A couple of this week's photos. Enjoy your Independence Day!

Wilson's snipe. Many of you been snipe hunting?


More Gambel's quail; female in background.


Young-of-year badger.

We have a season on woodcock here in NY. They look similar to the Snipe in your picture.

Nice pictures.

Wonderful shots, Jack. Love those birdies. I think snipe, woodcock, night Jars, those types, with their mottled brown patterns, are as beautiful as any bird species. Enjoy your Independence Day freedom too, and stay cool. I have monitored your temps down there since this high pressure has been irritating the region. Thank goodness it is finally leaving.

Learned snipe hunting in boy scouts from the experts.
Enjoy the Gulo posts.

Cool pictures and way better than mine Gulo. My only recent photos are from the
never ending fun in the sun after the recent storms. One a high note, I don't even need a jacket
most afternoons.

Hoss -
Your country looks a tad different than mine. We're into the 90s pretty much every day, and for us, that's stinkin' hot. Probably nothin' compared to what you're enduring.

Vinke -
I don't know if it's the heat or the severe drought we're in, but songbirds of almost every creed are way down this year. On the other hand, we've got swallowtails in greater numbers than I've ever seen around here. Nice photos, folks. Thanks.

My snipe hunting has always been at night with a gunny sack, flashlight and beer.

Here's one with some curiousity factor from a trip to AZ this week - an "arrow tree". Apparently a display of a hunter/warrior skill to have the highest arrow in the tree according to the native culture.

Nothing real fascinating here, but in first picture I'm facing north. The North Platte river is just beyond the trees. 2nd picture I'm standing in exactly the same spot but pointing camera south. Those hills form the what we call the North Platte river valley. Lots of history here between those hills and the river. The Overland and Oregon trail traveled along here in between the river and hills.

What are those light colored trees in the background-first pic?Silver maples?Or is it dead brush?

Looks like they killed it! Wonder who got credit for that?

Chris

There are some silver maples around but those are Russian olives.

Look like Russian olives to me Boco. They usually grow around water in more open country, never seen them in real timbered country.

Silky, there are hills in those pictures? Where at?

Sharon I struggle determining snipe or woodcock....as you said....similar colors and habitat. But I guess the
Woodcock would be in woodsy wet ground habitat where the snipe along the shore?

,.,

snipe hunting with a bag was a big thing in virginia when i was a kid.

I also learned that a Woodcock's body is somewhat colored like, and resembles a "Yam Flute". A Snipes body is more slender . . . unless you're talkin' bout these Snipes

I don’t know the species of this one but it is cool.

Yes that is my learning...woodcock in heavy timber , snipe along water in tall grass.

There is a bird that makes a wonderful willowy sound when flying in display along the wetland. I loved hearing them . I think it was snipe displaying in air. Many years ago I head that sound. Miss hearing all this.

I love the sound of night hawks in air at dusk too .

I had a nighthawk swoop down and "drum" me in total darkness one night. Not knowing what it was at the time, it scared the heck out of me.
It sounds like an alien ship coming in on you. (I am not talking about the '57 Chevy driving aliens. I ain't scurrd of them.)

Monarch butterfly about to emerge




Newly emerged question mark butterfly


Viceroy butterfly caterpillar

A few pictures from our camping and wheeler riding trip at Murray Idaho last weekend.

Game room

4.5 year old.

Just an OLD doe we call granny. She’s on the “No Kill” list and has been for a couple of years. Best I can tell is she’s between 8-10 years old. Really needs to go as she hasn’t produced any fawns in the last few years, but I like watching her and the manager agreed.

Just a momma and her fawn…

One I took last September in my back yard. Very interesting and beautiful plant. Can you ID it?

lycoris radiata

Red Spider LIly.

Yep, also known as Hurricane Lily. They sprout up almost overnight and do not last very long.

Top side


Bottom side

Louisiana watch dog!!

Here is one trying to sneak up on me!!

Gator bait already in the pot...

Cat! The "other" white meat..................

A few years ago in Wisconsin at the FTA Convention had a great time.

Spruce tree wart

Grew about a 1/4 acre of a wildflower mix from Deer Creek Seed.

Had one blonde squirrel coming to feeder for about a year, looked out today and there was two of them.