The other day while out walking in the yard butterflies were flying around some of the flowers, went back into the house and got the camera--able to capture this  Butterfly --I took several shots but this is the one most focused to me.

Just a little over an hour ago as some of my family were leaving my nephew said "A racoon just fell out of that tree'--the critter then went back up the tree--I went to get my camera in hopes of getting a picture---of the ones I took only two were decent..and here is one of them...... unwelcome-guest --there are actually two in the tree (but I could only see one of them good enough to get a shot--with camera).

Hope all are having a good afternoon..

MrQ suggested cropping the butterfly a little on the left--here is the  Butterfly redo 

I live close to Great Smoky Mtns and evidently there is not enough food for the wildlife living there--for the past three weeks some of the inhabitants have 'ventured' down from the mtns to visit different place in search of food-- the past two weeks some have been at the museum (approx 30 miles from the entrance of the park)--they sure have given people a sight to see w/o us going to the mtns or Cades Cove---I just hope they make it back 'home' and settle down for the winter....

  Special Guest  ~~~1    ~~~2 and now the Moma ~~~3 --this one was taken the other day after the rain had stopped... 

Thanks for looking and may you have a great day!

Just a note about photographing birds - it takes time!  First you need to know where they are going to be, then get setup before they arrive, be very still and wait for what may seem forever.  For every photo that's worth looking at I probably take 10 that aren't.

These were taken through my kitchen window (kept clean inside and outside).  There's a dogwood tree and an open source of water just a couple of feet away.  I cover the bottom portion of the window to minimize being visible to the birds and shoot in the morning before background gets too bright.  I use a 55-200mm zoom kit lens and usually f8 ISO 200 or 400 speed 1/250, editing usually just cropping.  The real trick is to "catch a moment" - shoot when the bird is doing something.  First photo shows this better than second one (more a portrait).

 Flicker (Ooops! this is a red bellied woodpecker), downy Woodpecker,  Robin,  Downy woodpecker,  Starling 

Yesterday went to Cades Cove and thought about having a picnic but not able to sit where I wanted to   Cades Cove 1 and then a visitor to the area am thinking did not want to be disturbed   Cades Cove 2 , can't you tell by the way he seemed to be saying  See U .

The area was absolutely beautiful with the snow even getting there after the snow had already been there for a week.

Hope all have a great week.

 Northern Pintail Hen - By Dee

  Mallard Drake - By Rock

 American Coot  By Dee

 Black-Bellied Plover (Juvenile) By Rock

Double-crested Cormorants

 Cormorant  - By Dee

Got Fish -  By Rock 

 This is our first sighting of a  Delmarva Fox Squirrel - Chincoteague NWR, Virginia

The Delmarva fox squirrel was listed as an endangered species by the Fish & Wildlife Service in 1967, but can still be found on Assateague Island. Visitors encounter Delmarva fox squirrels and gray squirrels in the loblolly pine tree forest of Assateague. The Delmarva fox squirrel weighs up to three pounds and is larger than a gray squirrel. Their diet usually includes roots, insects, tree buds, mast, pine seeds, and bird eggs.

Female fox squirrels usually produce their first litter at 1 year of age and normally have two litters a year (each litter size is usually three). They prefer to use tree dens while raising their young, but will also use leafnests. The Delmarva fox squirrel can live to be 6 years old in the wild. Serious threats are posed from timber harvest and increased residential development

Other interesting facts:

- The Delmarva fox squirrel can use its bushy tail as a blanket to wrap around itself during cold weather at Assateague.

- Over 300 kinds of squirrels exist worldwide. Many are found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia.

- President Theodore Roosevelt had pet flying squirrels in the White House

Delmarva Fox Squirrel - Endangered Species 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Juvenile) 

Female Osprey landing on her nest. Notice that she keeps her talons tightly closed when landing so she doesn't injure her chicks in the nest.

 Wings Above The Nest 

Dee and I have watched this Bald Eagle grow up. This young Eagle took it's first flight yesterday (July 7th), then flew back to the nest to feed.  The Eagle will still have to depend on the adults for food until this juvenile hones it's hunting skills to catch food for itself. Fly strong and live free my friend.... Bald Eagle 

Seen any tadpoles?   Snake 1 

Well - have you?   Snake 2 

(Probably a juvenile northern water snake)

This 11 week old Bald Eagle will soon take it's first flight  Growing Stronger Every Day  

I'm always amazed at what Ospreys can land on  Balance 

Tree Swallow (M) 

Osprey 

A nine week old Bald Eagle Eaglet  Hey Mom I'm Hungry