USUAL SUSPECTS FOR CHRISTINA

This post is for Christina who said she couldn't wait to see the foxes. Since last time we visited the usual suspects around the Casa du Borghese, there has been much excitement. Over the last few weeks, I have gotten some beautiful pictures. I  knew the foxes were still here, for their screaming at night gives them away. It wasn't till my afternoon outing to see Anne Marie and Fearsome that I caught my first glimpse of her new kits. Oh my goodness are they adorable and have been very active in the ivy bed at night. I often sit outside very late, and it's amazing how close they get. But I dare not move. Surprisingly, they have been sighted in the day time when it's quiet here with everyone out.

The mother vixen by the refuse area. Look at that beauty!!!!!!

Two of the four baby kits this year. She has got quite the active bunch this year. The father has also been present. Red foxes pair for life. They remain together from mid winter through summer. In the autumn they become solitary, but then reunite to mate in January and February. New kits come along in early April usually.  On two separate occasion I got some fun video  on my phone one afternoon with my friend Pixie.

Brace yourself for cuteness.....

Meanwhile Ozzie and Harriett had quite the flock!!!!

I noticed one day there number went up. I wondered if they adopted some poor goslings that got left behind from another couple. Canadian Geese have a strong urge to be parental and have been know to even raise ducklings. To my knowledge they hold there own from the foxes. Just wait till my geese lay feet deep of goose droppings in DC!

Beautiful Red!!

 His female right now is molting and wouldn't have it to be photographed. A chirping sparrow sits behind him.

The Blue Jays are all grown now and currently have quite the noisy flock. Blue Jays and their young return each year to their location. I may have to count them in on my world domination to rid  DC of the evilness. Their not to fond of whats been going on. And as we know Jays are not to be trifled with.

Fun fact...the pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown. The blue color is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs. My neighbors must love the noise.

This fellow showed up in the woods. I believe it's a warbler of some sort.

What are you looking at?

My peckers have tripled!!!! I still have the Red Bellied couple. One can hear their drain pipe ditty every morning.

The cute little Downy perched on a rock. 

And I was very excited to see my first ever Pileated Woodpecker!!!! My god are they huge!!!! I have only spotted him twice, but I now know they are here.

One of the first and last birds to serenade is the lovely catbird. One of my favorite birds. They are actually quite intelligent and can emulate the sound of up to 12 other birds. But their own song is quite pretty. They often sing till the darkness hits.

A lovely mourning dove....

Nocturne flew in to repot about the great numbers of ravens, crows and blackbird numbers I have in my army now.  We are going to make the Birds film look like a walk in the park.

Last but certainly not least is my dear Bouvier, who tells me the squirrels are also part of my world domination on DC, by the tens of thousands. He says they have quite the diabolical  plan ready and in place. It will be total mayhem. Bouvier greets me in the morning to collect the peanut I take out, and drops me a few more tidbits of the plan. 

We all intend to smash the wheel.

Don't be fooled by our cuteness.