CAN YOU ID, PLEASE?

Hi all! I've held on to a few photos that I've taken fairly recently and would like your help on identifying them. In this first photo is what I believe to be a Milk Snake. I usually only get garter snakes, rattlesnakes and blacksnakes. This is the first one of this kind. Am I right? Ok, now, #2...I found this turtle in a wooded area, however, it's not like the common Box Turtle I usually see. What do you think?

#3...is a weed of some sort. The flowers are very tiny and oddly shaped, but beautiful close up.

Can you tell me what it's called?
And, #4...is a fly with a beautiful golden, and I mean metallic gold spot on it.

This photo was cropped to show the detail.

What type of fly is this?

I didn't mean for this to be a game, just curious about the identity.

Thank you for your help!

DO YOU EVER WONDER WHAT A FAWN DOES WHEN MAMA WALKS AWAY?

...well, I did too; until now, when I got the opportunity to see for myself. One of the doe's, with the wart on her shoulder, that frequents my backyard often brought her fawn in and she left for awhile.But, before wandering away, she took time to groom her baby. Mama then walked away (upper left corner) as the fawn watched intently. I wish I knew exactly what the Doe does to inform the youngster to stay. The fawn never left the area, and it was well over a couple of hours!...it seemed to check out it's surrroundings...

...and, after doing it's business.. ...decided to settle down and stay put.
Before long, it was sleeping. What a good baby!!

Well, that certainly answered my question, hope it answered yours too.

I feel so blessed to be able to witness so many natural events in nature!!

"JUST A FEW MORE 'DEAR' SHOTS"

Photos like the following, in my opinion, speak for themselves.

There's nothing like a new fawn, baby, bear or bird and it's mama.

These are just a few of my favorites.

I really hope I'm not boring anyone with all of the deer photos.

'NOTHING SAYS IT BETTER THAN NATURE'

Take a close look. This Doe appears quite intrigued by the male and female Mallard Ducks on the pond. However, the ducks weren't the least bit bothered by her presence.

The next series of shots are a compete different story. They are still shots of 'Two-tone' (piebald) and her newborn fawn. Again, excuse the shots, because they were taken at dusk so the clarity is not good.

Hope you enjoy. I haven't seen her recently but will keep watching for updates.

'NEW FAWN - part 2'

Sorry I missed posting yesterday, but here is the second video of the piebald doe and her new fawn.

Enjoy!

'NEW FAWN' - part 1

I've been patiently waiting for a Doe that I've watched for many years to have her fawn. And last evening I saw her in the field nursing, grooming and watching it play. It couldn't have been more than a day old! The Doe is what's know as a 'piebald' but to me, for all of the years I've watched her, I affectionately call her 'Two-Tone'. This year she had a normal-colored fawn. Two year ago, she had two fawns that were piebald also.

Attempting to upload a spliced video failed! Therefore, I will load them one by one. I'm sorry it was late in the evening so the lighting is poor.

I will be posting the other videos next!

I hope you enjoy watching as much as I did!

'WHAT ARE BELTED KINGFISHERS DOING IN THE MOUNTAIN?"

Another confirmation for my daughter...she already thinks I'm crazy, but when I YELLED when I spotted these two Belted Kingfishers very close to our home, it confirmed it!

We were just leaving our house when I first saw them on a wire. When I stopped the car, they flew to an adjacent tree branch. I have no idea what they are doing around here, they typically frequent areas with fish-filled streams.

They were perched high in the tree and the weather has been gloomy, so the photos are not good. I cropped them and adjusted the color and lighting a bit.

Do you think, possibly, that all of the rain we've been getting is confusing them? Or, have they just been hiding from me! Either way, it was a very exciting event for me to see them near my home!

"STILL WAITING FOR SPOTS"

Nope, this one doesn't have spots, but he did last Fall. Look closely, you can see his antlers starting to develop already!

It's just a bit early for the new fawns to be coming in yet.

The deer don't frequent as often since we had such a wet Spring and there is so much for them to eat. I don't get them lining up and staring at the window waiting for me to bring them something to eat.

You can't really tell the difference in the photos, but this one was born the year before. His body is much larger.

The Doe, below, is still carrying her fawn or fawns. I haven't seen some of the others that she usually comes in with, like the doe with the notches in her ears.

It's odd, with all of the greenery surrounding her, ferns and lots of huckleberry bushes, she doesn't eat any of it, nope, not until the berries come on at the end of June. At that time, the deer usually win because they get up earlier than I do!The young bucks have started becoming more distant with me since they have gotten a bit older. They are 'spooked' very easily but the females tend to stay pretty friendly.

You would think that since I feed them and their babies, the least they could do would be give birth in my backyard so I could do a 'Deliver Me' posting!

You never know, I've seen black bears nursing their cubs so...maybe one day.As you can see, it's useless to try to keep a nice lawn in the backyard. I try to leave as much natural habitat as I can. Even though we had to cut a few trees down because they were getting too large to be close to the house.
This girl has been coming around long enough to know where I toss a bit of corn for the Bluejays and squirrels. She gobbles it right up.She has that,"Please, throw me some more corn look!"

Sorry, Aunt B isn't falling for it this time!

"CLOSE TO MY HEART"

As some of you know, I've been a bit 'under the weather' lately and I haven't been doing much at all including blogging. So I thought I would just put up a few of some of the favorites I gotten recently like...

...a happy Tuffted Titmouse with a snack.

...my, what big eyes you have!

...and even though the Bluejay gets a 'bad rap', I still think they are a very beautiful bird!

One of my favorite beauties, and it seems they are everywhere now, the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak.I am swamped with these girls and their mates...female Purple Finch.

...one of my first Iris blooms.

...this doe, affectionately known as, 'Spot', from just down the road. I wish all of the deer came equipped with signs like this!!And, last but not least, my Maya.

I just loved the mixture of colors surrounding her.

And yes, she always has that little pink tongue out when she sleeps!

Hopefully the weather will clear up soon and I will get back on track .

Forgive me if I haven't visited you lately!

"JUST A FEW SHOTS TO PONDER'

Today... just let your imagination go.

Just sit back, and enjoy the day!

"ID, PLEASE"

Yesterday, while taking some photos of this Hairy Woodpecker at the suet feeder, I noticed something in her beak. At first, I thought it was grass...

then I saw eyes!!!

I've already cropped it for a better view.

I have no idea what it could be.

Do You???

"NO NEED TO BE BLUE"

"Please don't be blue...

...just peek around the corner, and brightness shines upon you!"