The Critter Drive-Thru

Should that be walk-thru? Or possibly even fly-thru? Whatever you call it, the critters usually have one thing in mind. They are looking for a little bite to eat!

We had many wildlife viewing opportunities this past week at the Badelves' abode. I have to admit, there is nothing quite like peeking out our windows to see what sort of visitors are stopping by to munch in our yard.

Luckily for them, they were not partaking in things they shouldn't be eating. According to Mom, those things include the veggies and any of the plants we put in the ground. Everything else is fair game, especially the pesky weeds that seem to pop up everywhere.

If they could read, I would put up a sign. I think it would say...

Whatever you do, please just leave the tomatoes and hosta alone, okay? Oh, and feel free to eat the weeds. You would be doing me a favor!

Birds are pretty cool, and we actually encourage them to stop by. Along with hummingbird feeders, we have quite a few tree mounted feeders. The only thing I haven't gotten around to doing yet is putting out a low, elevated feeder for the ground feeders.

Because we are lacking that type of feeder, I always make sure to sprinkle munchies out for the mourning doves. Surprisingly though, they enjoy flying up to eat at the tree mounted feeders. It's so funny to watch them up there!

One afternoon, this guy got tired of balancing while eating and decided to take a break high up in the tree. I wish his color would have shown up better...he was gorgeous, and so different!

Deer? Love them...except when they decide that the garden you so carefully tended looks like an invitation to an all you can eat buffet!

Last year, we had quite a few mama deer and their fawns come through. This year, they seemed to have disappeared. Where could they be? Did they catch wind that Mom was pretty angry about them eating our hosta? Were they worried about getting 'The Look' from Grammy? ;)

I guess not. They were just a little late to the party! Look at this precious sight.

Isn't that fawn just adorable? Look at all those dapples!

A few days later, Mom voiced her concern that mama deer had been out back grazing by herself. She was really worried about the baby, and wondered if it was hiding in the forest.

When I took a look, I noticed something that her eyes hadn't.

Do you see them? The things on his head? Yup...antlers.

Definitely 'not the mama'.

LOL!

Who knows what we'll see this week? =)