Saturday, August 4, 2012

Stirling Street Bog Fauna

1. Muskrat in bog-kab Muskrat in bog 3-30-2011

While observing birds at the bog for the last two years I could not help but observe some of the creatures who inhabit the bog as well. The muskrats swimming in the evenings always brought joy to my heart.

2. muskrat-kab Muskrat 3-30-2011

This almost looks like a beaver from behind but it is the same animal as the one above. In the top photo you can see the sideways flattened tail of a muskrat and the smaller, more triangular shaped head. However, there are beavers at the bog and I have seen their handiwork as well as heard the slap of their tails on the water.

2. Chipmunk-kab DSC_0137 Chipmunk 3-30-2011

While I would see chipmunks on and off, I did not observe them there too often, especially from the guardrail side of the bog on Stirling Street. I am sure they are seen more often in Den Rock Park at the north end of the bog. As you can imagine, gray squirrels are observed here occasionally as well, but I don’t recall ever seeing a red squirrel at this location off Stirling Street which is where I always counted birds for my eBird Site Survey.

3. turtle-kabPainted Turtle 8-26-2011

Turtles and frogs are both seen at the bog. One evening I even saw a huge snapping turtle but I did not have my camera with me! However, I observed these Painted Turtles here on a regular basis.

4. young buck-kab White-tailed deer buck 8-26-2011

I was more than surprised to find a young White-tailed deer here at the bog last summer. This was a day before the hurricane around 8:30 AM. Even more surprising was the young fawn travelling with him. This is the only time I ever observed deer at the bog.

5. fawn-kab White-tailed deer fawn 8-26-2011

 

6. dragonfly-lab Dragonfly 7-5-2011

Of course there were dragonflies and butterflies and other insects to see.

7. cat-kab Domestic Cat 5-9-2012

But I was not happy to see domestic cats hunting in the bog and I saw them more than once. I think this is why I did not see very many sparrows along the edge of the bog where I stood to count birds.

8. good-bye-kab Muskrat disappearing down its hole 4-10-2012

Good-bye!

9. august 2011 bog-kab Stirling Bog after Hurricane Irene last year 8-28-2011

8 comments:

  1. Beautiful spot! I must admit though, muskrats gross me out

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  2. Laurence, that's too funny! I hate regular rats but these make me feel like I am observing something wild and wonderful!

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  3. Kathie, your first muskrat shot is like a painting. Love all the wildlife except the cat. Cats are a great problem here too, especially with ground nesting birds.

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  4. i love all these pictures!! what a variety of wild life!!

    but what i really want to know...is how did Milo get all the way over there?? that cat looks exactly like my Milo!

    the muskrat DOES look just like a beaver! except for the long skinny tail...that's the giveaway...as he 's heading down into his hole.
    LOVE the turtle too...one of my favorite animals!

    GREAT shots...all of them!!

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  5. Great shots of the deer and muskrat, but that little chippy with the sun on its head is just the best.

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  6. What a beautiful area to bird! Muskrat love:) They are like the Hispid Cotton Rat at Sweetwater. I look at those pics and think that this would be a spot I'd visit often. I'm not a fan of domestic or feral cats out in the wild killing birds....especially in spaces like these. Beautiful critter shots:)

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  7. Wow you photographed mammals Kathie :)
    Hopefully you will get some good photos when you visit my place too :)

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  8. Very interesting. We have trout streams here but due to tiling very little standing water. Also big floods on little creeks.... :(

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Welcome to my nest! I hope you will enjoy spending time here with me and the birds. Thank you for your comments. I will try to get back to you as soon as I get back from counting more birds.