Camera Critter #86

A couple of months ago, I was asked by a friend to watch his pets when he and his family had to leave for a few days. I wasn't bothered by the request as I had spent a lot of time with one of the family pets.

But Bradon was a new pet who I hadn't met yet and I wasn't sure how he would react to me. My apprehension was unfounded, as Bradon took to me like he had know me all his life. But he is a Golden Retriever and they are very friendly dogs.

Bradon

After spending Thanksgiving with this same friend and Bradon and his other dog, along with members of his family, he needed to drive his grandchildren home. I accompanied him on the short trip and when we arrived, I met Bradon's mother...Daisy.

Her son is a spittin' image of her and all ways. And she took to me just as quick as her son did. I very much enjoyed meeting her.

So, overall, I had a really good Thanksgiving...made a new friend...and am still stuffed 8v)

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critter #85

I have a confession to make...

I live in cowboy country and I have ridden a horse only once, and that happened when I was three or four. But that doesn't mean horses haven't been a part of my life after that ride.

Sometime after that horse ride, I moved to Chicago and years later entered the Air Force. Riding a horse in Chicago wasn't all that easy and it just never crossed my mind to get on a horse and ride while in the Air Force, even though the opportunities were there.

Then I retired and settled in the town of Prineville, Oregon...actually two miles north of town in the ranch lands. My landlord had several acres of land on which he kept a different animals at different times. At one point, he was keeping two horses on his property...one belonged to a neighbor and the other to his brother.

Above is "The Gray." That's what we always referred to her as, and that's what she responded to. When I showed at the fence, she came running. We were good friends. In the background is Lady...the brother's horse.

After some time in Prineville, I moved to Redmond, Oregon. Our place was not far from my sister's small ranch-style home. Her place was on five acres and it didn't take long for them to populate it with horses.

The first to arrive was Curly. Curly was my brother in laws horse. He takes Curly everywhere, whether a local ride or a distance hunt, Curly is with him. Curly is a huge horse who hasn't really taken to me much...unless I show up with an apple.

Curly

However, Curly was nice enough to pose for a portrait when I was testing my new camera years ago. An apple helped, but no one needs to know that.

Then two addition horses showed up. Sarah, a medium sized horse with an easy going temperament and Spook. Spook was a pure white horse and at night with a bright moon, a person seeing Spook in the pasture would swear he was a ghost.

Sarah

Spook

I must apologize for the bad photo of Sarah. It's the only one I have of her and it was still learning to use my camera at the time. And Spook, well he's no longer with us. But Spook was a different sort of horse. Whereas Sarah would come to me, apple or no apple, Spook kept his distance. He would let me get within a few feet and then turn and run off. But my nephew, to whom Spook belonged, could approach with no problem.

And even with all the horses I've been around, I still haven't really ridden a horse.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critter #84

I would like to take this time to introduce everyone to Rosco.

Rosco is my sister's pet, but don't get in his way when he sees me coming. He has spent several days with me, and I have spent an even longer amount of time with him.

The one thing that bothers me about Rosco, is that when we are alone, he thinks he's a lap dog. Have you ever had a 110 lbs lap dog land on your lap out of nowhere?

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!

Camera Critter #83

Most days when I open my door and go outside, I scare up a number of birds. They hang around the feeders hanging in the Apple Tree in the back yard.

And everyday I think, I should photograph some of these birds if I can get them to come around while I am waiting for them.

Friday afternoon, after the rain cleared the area and the sun came out, I grabbed my camera and did what I have been doing for an hour a day for the past five days...I sat down on the bench and waited.

Birds would fly to the tree, see me and zip off somewhere else...until Friday. Instead, they landed in the tree, slowly drifted down to the feeders and began feeding. Some dropped to the ground. But none of the birds spooked when I would lift my camera.

Though the light wasn't great, I was able to get a few shots of some of the birds. There were a nice variety of birds, from jays to a towhee to sparrows. And then there were the finches. The most common finch I see at the feeders is the Lesser Goldfinch. There are American Goldfinches which stop by, but by far the most common is the Lesser Goldfinch.

The finch below is a first year male, sometimes referred to as a "green-back." Males of this species have a green back. However, there are black backed finches which occur in south Texas for the most part.


Another first year bird visiting the feeders was a first year White-crowned Sparrow. This species winters in my area, and spends its summers in the higher elevations. I'll see these birds throughout the winter and then in late spring, they will disappear until late October.

Along with sparrows, the Dark-eyed Juncos also arrive. Known as "Snow birds," they too spend their summers in the higher elevations. However, I wasn't able to get a shot of one of them. They may take a little longer to get used to me.

Misty Dawn's Camera Critter Meme is a great way to see critters of all types. Go to the Meme homepage here and check out more entries. Then join the fun and let the world see your critters!