Photo sharing and discussion

Re: No Birds Around so-----

Matt — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:38:28 GMT

Lucky to catch this Pond Slider taking a stroll.

Re: No Birds Around so-----

Bird Brain — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:11:50 GMT

natureboy:

when the animals are not moving, and wildlife sightings are few and far between, there is still something to do in the southern forests in autum. Eat wild persimmons. you don't want to eat them until they are totally ripe (soft over the entire outer part of the fruit). if not totally ripe, the tanic acid will pucker your mouth for 8-10 days. but, there are not many wild foods that taste a great as these beauties.

Wild Persimmons.......delicious!

I, too, grew up in the South and ate my share (and more!) of wild Persimmons. They are delicious, but as you said, they have to be completely ripe to be past the tanic acid stage. My Daddy always said they weren't ready to eat till it frosted on them at least once. 'Possums love them too. I've seen many a 'Possum in a Persimmon tree getting his belly full!!

Re: No Birds Around so-----

natureboy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:53:50 GMT

slc1856:
natureboy:

Wild Persimmons.......delicious!

Oh man, I grew up down south and ate zillions of wild persimmons. It's probably been almost 40 years now since I've had one. Brings back great memories.

wild persimmons (ripe in fall)- sweet, large quantities, seeds easily removed, large, etc, etc.

the sp. of persimmon that is naturally found in the SE United States is much better than the Japaneese Persimmon that most folks have growing in their yards. the J Per is larger, but not as sweet, and the tree needs to be babied, as it is not immune to the diseases that our native wild persimmon trees are apt to handle. IMO, wild persimmon is the heartbeat of southern wild fruits. from Oct. to the end of Nov. i have a ~ 12ft bamboo cane at my lake house to get them out of the 3 trees that i have in the yard there. when i encounter them in the forest, i either shake the tree or find a limb to knock them to the ground. one way or another, when i find a ripe tree, wild persimmons are on the menu.

if its been 40 yrs since your last fix SCL, its time to eat some. i'd send you some, but, they would never make it to the post office. i can imagine that the memories you have eating them as a kid are special. something about eating pecans and persimmons in the fall brings back memories to anyone that has ever done it.

Re: No Birds Around so-----

slc1856 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:49:58 GMT

This guy lives under my front porch. I thought he was so distinguished looking, I got him out for a photo shoot.

Re: No Birds Around so-----

slc1856 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:44:34 GMT

Bird Brain:
Praying Mantis. Not a bird...but they do fly! It was definitely watching me as I took its picture!!

I've got a bunch of these around my place. They are probably my favorite bug, but it does kind of creep me out the way they look at you. It's the only insect I know of that can turn its head like that.

Re: No Birds Around so-----

slc1856 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:39:37 GMT

natureboy:
Wild Persimmons.......delicious!

Oh man, I grew up down south and ate zillions of wild persimmons. It's probably been almost 40 years now since I've had one. Brings back great memories.

Re: No Birds Around so-----

slc1856 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:36:03 GMT

I was out birding in August, looked up and found this little guy watching me. Its sibling came out of the underbrush, saw me and ran back in. Then it started crying and crying. I figured mom was going to show up and turn me into lunch, so I skedaddled.

Re: No Birds Around so-----

Seattle — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:09:12 GMT

Washington isn't known for it's great weather just in case you haven't heard! So another stormy day is nothing new - but watching it from a lighthouse is a good time.

Re: No Birds Around so-----

natureboy — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:08:50 GMT

when the animals are not moving, and wildlife sightings are few and far between, there is still something to do in the southern forests in autum. Eat wild persimmons. you don't want to eat them until they are totally ripe (soft over the entire outer part of the fruit). if not totally ripe, the tanic acid will pucker your mouth for 8-10 days. but, there are not many wild foods that taste a great as these beauties.

Wild Persimmons.......delicious!

Re: No Birds Around so-----

Bird Brain — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:23:22 GMT

Jackrabbit. If they learned to flap their ears I bet they could fly too!!!

Re: No Birds Around so-----

luv2bird — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:47:17 GMT

The neighbor in our backyard birdwatching on a Saturday

Cinnamon

Re: No Birds Around so-----

luv2bird — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:52:00 GMT

I love the shot of the leopard w/ kill in tree. Ah-some! Here's my take on a slow day at the heron rookery. Mr. Western Pond Turtle says "I may be slow, but I'm ahead of you."

Re: No Birds Around so-----

mj3151 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:08:58 GMT

Seattle:

I don't have anything cute or pretty to show you - just one ugly wind wind and sand storm. It's all I could do to stand still and take this picture - I'm guessing a good 50 mph wind and sand/dirt from the recently plowed fields made for a bad birding day! Better luck next time I guess.

I think I rember this scene from the Wizard of Oz.

Re: No Birds Around so-----

Seattle — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:47:44 GMT

I don't have anything cute or pretty to show you - just one ugly wind and sand storm. It's all I could do to stand still and take this picture - I'm guessing a good 50 mph wind and sand/dirt from the recently plowed fields made for a bad birding day! Better luck next time I guess.

Re: No Birds Around so-----

BillHolsten — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:25:45 GMT

Her name is Legadema and she starred in the National Geographic special "The Eye of the Leopard". I found her in the Okavango Delta. Here are a couple more images of her: