Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Saturday’s Solitude #22.
Good morning and Happy Saturday everyone! It is chilly this morning, and slightly wet, there was just a light misty rain earlier but right now the sun is trying hard to break through the clouds. It was 46F (8C) this morning and should hit a high of 59F (15C). But, this coming week is supposed to be very nice, mostly sunny and much warmer temps, so that will be nice. Maybe I can get some nice photos of our fall colors. That’s providing the forecast doesn’t change, which it often does this time of year. The chipmunks have changed a bit the last couple of days.
For quite a while they have actually preferred sunflower seeds to peanuts, but now they are back to wanting peanuts instead. They know that time is limited before they head off to hibernation. The lone evening grosbeak is still here and coming to the new hanging feeder which hangs just below my new main feeder. Does it work? So far, success! At 8:40 this morning I heard an odd noise on the deck and when I looked out the door, a rather large bear was standing there licking up the remaining sunflower seeds. He then went to the new feeder, he could reach the old hanging feeder which was empty anyway, but I knew he could reach that one so I’m putting it away until winter.
But he was unable to reach the other one that had seeds in it, so he left. He was a big bear, but not the biggest that comes around, but he is different than the other 3, so there are now 4 bears. In the picture he is not standing straight up, but leaning over onto the railing because of the box on the deck. If he was standing straight his head would be about as tall as the feeder pole, which is 6 feet, one inch. Because of the screen door between us we were close together at one point, only a foot apart (30cm). He has a huge head, and large teeth, but those claws were very large. I tried for a picture, but the sun was shining on the metal screen so it glared too much, which was too bad.
Once again, this happened just a few minutes after I had been out on the deck putting seeds in that one feeder. He wasn’t fat though, and this time of year bears should be at their fattest in size. But I would say he’s about 400 pounds. I was hoping to get a pic of him on all four feet so his size would show up better, but that would have required going outside, which I didn’t really want to do. I was also hoping he would go over to the neighbor’s yard, then I could go out and get a good picture, but he decided to go up the hill to that neighbor and so was out of sight quickly. With all these bears coming around I still can’t get a decent picture of one. Oh well, maybe one of these days.
The chickadees came to greet me afterwards, landing on my hand to get a seed. The chipmunks were stuffing their cheeks to the limit before heading back home. It’s fall, the sun is shining brilliantly, it’s quiet, just the sound of grackles, chickadees and blue jays breaking the silence now and then. Leaves are floating to the ground, covering the once green grass. Solitude in town. Have a most wonderful weekend everyone and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2021 Steve McLeod.
Great pictures!!😁😊
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Thanks Dusty! Just wish that bear had turned his head a bit more.🤔😁🐻😳 But Coffee cooperated anyway!
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That he did!!😉
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He’s always nice that way.
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And hungry it seems!😂😂
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Always, always!! They can carry 3 times the size of their head in food in those cheeks!😲😲😂😂
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Whoa!! That’s almost as much as me!😲😲
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And I didn’t even know you liked bird seed.🤔🙄
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Yeah, you’re right I don’t anymore… got tired of fighting chipmunks 🐿 for them! They slobber something terrible!😝😝
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Oh, you remember the chipmunk slobber!!😂😂
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I’m admitting to nothing!!🤨🤨😝😛😛
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You already did!😛😛
I better get to bed, early morning, I’m beat, didn’t sleep good last night.🥱🥱
Good night Dusty, talk again tomorrow, I’ll be around more, gonna take it easy.😁🌙😴
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Alrighty! I’ll be around too.
Sleep Good! 😴😴😴
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Hope so! You too!
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Thx!😁
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I hope the bears leave the bird feeder in peace…
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Well, working yesterday, that big guy was unable to reach that far out so he gave up quick. Of course, he’s only one so far.
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but it’s a good sign so far…
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True enough!
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Holy moly!!! I could not deal with the bears! 🙀That one was too close for comfort! Stay safe!
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Yep, that’s twice now being close like that! Amazing how such a big animal can walk so quietly. I have to be constantly looking around when I’m outside. Thanks Renee, have a great day!😃😺🌞☕☕🐻😳🙀
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So awesome photos, chickpeas and the bear standing , so scary😟very careful 👍🏻🙏
I think that it came for food , but you and Muffin always alert 👏have a lovely weekend 👏🥀
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Thank you so very much! Yes, that big bear came looking for food, but he didn’t find much. That one is just too big.😲🐻 I wish I could have gotten a better picture of that one to show his size better.📷😀🐻😳 I am always watching carefully before going outside, that bear is just too scary. Thank you, have a great week!!😁😻🌞☕☕
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Thank you for this beautiful reply 🌹🙏🏼♥️🌹 grace wishes to you and Muffin 🌹👏
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😁😻🌞😃😺
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Yikes! That’s a scary bear! I wouldn’t want to have my morning coffee with him. 😬
🐻☕️☕️
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So true, that one is definitely too big, almost makes me want to rethink walking to the river this week!😳🚶♂️🌲🐻
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Yes, I would rethink that, as well.
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Hmm, still, sitting on my deck is just as dangerous. But closer to home at least.
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