That internet break I mentioned will just have to wait until after I post these pictures!
Roundabouts 9 p.m. last night, Bill and I were watching Northern Exposure in the family room, all the windows wide open, enjoying the soft evening breeze when we heard them ... the unmistakable rattle and scrabble sounds of raccoons at the feeders. We hurried over to the dining room windows, (camera in hand, of course) and turned on the outside spotlight ... and saw not one or two, but five raccoons at the birdfeeders!
A big mama and her four little babies!
Obviously we snapped pictures like crazy (so tricky at night!) and promptly woke the boys to come and see. Here are the best of the bunch:
The mama and two of her babes ...
They all climbed very well ...
... like little acrobats!
This one wanted the seedcake in the cage ...
And don't you know, he got it out!
This one went straight to the seed tray ...
Same shot, different lighting ...
They were pretty quiet, just little grunts and squeaks.
It doesn't seem so here, but the babies were quite small.
The mama kept her eye on me as I snapped pictures.
She never ate, just kept the lookout!
The raccoons were quite aware of our presence, especially the mama. At one point someone on the next street let off fireworks and that startled them all up in the tree. After a few minutes, they clambered on down and set back to the business at hand - emptying our birdfeeders!
We turned off the spotlight and let them eat in peace. We had a feeling this was the first time they've visited this year - it seemed a lesson was going on - but I'm sure it won't be the last!
Well, it's six a.m. now and I'm signing off, really and truly! All the earlybirds are at the feeders just now, including the cardinal pair, the doves and jays, the titmice and chickadees and the little red squirrel who must think that by getting here before the grays wake up he has a chance to eat in peace, lol! Ooh, and a red-bellied woodpecker who is SO shy I can never get his picture; he always flies off at any slight noise or movement. I am going to let him be because I want him to feel comfortable coming here. Maybe at some point, after he gets used to all our noises as most of the critters have, I'll get a picture of him. He's quite a big and handsome woodpecker!
Well, have a grand weekend everyone, and if you're an HP fan, Happy Reading! Thanks for stopping by ...
