Carol and Biologist Holding Sedated American Black Bears at Flower Hill Farm
Thirty one years ago, when I began working on my hillside retreat, I had no idea how my gardens and landscape would evolve and change my life. My perceptions and awareness have never been far from where they are today even though when I began gardening/farming here, I had no idea of the native plants I would come to covet nor the diverse wildlife I would attract and offer habitat to.
Today I am sharing some of the wildlife I have had personal encounters with in my gardens, fields and forest.
In introducing these native creatures here, I begin a series of mostly anecdotal tales of living closely with wildlife. Each ‘beast’ or ‘beastie’ (in most cases along with others of their family) will appear in upcoming posts along with a story of our encounters and how I have managed the land that we all call home. I have to ‘manage’ the wildlife at times too!
All the photos were taken at Flower Hill Farm over the last two years except the Black Bears and White-tailed Deer photographs, which were taken more than a few years ago.
I hope you enjoy the parade of wild creatures that share my world here at Flower Hill Farm.
White-tailed Doe and fawns
Lynx rufus (Bobcat)
Eastern Coyote/Coywolf
Red Fox
Weasel and Vole
Rabbit
Raccoons
Raccoon
North American Porcupine
Opossum
Wild Turkey
Turkey Vulture
Broad-winged Hawk
Pileated Woodpeckers
Mystery Duck
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Dragonfly
Monarch Butterfly
Crab Spider
Garter Snake
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Carol, How exciting to have so many critters living at Flower Hill Farm. I have only seen photos of some of your residents~and have always wanted to see a porcupine. Thank you for sharing them with us….xogail
Gail recently posted..Not Ready To Say Goodbye To Autumn
Thank you Gail . . . It is fun to see them all in a parade like this. Those porcupines are so adorable (at a distance) but my poor apple tree. More to tell . . .
Carol Duke recently posted..Glimpses From The Edge – A Wildlife Sanctuary – Cape Cod National Seashore
Carol I look forward to hearing more about the beasts on the Farm…we have many of the same, but not bears, lynx, porcupines or raccoons….at least we haven’t seen them….definitely want to hear about the bears….
Donna recently posted..Gardens Eye Verse
Oh, Donna . . . I have tales to tell about the bears here . . . some thrilling and some sad. Incredibly beautiful and powerful creatures. Thanks so for sharing.
Carol Duke recently posted..Glimpses From The Edge – A Wildlife Sanctuary – Cape Cod National Seashore
Yes please, can we have the bears first? I remember the bobcat, that was exciting, and that you captured it on camera!
Elephant’s Eye recently posted..Some corner of a foreign field
Thank you Diana! Yes the bears tales will be first! Lots to share. It was truly amazing to hold them. I was very very lucky that day to capture the bobcat!
Carol Duke recently posted..Glimpses From The Edge – A Wildlife Sanctuary – Cape Cod National Seashore
What fantastic animals! I envy you the bobcat and the weasel particularly!
Your mystery duck looks like a scaup to me, with the bit of white on the beak, but given your location, it could be either lesser or greater, and there’s no telling at that angle!
UrsulaV recently posted..Migrant Season
Thank you Ursula . . . I will have to look at the other shots of the duck. Very odd behavior the day it visited. I love the little weasel too! Any creature that will rid me of voles is a welcome guest! They are precious creatures and yet I am told they can be vicious. They have only been very shy with me.
Carol Duke recently posted..Glimpses From The Edge – A Wildlife Sanctuary – Cape Cod National Seashore
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing. This is what I aspire to….
Thank you Linda!
Carol Duke recently posted..Glimpses From The Edge – A Wildlife Sanctuary – Cape Cod National Seashore
Carol, can’t wait to read more about the many wild things you’ve captured on film at your farm. WOW!!! Your dragonfly is a Twelve-spotted Skimmer (an adult male). Stunning shot of one. We see them here in Cape May, NJ, too. Your mystery duck looks like it might be a Common Merganser. Looking forward to accounts of your farm’s lovely wild creatures!
Pat Sutton recently posted..The “tidy factor”
Thank you Pat! I felt so lucky to get that close to the dragonfly – thanks so for the identification.
Carol Duke recently posted..Glimpses From The Edge – A Wildlife Sanctuary – Cape Cod National Seashore
Excellent photos…and such a variety of critters. I’m sure the memories of the encounters are as precious to you as your beautiful photographs.
My wildlife garden and habitat restoration project is just in its infancy, but has already resulted in quite a few encounters and photos. I can only imagine what the coming years have to bring. Thank you for the preview.
David recently posted..While Weeding
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Such diversity! Whatever you are doing, you certainly are doing it right!
Can you send me that weasel?
Loret recently posted..Pond Prank
Carol,
So amazing that you captured all of these animals – especially the Lynx.
Thanks for sharing.
Heather
Heather recently posted..Native Plant of the Week: Poke Milkweed ~ Asclepias exaltata