Friday, August 1, 2014

Critter photos

Still hanging out in and around Storrie Lake...

Katie and I are out of the park for the required six days out of every 20; I was planning to go into Santa Fe and do some shopping and overnighting in the many places available to overnight there.  We stopped in Las Vegas, NM to do laundry and other errands and might just stay here for the six days.

The weather has been pretty rainy lately - but we've also had cooler weather which is nice. 
There's not much happening to post, so I'm putting in some photos taken during the last couple of weeks.

Katie snuggled in with her toys:

I bought an "exercise pen" for Katie, so she can be outside and still easily kept in one place and off her leash.  It works perfectly spread out across the shelters in the New Mexico State Parks.  Jeanne sent Annie, Roxi and me a link to let us know they were on sale, and I jumped on it.  Midwest Black E-Coat Exercise Pen w/o door.  The regular price is $80.49 for this exercise pen, and the current sale price is $28.79, free 2-day shipping available if you are an Amazon Prime member:

The size I bought has eight panels -  2 feet x 2 feet square; I think it looks really nice and it's the perfect size for Katie.  The ex-pen, folded up, fits nicely behind my driver seat, so storage is not a problem.  They come in all sizes and with or without a door - this one at this price is without.  If you've been thinking about getting an exercise pen for your dog - now's the time!

Remember Flat Stanley, the large frog we saw on our walks?  Well, I FINALLY saw a real, live frog.  I think it's the first one I've seen in three years of traveling.  Here he is - Not Flat Stanley:

Annie's cats have been going outside here at Storrie Lake.  They are both good at staying in the area and coming home without a problem.  One day Parker was outside, and decided to rest in the shade under The Palms.  He sure is a handsome boy and I was honored!

Unfortunately, Annie was told by the Ranger that her cats could not be outside without a leash - there are signs around saying dogs must be on a leash, but I've never heard that cats had to to, as well.  Hopefully some of the other parks won't have the same rule, because I really enjoyed watching Parker, and sometimes Ellen wandering outside my windows in the field between the row of campsites and the road.  It had to be so much fun for them to wander around, sniffing new smells, and hiding wherever they found a good spot in the shade. 

Here are a few more recent hummingbird photos - I've loved taking their pictures and just can't seem to just sit and enjoy them - I have to grab the camera.  You have no idea how many photos I've taken, and neither do I - LOL.

This is the first time I've seen a Calliope Hummingbird - with his red streaked gorget, he's a beautiful bird.  He's also our smallest hummingbird, from my SILBEY FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS of Western North America, "tiny and short tailed with relatively short, thin bill.  Male has distinctive streaked rosy gorget and white stripe across cheek."






The little Calliope Hummers are sure recognizable!  Here are some of my other favorites:




These two guys below sure look intense, heading toward the nectar:



I got some good photos of the bird below, on the right.  (S)he's larger than the other hummingbirds and not colorful, but I liked it's grayish colors and patterns, kind of plainly beautiful. 






In the past when I was taking pictures of the hummingbirds that came around, I seldom got a photo of displayed tail feathers, which are so striking.  But because we have SO MANY hummingbirds here at Storrie Lake right now, they seem to spread their wings and tail feathers all the time.  There's always one guarding the feeder, and because there are so many birds trying to get close to it, there's lots of dive bombing, tail feather displays, and loud calls.  Fun to watch, and fantastic for photos.

WELCOME to our newest Follower, Steven!  It doesn't look like Steve has a blog, so I can't point you to it, but Steve, if you do blog, please send me a link and I'll pass it on.  Thank you for following along with me and Katie, we sure appreciate it!  Welcome Aboard! 

From me and Katie, have a great Friday, everyone!  :)


PS - THANK YOU! to all our Followers and readers who are purchasing Amazon.com items through our links.  It's the first site I check in the morning, and it makes my day to see a new item on my "ordered" list.  Remember, although we do get a list of items ordered, we have no idea who orders what - your purchases are totally private - and our small percentage of your sale costs you nothing.  Sure is wonderful for us, though!  :)

22 comments:

  1. That fence is perfect for your pup. If I were to leave my three pups outside, they would back at everyone and everything that moved. We keep them inside and walk them on a leash. Love your pictures, especially the humming birds. BTW, that is toad not a frog, I believe.

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    1. Thanks, Dizzy-Dick! So you're saying now I've seen a toad, but I've STILL not seen a frog? Well, I think a toad is even better. LOL

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  2. Really enjoyed these hummingbird photos, would think the cats would go nuts watching them! and I can't imagine putting a cat on a leash, but I guess some people do.

    Maura

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  3. Love the humming bird pictures. Re cats off leash: If little dogs are in dander from coyotees, cats are even more vulnerable. We lost several cats that way. Our cats had a job. Catching rodents. What are the benifts to letting cats roam at a campground? I knowthey look like they are enjoying the freedom, but there are risks too. I do not judge, I just make observations.

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    1. Hi Merikay - I agree completely! I'd never let a cat out without a leash - depending on the area. We don't have coyotes at Storrie Lake, and Annie's cats stayed close to the rigs, so it seemed perfectly safe - in this case. It would depend on the park's location. Now, Quartzsite? I don't even let Katie out of my sight there. I'm always ready to pick her up and fight off a coyote if necessary!

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  4. Pretty much all parks have cats on leash rule. It's not difficult to teach them though. Buy a good cat harness and introduce it slowly. We use the harness anywhere we are in obvious public view.
    Nina (wheelingit)

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    1. Hi Nina! I've never heard that, but good to know. I'm sure Annie wouldn't let the cats out if she knew that, or if there was a sign stating No Cats or Dogs Off Leash, and after her conversation with the Ranger, she's keeping the cats in. Not a big deal - but I did enjoy watching Parker out the window. :)

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  5. I would love to find a harness that Noah cannot escape from! He goes out and usually stays under the motorhome. At 14, he is not much of a roamer except for here since we have been here sooooooo long. He feels so comfortable here that he was gone 4 days! We thought he went off to die. But nope, he came home mighty hungry. We told him that he is permanently grounded.

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  6. What great photos!!! their little feet all tucked in, and such beautiful colors!

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  7. I really like all the photos, and can't decide which I like best because they all are wonderful! I guess I'll choose Katie since I love her so much!

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  8. I don't believe in cats off a leash for their safety. There are just too many risks for them.

    Love the hummer photos. We have a few, but they spend too much time chasing each other and not landing.

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  9. The pic of the 2 hummingbirds approaching the feeder from the same side is priceless. They seem so full of eagerness to get there. GREAT shot!

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  10. Because you rarely see a cat on a leash it seems like a strange idea. But if cats catch rodents, they also catch birds. I've seen the results here in my mobile home park where quite a few cats run loose. I wish I could get such good hummingbird pictures! Really terrific photos.

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  11. Again, fantastic pictures!!! Love sweet Katie's pic!!

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  12. Love your critter photos!!! Of course, the Hummingbirds are always my favorites. :-)

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  13. Cats are best kept on a leash out west. Mice carry the Huntavirus which is dangerous.

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  14. Now we have our own! We are recently retired. Check us out at www.wheellife.us.

    Jane

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  15. http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/Camping.html states, "Pet owners shall restrain pets on leashes that are not more than 10 feet in length." The rule says "pets," not just dogs. I personally agree with those who say it's a bad idea to let cats wander around loose--too many hazards!--but in any case, it's not permitted in New Mexico state parks.

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  16. Thanks for the clarification, Andy, that says it all. I wonder why the signs all say "Dogs" must be on a leash. I guess it would be clearer if they said "Pets." I understand it, though: in a lot of parks pets are in danger if they are not in the control of their owners, and in others, the native critters would be in danger from the pets. :(

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  17. Here at the County Park, I'm always reminding camper of the "leash" rule. We have all kinds of wildlife here, including mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, rattle snakes and others, all wondering into the campgrounds.
    As usual the pictures of the "hummers" are wonderful.

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