Animal Wednesday - wildlife!

On Saturday we went kayaking. Gorgeous day, beautiful paddling, quiet river.  We got to the park later than usual and by the time we were paddling back, we were the only ones on the river.  It was quiet and peaceful, red-winged blackbirds singing and flying, water bugs skittling around - just lovely and peaceful.

Then I heard a loud splash and the Mr pointed out where a beaver had dove under the water after giving the tail thump alarm.  Luckily he or she must have been young and inexperienced because when it swam away it stayed right below the surface so I could follow it across to the other bank where (apparently) dinner was waiting.   I was cursing the lack of my decent camera - and my iphone is having trouble holding a charge - but I turned it on and got great shots of the beaver munching on dinner.   My boat just drifted closer and closer but the beaver didn't seem to worry and just ignored me.

When I lifted my paddle to back up - the beaver did the tail thump on the water, dove and swam away.   I'd never seen the tail thump before and it was a real thrill!

The shot below is one of the many beaver homes that we see along this river - this is a REALLY big one, and has been there for years.

The universe amazes me.  I remember a few weeks ago feeling very blue about not seeing interesting animals and how boring my Animal Wednesdays were becoming...since then I've seen goats on the bike trail, a hawk on the lawn and now a beaver having a snack.

Happy Animal Wednesday!!!  And Happy 4th of July!!

(note: my iphone was dead by the next day and couldn't be resurrected even after two trips to the apple store. RIP old iphone; hello replacement! )