Summer Day When A Bear Visited My Cottage

 On June 10, 2024 I was in my bathroom brushing my teeth and happened to look out my window. I saw a big black blob moving in the far rear of my back yard and thought it was a bear. I grabbed my iPhone a ran out on my balcony and filmed it. At one point I almost dropped my phone when I moved closer to the edge to watch him go out of sight. Look closely when he gets near my bird house and you will see a bird sticking his head out the hole. He flew out and it didn't faze the young bear at all. I was unable to post this video because it is too long but I made screenshots.

Bear getting closer to my house having come from the "way back".

There was a bird in the box that had already flown out. Photo is farther down -- sorry it's out of order. 

Wondering what this box on a stick is?

Strolling past the birdbath.

This is out of order but look closely, there is a bird inside getting ready to fly out. The bear seemed very uninterested in harming anything. He is just a youngster out on his own just taking a walk.

After he passed my house he turned right and went into the deep woods.

This one is out of order too. It was just before the one above showing the corner of my balcony railing. I had just moved to the edge and he heard me but didn't know I was way above him. He never saw me. The flag is a survey stake showing my property line.

Finishing this post on Friday night at 8:45 pm. Have a great weekend. I don't like the way my posts are being emailed the next day instead when I post them but that's out of my control. 

Goodbye August! Why did you fly by so fast? xo

Deer in my Back Yard

A little excitement at 4:45 this afternoon. These deer stayed for quite a while because they weren't bothered. This live photo (set on bounce) had the most action. I took it from one of my attic windows where the screens are still out from having the house painted in August. I couldn't get any good shots from my living room because the balcony railing was in the way. I hope they will be frequent visitors.

xo

Albatross Love and Divorce + A Green Cat

Read more about these birds HERE.

Both photos above were found in a terrific article in

THE GUARDIAN: The Week in Wildlife -- In Pictures.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2021/nov/26/the-week-in-wildlife-in-pictures 

It features animals all over the world and is a good read. Enjoy and have a great weekend. xo

A Partridge in A Pear Tree

I just discovered Robin Lucas on Instagram and I love his artwork. This Partridge in a Pear Tree is in the Wildlife Artwork category. Enjoy exploring all the categories. xo

Curated Pantry and Deer w/ Birds

I have further curated the left side of my pantry. The shelf brackets denote the center of this room. I still need to work on the other side where my desk is located with a window overlooking my front garden. I am feeling good about this side and it's working nicely to keep my farm table free of clutter. Success!!! I have posted in the past about my monogrammed copper pots on the top shelf. 

I have no idea when this photo was taken or whether or not I have already posted it. Chances are, it's from last year because the buttercups haven't started to bloom yet this year. Anyway, I saw a similar scene in this very spot this week only there were three deer and no birds on the post.

Rabbit doing Yard Work

I wish I had a bunny to help me clean out all the leaves I didn't get rid of in the fall. I have learned it's best to leave them and wait until spring because wildlife can find things to eat under them. Maybe this rabbit is clearing them away to get at some tender grass to eat. via

Bunny Ears

This bunny looks as if he is on high alert and his ears indicate he has heard something straight ahead. photo credit Rabbits' sense of hearing is their most vital sense. Their large ears can detect sounds from a long way off. But the key to rabbits' hearing ability is their ability to swivel independently. This helps the ears funnel sounds from every direction. More information on their 5 senses here. I never knew their ears swiveled, and independently at that, did you?

The life expectancy of a wild rabbit is much shorter than our domestic pets. In fact, a wild rabbit usually only lives for about a year….sometimes two.

Wild rabbits don't live very long because of a variety of different factors. Disease, harsh winter conditions, lack of food and predators all influence how long the rabbit will live.

Although it seems harsh, this is nature's way of balancing the rabbit population. via

Elephant Shadows

I just started following @wildlife.hd on Instagram. This is one of my favorite photos on the feed.

Female Hare with Daisies

This famale hare is lovely. Found on Instagram. I don't believe I've ever seen a wild hare, only rabbits. I tried Google to see if there are wild hare in New Jersey and all that came up was a beauty shop called Wild Hair😂😂😂

Random Photos at My Cottage

I was standing in front of one of the French doors leading out to my balcony for this photo of my kitchen.

I leaned out of my bedroom window for this shot of my backyard. You can see the brick pillars holding up my balcony and one of the Adirondack chairs I set in to cool off while and after mowing. I honestly have mowed more this year already than I did all summer last year. I mowed my front and my back yesterday starting at 6pm and finishing at 7:30. It was worthwhile since today it rained again around lunch time.

This male deer with tiny fuzzy beginning antlers waited for me to go inside to grab my Nikon and hadn't moved an inch when I returned to the balcony to photograph him. The two little wrens on the post were determined to get their picture taken too. The wild buttercups come back every year in this location and they complete this nature photo of the day.

My lady's mantle is the perfect perennial plant for capturing dewdrops and rain drops. It is grown primarily for its leaves but the chartreuse flowers are pretty nice too, especially in mixed arrangements.

That's about it for a Friday post. Click any photo to enlarge. xo

Bunny Ears

He's betting back to normal after a very busy Easter, hiding all those eggs. via

Beautiful Barn Owl

via

Is she on the inside looking out or on the outside looking in? My guess is the former. Have a great first weekend of spring.

Deer Sighting

Nothing exciting, just a deer walking by in my woods. She looks fat and healthy, doesn't she? This doe was walking with a group but they were too far apart from each other to get them all together.

English Hare Portrait

Photographed by Margaret the Novice in Suffolk England. Click on the link and follow the arrows to see more delightful photos of this hare that posed for her while she sat in her car. Love! xo

Bird Camouflage

Alaskan state bird Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) blending in with winter landscape. Photo: Anthony Madden. via Isn't this photograph spectacular? Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me!

Have a great New Year's Eve. I am watching BBC World News America and it is already midnight in Japan where they celebrate the new year with oranges. I like that!

My Fox on Monday Morning

I must have good hunting on my property because he keeps coming back. This beautiful red fox stood here and listened to what was going on under the snow before he gave up and moved on for better hunting in the woods. Today he isn't falling through the snow as there must be a frozen layer that formed last night. I love his black stockings. Have a great week and let's hope Nor'easter #3 doesn't come my way or yours. xo

Red Fox Sighting at My Cottage

I still get excited when I see Mr. Fox near my house. He is especially beautiful walking in the snow. I hope he was able to find something to feed his family. I made a video but have never successfully uploaded one to this blog. I did, however, put it on Instagram here. Have a great Sunday night. xo