Today the birds descended on this berry tree behind my house. Like yesterday’s squirrel they seem to enjoy the bounty. ☙
Image #73 – Summer’s Bounty II
Image #72 – Summer’s Bounty
We are moving into late summer and nature’s bounty is feeding its children. This squirrel has followed the lead of several birds and is feasting on the berries of an as-yet-unidentified tree in my backyard. The cardinals have made several pilgrimages to these berries and they must be quite delicious. Look at the stuffed cheeks on this fellow! In coming months, years I hope to add to this bounty and give the critters what they need. Winter is coming. Those who cannot fly away must pack on the calories and the fat. Everyone has said the last few winters haven’t been too bad. But one never knows, do one? ☙
Image #69 – Hummingbirds
There are hummingbirds that come to my feeder. What a treat! You can sit on the porch, with the feeder just a few feet overhead, and the little rascals will zoom in, sometimes stopping to hover and have a look at you. Their aerial abilities are beyond description and, I can tell you, present a challenge to the photographer. All birds, it seems, have an aversion to cameras. Hummingbirds are no exception and their speed and agility make them even more of a challenge.
I did get a picture today of a juvenile sitting on the feeder. I think this is a very young ruby-throat. They are the predominant species here 
but this little guy is still in knickers. Look carefully at the base of his belly and you can still see his downy feathers. Good luck little hummingbird. Live long and prosper. ☙
Image #68 – Tufted Titmouse
A tufted titmouse, one of many, visits my bird feeder. ☙
Image #59 – Waterfalls
This pleasant scene is no more than two miles from my home. With so much rain this year the local waterfalls are strutting their stuff! ☙
Image #56 – Enough already … ?
So many mushrooms … so little time. I promise that I will start taking pictures of other things but these lovelies are all around me and are begging to be photographed. Who am I to disappoint them? ☙
Image #55 – Another day, another mushroom
Sturdy little fellows, pushing their way out from the hillside. Wonder who their puny friend on the right is? 🙂
Image #54 – Violet mushrooms
The Asheville newspaper had a front page news story about the bumper year for mushrooms in North Carolina. Lucky me! And best of all I barely need to leave home. Photographing this lovely Violet-branched Coral mushroom did entail the effort of climbing the hill to my friends’ home and then getting down to the mushroom’s level, which is about 3/4 of an inch high. Check out the acorn in the right-hand corner and you can get an idea of scale. So delicate and colorful. And so well named because it is very reminiscent of coral. Just another joy of nature. ☙
Image #53 – The Sunflower Mushroom
It seemed this mushroom wanted to be a sunflower — so happy and sunny on a bright sunny morn. ☙
Alice's WanderLand 