Friday, January 28, 2022

The Winter Wildlife

 Greetings friends and fans. This is The Daily Bone and I'm your inspirational doggie reporter Chester L. W. Spaniel. 


First of all, I must say, "we have snow!" It started January 17, with a big storm. Here's a picture my ghostwriter took while looking out of the window of the break room where she was having her lunch that day.

It was a rough drive home later that night as the snow continued to fall leading to slippery roads, and white-out conditions ensued whenever another car passed one way or another. The next day, the snow had stopped. Here are some birdie footprints on the snow:

Our local weather man had this to say: we beat our old record for the amount of snow we received today by double! Hooray! 


My ghostwriter and dad weren't too happy about it while they were excavating the driveway!

We caught a glimpse of the sidewalk plow. 

He had quite a bumpy ride in his little vehicle since the big snow plows had thrown all the street snow up into the sidewalks. He had to go around our block twice just to make a path through it all. 


But I digress. We wanted to talk about the local winter wildlife. Here's Mr. Cardinal sitting in the pear tree during a snow squall.

Later some mourning doves decided the pear tree was a great place to just wait out the storm.


Last night at work, while my ghostwriter was sitting in the break room of the nursing home, she saw a deer walk right up to the front door of the building! (Sorry the picture isn't too good.)


It later was joined by another deer. The two of them wandered off through the falling snow.


At home, there's been a bunny in my yard almost every night! If you look carefully, you'll see me eating my fill of the fluffy white snow, while on the other end of the picture to the left, a bunny calmly forages the birdie seeds dad put there for him to find. This bunny has become quite blasé about the fact that a highly effective cocker spaniel hunting doggie is only a few feet away!

Don't worry. I finally chased him off. 


The next day, we got a surprise visitor. Sid Starling returned from his wandering-with-the-flock time, and discovered there was suet in the window birdie feeder.  He gave us an exclusive interview!


"Hello. I'm Sid Starling. I have returned once again to claim my place at this here birdie feeder, and this wonderful chunk of suet. Yes-sir-eeee! I come here every year to claim my territory. Later in the season, I'll find a mate, and set up house in the neighbor's dryer vent to raise lots of worthy offspring."

"Hey, what's this? Cousins Bert and Millie, I didn't invite, you guys!"


"But I guess I can share the other piece of suet, as long as you all do it politely without squabbling. Good grief! There's cousin Marge too!" 


"What the *&%#@!? I said NO FIGHTING!" 


"That's right. You can all share the suet over there." 


"Hey! Who's this??? That's my stash!" 


"Scram, all of you!" 


Sheesh! Those starlings are sure a rowdy bunch! So here are few more pictures of starling craziness:







Oh, and a squirrel stopped by too. 


I think it's naptime now. 


Good night!


Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Cool Beans Cooper is Around

 Greetings friends and fans! This is The Daily Bone and I'm your chilly doggie reporter Chester L. W. Spaniel. 


As you can see, we got some snow. While I like the snow (it tastes delicious) my ghostwriter doesn't. Well, she does, if she doesn't have to drive in it at night after work (after midnight because the night shift nurse was running late) when it's 3º with strong winds blowing, and the roads not plowed, and other idiot drivers speeding with their highbeams on, and deer running around …


Hey, is that what I sniffed on your car tires this morning? 

Yes, doggies, remember to sniff your humans' car tires whenever you can. They always pick up cool scents! Oh, and make sure the car is not going anywhere while you do this. 

Anyway, back to business, long time readers will remember that we have a friendly, neighborhood Cooper's hawk that's been around for a long time. His name is Mr. Cool Beans Cooper. Sometimes we don't see him for months, and then he just shows up. It's very hard to get a picture of him, but this is the best shot we have for now:

Of course we know he's here for the birdie cafeteria in our yard, except he's not looking for seeds. Sometimes he swoops by, and other times he bumbles around in the bushes looking for birdies. 

Hey, Mr. Cool Beans Cooper, we have plenty of big, fat squirrels you can help yourself to!

Just saying.