The photos I shared in my Daily Bucket of part one of “Granny’s visitors” (www.dailykos.com/...) were from a special place nearby. Granny always had lots of wildlife visitors and I was always jealous. That Bucket was just a sampling. Thanks to the two digital cameras I have working now, I can bring you much more! I just need to learn how to use them. I hope to bring you more photos of “Granny’s visitors” and what else I find locally soon. So keep your eyes open for the Daily Bucket!
I remembered some of the photos Granny took. But she died about 12 years ago. I hoped someone had some digital copies, so I sent out a request. That Bucket contained what I received. Not only did I get the pictures I shared before, but this Bucket contains photos mostly taken by uncle and aunt in Kansas City, MO.
I don’t have exact details for each picture. I was given some by request. Others are a bit more ambiguous. I assume if it’s from them then it’s from KC, MO unless specified.
The birds (the only Hitchcock movie I can think of that I’ve seen)
This next one is for you Red-tailed Hawk and raptor fans. I know a specific person that’s probably going to like this. :)
An iNaturalist user has made me aware that a Common Raven hasn’t been see in KC since 1901, so this seems to likely NOT be from KC.
“The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
“’Tis some visitor,” I muttered, “tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more.”
I think it was last year I watched a video so I could learn how to tell the difference between crows and ravens. Size is all that stayed with me, so I found a video to share with you that helped me remember.
Swifts and Swallows confuse me. I think it’s mostly in their names. It’s pretty much “Sw” I think that throws me off. What I know for sure is that I have Chimney Swifts around. I hear them most often in the evenings when many of them are out. I’ve heard some individuals during the earlier parts of the day, just not as many. I’ve ID’d them via a bird book (can’t remember title) and Merlin’s Sound ID. I know them well. This is one of few birds I can ID immediately upon hearing them.
Swallows remind me of Taillow, the Pokemon that evolves into Swellow (pokemon.fandom.com/...).
I found a good link describing the differences between the two during my discussion of this in another Bucket. You can see that link here. It confirmed what I remember. Swifts have a cigar shaped body and they don’t perch.
Painted turtles
I tend to ID Painted turtles by their neck. You can’t see it in the picture above, but take a look at that impressively colored shell! Now let’s move to the next, because it’s hiding it’s neck.
See that neck? To me, without looking up info, that’s a Painted turtle. The shells look different, because the red isn’t as vibrant as the top photo, but it does seem to be there still. I believe a turtle I found as a kid that I took from the wild and made my pet was a Painted turtle. I think that’s why I feel so familiar with them.
The “catfish”
iNaturalist users are having an interesting time trying to ID these “catfish.” I thought it would help if we could find out which fish species populate the lake. I found a Wikipedia entry, but I think more details could possibly be found elsewhere: en.wikipedia.org/…
*Note: Pretty much all IDs are from or confirmed at iNaturalist.org. If you’d like to add your own ID comments, please do!*
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream, visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on Follow.
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What have you been observing in your part of the world lately? Please feel free to share!
Also, I’d like to explain my poll and why I decided “the end,” but I want to hear from you. Which part of the Bucket do you think the blue box above belongs? I hope someone writes a comment so I can answer with my own reasoning for why it is as you see it now (it’s logical, I think).