living here is like living in a zoo

[red tail]

one of the things I love about living here is all the wildlife right under my nose. as we speak there is a mourning dove nest in my bougainvillea, a mockingbird nest in my palm tree, a whipperwill sitting on her two eggs in my front flower bed. now I just went out and opened my umbrella table and opened it to find it with bats! not to mention the many squirrels running around causing trouble!

[rubicon]

Oh than God redtail when I read your thread my thoughts were that you were describing the residents:22yikes:

[DonH57]

About a month ago I had found a mourning dove had nested in one of our palm trees in the front yard. I had no idea she was there with a little one and an egg as I was going to cut the seed pods out. I kept watch so when they all left I could return to remove the pods. She never flew off if I came out to check the nest I still kept like 4 feet away. We have seen rabbits and a oppossum in our back yard.

[JP]

I really enjoy the mockingbirds. So many songs!

[redwitch]

About a month ago I had found a mourning dove had nested in one of our palm trees in the front yard. I had no idea she was there with a little one and an egg as I was going to cut the seed pods out. I kept watch so when they all left I could return to remove the pods. She never flew off if I came out to check the nest I still kept like 4 feet away. We have seen rabbits and a oppossum in our back yard.

Mourning doves are interesting birds. They mate for life. Usually, the female will sit on the nest all day and the male will take over for the night. They fascinate me -- I had one in California make a nest on a paint can on my patio. Hand's down the sloppiest nest I'd ever seen -- think it may have had ten pieces of grass but guess that was enough for the egg to be dropped and the babies to be hatched. I was very careful to never disturb that side of the patio (at least I only had to sweep one-half). They came back year after year, adding more twigs every season.

Lately have seen several female cardinals, but not a single male. Hope those pretty red guys are just hiding. And I'm still in love with thee sandhill cranes.

[Barefoot]

Lately have seen several female cardinals, but not a single male. Hope those pretty red guys are just hiding. And I'm still in love with thee sandhill cranes.

I loved all the white pelicans in the ponds this year. I am also in love with sandhill cranes, they are amazing. They are so special. When I see one, I feel like I've seen a unicorn or a rainbow.

[mainlander]

Mourning doves first came to my attention some years ago in various places in Florida, then of course through my visits to the Villages. What I found interesting is that we have a few here in Eastern Canada, I wonder how populus they are on the continent? Love to hear them early in the morning.

[George Bieniaszek]

We have a family of morning doves in one of our shrubs. My wife googled and read all about them and we are fascinated how they sit on their eggs and how the young ones hatched and finally were mature enough to fly. We also have the occasional frog that seems to love our hot tub. How he gets in there is a mystery cause the cover seems very tight. Then there are the family of geckos that have taken up residence under our AC Unit :)

[graciegirl]

This beautiful place is a little like the formal gardens of Versailles, a little like the part in Snow White when she sees bunnies and butterflies and all kinds of birds and chipmunks and squirrels and mice and deer...but it also reminds me when I come back on campus after being away driving down the ordinary roads of Florida and then, when you enter The Villages, just like when it switched to color in the movie The Wizard of Oz, the color brightens, the music strengthens and everything around you is just so lovely and a feast for your eyes.

I am so glad I followed the yellow brick road and Oz is my year 'round home.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ayxf9A6ZcQA/S_3itn7AIJI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/e-RjdN0z7PI/s1600/snowwhite.jpg

[jerseyvillager]

We like watching al the birds but we like watching the gators best.

[travelguy]

what about the snakes?

[DonH57]

I have seen a couple of weird looking ducks, or I assume they are ducks in the pond between Morse and El Camino by the assisted living buildings. They have multiple shades of brown feathers and their eyes were dark orange and they have a lighter shade of brownish orange around their eyes. Anyone know whatthey are, duck or maybe geese?

[rmcpklinefelter]

We watch the polo ponies, land turtles, coyotes, foxes, fox squirrels, squirrels, birdies of all sizes and songs....just love it! (except that snake)

[rayschic]

Mourning doves are interesting birds. They mate for life. Usually, the female will sit on the nest all day and the male will take over for the night. They fascinate me -- I had one in California make a nest on a paint can on my patio. Hand's down the sloppiest nest I'd ever seen -- think it may have had ten pieces of grass but guess that was enough for the egg to be dropped and the babies to be hatched. I was very careful to never disturb that side of the patio (at least I only had to sweep one-half). They came back year after year, adding more twigs every season.

Lately have seen several female cardinals, but not a single male. Hope those pretty red guys are just hiding. And I'm still in love with thee sandhill cranes.

redwitch..we have a family of cardinals that come to visit everyday. The three babies come first and then the adults right behind. The babies look exactly like the female adult except that the babies have a black beak and the mother's is red. So, look closely, they might be babies that you are seeing.

[batman911]

I have seen a couple of weird looking ducks, or I assume they are ducks in the pond between Morse and El Camino by the assisted living buildings. They have multiple shades of brown feathers and their eyes were dark orange and they have a lighter shade of brownish orange around their eyes. Anyone know whatthey are, duck or maybe geese?

Zombies???

[ssmith]

Do your 'ducks' dive deep?

We watched a similar bird at Lake Sumter and a local told us they were Coots!!!

Now I had to make some comment to my husband about old coots!!!

[marantho]

We have a Morning Dove nesting in a flower basket right at our front door(in Village Santiago)...she comes back every year to the same nest...makes a few renovations and lays her eggs.
This year she has, so far, raised three broods...she is currently working on #3...each with two chicks. We have a sign on our walkway telling anyone and everyone not to come to the front door...we don't want her disturbed. That sign has been up since the end of April!!!!

[kittygilchrist]

I have a few butterfly plants back of the lanai and insect eating birds eat the pollinators that feed on them. My fave is an eastern kingbird that likes wasps...I watch the chase scene with fascination.

[Mimivillager]

Graciegirl, I love your picture. Don't know kow you got it there!

[PaPaLarry]

Nice description Gracie!!!! Can someone tell me where all the birds have gone (besides the doves and mockingbirds)??????? We used to have so many birds at the feeder, but no more.

[My Daily Run]

I was having trouble with red winged blackbirds in my bird feeder and they would scare all the cardinals away so I took out the premium wild bird seed and I put in safflower seed and no more black birds...I have so many cardinal...lots of babies and everyday I can see some of the males starting to turn red on their heads and breast. I have seen I think 2 different male adults (as one I think is much larger then the other) but I mostly see females that are brown with little red beaks and the babies are all brown except for the males that are changing daily with a little more red. I love them and I have my binoculars right by my side.

[buggyone]

This beautiful place is a little like the formal gardens of Versailles, a little like the part in Snow White when she sees bunnies and butterflies and all kinds of birds and chipmunks and squirrels and mice and deer...but it also reminds me when I come back on campus after being away driving down the ordinary roads of Florida and then, when you enter The Villages, just like when it switched to color in the movie The Wizard of Oz, the color brightens, the music strengthens and everything around you is just so lovely and a feast for your eyes.

I am so glad I followed the yellow brick road and Oz is my year 'round home.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ayxf9A6ZcQA/S_3itn7AIJI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/e-RjdN0z7PI/s1600/snowwhite.jpg

Gracie,

My wife really loved your description of The Villages and especially the comparison to The Wizard of Oz.

This truly is a remarkable place.

[redwitch]

redwitch..we have a family of cardinals that come to visit everyday. The three babies come first and then the adults right behind. The babies look exactly like the female adult except that the babies have a black beak and the mother's is red. So, look closely, they might be babies that you are seeing.

Nope -- females; beaks are bright red or orange. Maybe the guys are out doing their job?

Saw a coyote the other day. I'm used to Western coyotes, which are pretty scraggly looking. This one had beautiful full coat and tail, just trotting along, minding it's own business.

Now, if we could a few pachyderm sightings, the zoo would be complete.

[kittygilchrist]

Nope -- females; beaks are bright red or orange. Maybe the guys are out doing their job?

Saw a coyote the other day. I'm used to Western coyotes, which are pretty scraggly looking. This one had beautiful full coat and tail, just trotting along, minding it's own business.

Now, if we could a few pachyderm sightings, the zoo would be complete.

Dee, where was the coyote?

[looneycat]

Dee, where was the coyote?

errr, at city fire..

:pepper2:

[gomoho]

I was having trouble with red winged blackbirds in my bird feeder and they would scare all the cardinals away so I took out the premium wild bird seed and I put in safflower seed and no more black birds...I have so many cardinal...lots of babies and everyday I can see some of the males starting to turn red on their heads and breast. I have seen I think 2 different male adults (as one I think is much larger then the other) but I mostly see females that are brown with little red beaks and the babies are all brown except for the males that are changing daily with a little more red. I love them and I have my binoculars right by my side.

Where are you buying the safflower seed? I saw some, but it was very expensive.

[Barefoot]

I didn't know that orioles love sugared water. I have a flock of brightly-colored orioles that have turned my hummingbird feeder into an oriole feeder, by pulling out the little filters.

[CFrance]

there are oriole feeders that you put liquid in that is orange colored. I'm sure it's sugar water just like the hummingbird feeder stuff. We put orange halves out on the deck in the spring--right now is the time in MI--and they eat like crazy. Then later on they go for the insects instead of the oranges. this is all West MI oriole info...

[blaZen]

You city folk crack me up!

[jimbo2012]

seeing & hearing lots of frogs here, bright green, 1-2 inches

http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/images/greentreefrogtnail.jpg

Sandhill cranes walking around also, no mammals perhaps the construction around hillsborough trail is scaring them off.

[redwitch]

Dee, where was the coyote?

Coyote sightings: Hemingway, calmly strolling by the bushes behind the houses on 466; the Historic side near Silver Lake (lots of ducks and stuff for snacking?); retention pond off of Belvedere. Also saw a fox the other day in my back yard.

[graciegirl]

I sleep with a fox.

[kittygilchrist]

:0000000000luvmyhors
Grace is in lo-o-ove!
Sweet on her Sweetie...

[kittygilchrist]

Coyote sightings: Hemingway, calmly strolling by the bushes behind the houses on 466; the Historic side near Silver Lake (lots of ducks and stuff for snacking?); retention pond off of Belvedere. Also saw a fox the other day in my back yard.

thanks Dee...I saw one on the Destin course at Bonifay...near Lake Kitty (named for me by me)

[CFrance]

seeing & hearing lots of frogs here, bright green, 1-2 inches

http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/images/greentreefrogtnail.jpg

Sandhill cranes walking around also, no mammals perhaps the construction around hillsborough trail is scaring them off.

Dog and I must see three frogs a night on our after dark walk. I can't figure out why they are camping out on the street and in driveways as opposed to in the grass and landscaping.

[kittygilchrist]

Dog and I must see three frogs a night on our after dark walk. I can't figure out why they are camping out on the street and in driveways as opposed to in the grass and landscaping.

I brake for frogs...I think the rain makes them want to brake dance.
I am making this up.

[rayschic]

Where are you buying the safflower seed? I saw some, but it was very expensive.

Walmart's has it.

[ROCKETMAN]

We have a family of morning doves in one of our shrubs. My wife googled and read all about them and we are fascinated how they sit on their eggs and how the young ones hatched and finally were mature enough to fly. We also have the occasional frog that seems to love our hot tub. How he gets in there is a mystery cause the cover seems very tight. Then there are the family of geckos that have taken up residence under our AC Unit :)

I also have a frog that loves my hot tub in the winter months. It sits right on the edge and one time was actually in the water. 103 degrees i thought i would be having frog legs for supper but it didn't miss a beat.

[CFrance]

I brake for frogs...I think the rain makes them want to brake dance.
I am making this up.

Dog likes to brake for them too! But I won't let him. They might be princes who moved here permanently and turned into frogs.