tree to safety when coming eye to eye with a snake.
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Black Racer Snake at Full Speed - Squirrel Runs Away!

Monday, June 4, 2018

Young Squirrel Crying In The Rain


Constant rain is a bummer! The juvenile Red Squirrels are on their own now and scampering all over exploring, but two weeks of rain in the Great Smoky Mountains has got this one really down. He doesn't even feel like chewing on his favorite piece of wood. But a short break in the downpours and a new adventure starts.


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Sunday, June 3, 2018

Rhododendron Blooming 12-Day Time Lapse


12-Day time lapse of a Rhododendron bush blooming in the Great Smoky Mountains. Pictures were taken every two minutes from 5/12/18 to 5/23/18 to make a true time lapse. Challenges - Rhododendrons take a long time to bloom - there are almost 8 thousand pictures that make up the film. They continue to bloom significantly at night which leads to jumps between dark and dawn. Nighttime infrared pictures are not included in this time lapse. I may do a separate one later. Wind, sun glare, rain and passing clouds effect this true natural time lapse, but all in all it came out pretty nice. Filmed with the Campark Trail Game Camera 14 MP available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ssXAPs


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Saturday, June 2, 2018

Blue Jays Attack Pileated Woodpecker



A nesting pair of Blue Jays versus a female Pileated Woodpecker that must be pecking for bugs too close to their nest. Blue Jays never cease to amaze me! One Jay makes quite hard contact on the body of the woodpecker, but like most big birds it just takes the abuse in stride and doesn't waste energy trying to reciprocate. The woodpecker puts a great move on the second Blue Jay leading to a clean miss on what would have been a hard body blow. Filmed in Florida June 1st.
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Blue Jays Attack Pileated Woodpecker