Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Animal Wednesday - Southern Animals


I was down in Sarasota this weekend and came out one day to find this hawk in the back yard - looking around for his next meal. I got as close as I could before he flew away, these pictures are from behind the screen. He was quite magnificent as he spied something creeping around in the undergrowth and swooped down to try to catch it for lunch.


This mossy backed turtle was just hanging out on the road - you can't even see the pattern on his back for the moss and growth. One day I saw one about this size trying to decide how to get off a curb to cross to the pond. I was driving at the time - otherwise I might have helped it a bit - without getting my finger bitten off!

And then there's Scruffy - a very good-natured loving little pooch - albeit still with some house breaking issues. But he is cute and ever ready to play and talk. And in most cases is very well behaved - but he doesn't like having his picture taken.

NO NO NO...I won't hold my head still!!!

He's just had a grooming - notice the little bandana?

Let me push my head right into the camera OK?
What???? I'm standing still finally.....!!!!

And hopefully you will see a video below of him taking me for a walk - trotting along just as happy as can be. (he sniffs at a pinecone...I know what you're thinking!!)




Happy Animal Wednesday!!

13 comments:

Lynn Cohen said...

Awesome to have a hawk in your own backyard!!!! And sweet little puppy in his cowboy bandana! I love his little personality.

kj said...

scruffy looks like he has a mind of his own. :^)

i would be in awe of a hawk in my backyard. i am in awe of birds these days.


kj

Cris, Artist in Oregon said...

What a cute puppy.He is camera shy. Those Hawks sure know where to go for food dont they? The best photo of of a Hawk I got was of one sitting in our bird bath taking a bath a few years back. What a great catch that was.

Lori ann said...

hee he, scruffy. he looks like a little hooligan. i have one too.

great sightings, i love seeing the wildlife in other places.

Baino said...

You can keep your hawk and your turtle . . but the scruffy man . . . love the shakey shots (small man syndrome perhaps?)

AtelierBrigitte said...

That must have been amazing to get so close to such a large bird (in the wild!).

I totally love Scruffy - he has a mind of his own - great pictures.

HAW!!

sukipoet said...

oh too cute. and the hawk is wonderful.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I have to share my mossy turtle story. I'm driving the dual lane, almost home and I see this HUGE turtle trying to cross the highway. (and I was in good clothes too) So, I stop and TRY and pick it up....it slipped right out of my hands as it weighed a ton! Then it popped out a MEAN HEAD WITH A SHARP BEAK. I did not give up; grabbed it under the lip of the top shell, just out of the way of that flailing beak and ran it to safety.
As I got in the car, I noticed an AWFUL ODOR......yup, that moss STINKS. I drove home gagging, thought I would barf, windows down and praying the fool thing would stay off the highway!
Now you may laugh!!!

XXOO~~
Anne

Teri said...

Isn't it great to see hawks and those big birds; we see a lot of hawks and an occasional eagle.
The little Scruffy is a doll!
Fun post Mim.

HAW

Robin said...

What a gorgeous Hawk! I love them!

Mr. Tortoise is pretty cute....I love Anne's story! Too funny! HAW!

Scruffy has a BIG personality for such a little one! I am glad your Mum has him for company.

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Marion said...

Wow, I didn't know about the mossy turtle. How incredible...and then I read Anne's story! How hilarious...I can just imagine!

Scruffy is SO cute! And his mind is his own...xx

studio lolo said...

Lots of entertainment here today! Anne has me laughing too!

Scruffy is too darn cute! He looks like he has attitude plus.

Hmm, if that wasn't a pine cone then he would have lingered!! :P

Beautiful hawk. I do love them.

HAW Ms. Mim!♥

Annie said...

Love the hawk and turtle, and that scruffy is a real cutie. xoxo