Oh goodness, the outage was headline news this morning. Sounded like a huge disruption! No problem in my AT&T-less world, fortunately.

Suz, thank you!

Suz, more great pix! I really feel deprived living in a dry landlocked state.

Your Mr and Mrs Merganser reminded me of a picture I took awhile back of Mr and Mrs Wood Duck. Out for a stroll...

I love wood ducks. I've only gotten pictures from a good distance away.
Really nice capture Zoe!

Zoe, don't feel deprived. I have never even SEEN a Wood Duck, let alone two! Beautiful!

Web & Suz, thanks again !

You gotta love that hairdo!

Wow, such beautiful photos, y'all! I thought I was following this thread already but here I am now. Love all the photos.

Amazing photos of the Northern Flicker. I am rarely able to snap a picture of them, they move so fast!!!

But have to say, my favorite picture, without a doubt, is of the bird whisperer!! Awesome to have a bird land on you like that.

Beautiful, Zoë!!

Thanks Christine. Indeedy, the flickers are skittish. I took those from indoors through my kitchen window. They disappear the moment I move outside.

Some beautiful photos!
I first saw flickers when we moved here, then not much for years, then a few recently. But on the ground you can't see those tail feathers, so thanks, Zoe!

My pleasure Sally

@Murky and @WebTucker Thankyou!

wildflowers said: Wow, such beautiful photos, y'all! I thought I was following this thread already but here I am now. Love all the photos.

Amazing photos of the Northern Flicker. I am rarely able to snap a picture of them, they move so fast!!!

But have to say, my favorite picture, without a doubt, is of the bird whisperer!! Awesome to have a bird land on you like that.

I let Johnny know you like his new best friend. He grinned and shook his head. Lol

I see Flickers on the ground here outside of Detroit all the time from April through October. Rarely do they come to a feeder. Why? Because their preferred diet is not seeds. It is fruits and insects, primarily ants.
My flickers arrive in April and immediately search for a nest site. They raise two broods typically. Not in the same tree cavity but a nearby tree. They search for food in my backyard all the time. But only when the grass/weeds are short. They find ant nests and really feed on them like crazy.
Last year I switched to a peanut based suet cake with assorted berries. They really liked that!! So instead of me seeing Flickers very rarely on my suet feeder, last year they visited everyday!
My neighborhood must be Flicker friendly because from late September through October I have more then a half dozen Flickers on the ground. Again, looking for ants mostly but they seem to feed on little beetles too.
Now considering I see them everyday, they are not photogenic at all! What is the old saying, "you catch more flies with honey then vinegar". Well you'll catch more Flickers with berries and insects then you will with seeds.

Butterfly/moth compilation 2,021-2,023:

We went back down to the Cruickshank Wildlife Sanctuary in Rockledge, a nice little trail that is just over a mile walk. We saw a few Florida Scrub Jays, a young female Osprey bringing a stick to continue with the new nest building, and as we were leaving a Swallow Tail Kite showed up overhead. We don't see them too often, so that was a highlight for sure.

@WebTucker Terrific compilation! I love butterfly and moth pictures. 🧡

@Almostdone Suz, those are all great, the last two especially. You must have excellent reflexes!

Just fabulous Scrub Jay images!! Just fabulous!!

I just get lucky Zoe
Web, you are gettin pretty good at your compilations. Very nice.

Thank you Nick

Sure thing! 👍