Bad Kitty

I forgot to add a photo of this ornery kitty. It likes to stalk and hunt our squirrels. The squirrels don't seem too concerned about the cat, but they are awfully cavalier sometimes and let the cat get really close.

Usually, they stare at it when it's near them as if to say, "What do you think you're doing? You're not going to catch me."

It's hilarious when they finally jump onto a tree and bark at it, though.

Daytime Bandit

Walking in to the back room, I noticed a hummingbird fluttering right in front of the window. Of course, I was without camera, but when I got back with the camera, I noticed a shape in the reflection of my shed's window that looked like a raccoon. Then I saw it climbing up my pine tree... and he noticed me, too.





It hesitated climbing up the tree initially because a squirrel, Preggers, was blocking its way. Her nest is in that tree. Eventually, Preggers ran off and silently watched him from a nearby tree.





It got into the tree and settled in, but there was a lot of noise in my yard from all the birds. Its head was flitting around at all the bird calls, so it decided this wasn't the best place for a daytime nap and left. It disappeared like a shadow in the night. I have no idea how it got down because it didn't come back down the trunk.

Wrong Video

Okay.  So it appears I got the wrong embed code for the second Twiggy, the water skiing squirrel, video, but that weatherman is too funny to pull down!  Here's the correct vid.

Water Skiing Squirrel

If only I could get Preggers to do this. Hmmm... Nah. I think she likes being wild.

Twiggy's so cute when she tries to get out of that little outfit. Clothes on animals. I don't get it.

Twiggy goes for a swim in this one. She is CUTE!

Skittish Little Guys

California Towhee

Shopping for Bedding

Midnight Visitors

These cute guys stopped by around midnight for a little snack.  We usually hear them around our garbage cans and rooting around at the base of our 100 year old Oak tree for acorns, but they rarely come up on the porch.  Sorry about the poor quality, but there was only one small flourescent bulb lighting the entire scene.

Eating squirrel food.

They have a lot more trouble with peanuts than squirrels. They sort of crush and bite the peanut shells off. Then they roll the peanuts around on the ground to get the skins off.

He notices us watching.

On his hind legs trying to look big.

2 butts.

Goodbye to the Old

Goodbye 2008

A Black Phoebe flies away.

Perched Black Phoebe

From their head to the tip of their tails, Black Phoebes are approximately 6.75 inches (17cm) long and weigh less than an ounce, approximately 19g.

Beggars

Anyone home?

I think that's the magic handle...

Maybe if I look a little harder they'll see me.

Paw and nose marks left on the windows from squirrels looking inside.

Happy New Year!