THE CRESTED TIT

The house is quieter now and I can only hear wood creaking or the wind blowing outside. Pedro left on the fifteenth of September, and is dearly missed. He would knock on my bedroom door each morning and when I said enter, he met me with a cheery smile and a "Good Morning Grandma" " Did you sleep well" or "What shall we do today, I have a meeting at 11, but I'm free in the afternoon."Lovely memories of my good - natured Grandson. Yes I'm the doting Grandma, who's affection knows no bounds when it comes to my grandson and even more so when I know the affection is mutual. The next time we will see each other is at Christmas, but it will soon be here. During my daughter in-law Paula's holidays,(she is a school teacher of English and French,) I saw more of Paula and my son Marco Paulo, and we had many happy reunions, and  I see my daughter Eva three times a week, and Marco and Paula once a week so I'm not short of company. Also just recently I have met up with old friends and we have had lunch together in various restaurants and spent pleasant afternoons together. It is cooler now in the mornings and evenings  but the afternoons are still hot but bearable. The new gardener has planted plugs of graminha grass to replace the scorched grass  spoilt by the summer heat. I collected the grass from other areas of the garden, and fingers crossed that they take root and do well. My time spent gardening is limited and I suffer the consequences afterwards, but what little is achieved makes me feel good. Now you are up to date with how I have spent my time, and know the reason why I am sometimes late in commenting on your blogs and even photography has taken a back seat when I have felt over tired and I can't sit at the computer because of the pain in my knee. The following image is an old photo that I don't remember sharing before,but please forgive me if I have. I hope you enjoy.

I love all the birds of the tit family but the Crested tit, I think you'll agree is simply charming.

A short post for a change.

 I will be linking up with Stewart at Wild Bird Wednesday and Eileen at Saturday's Critters both amazing blogs with loads of wildlife to enjoy.

THE CAPYBARA Hydrochoerus hydrochoeris.

Something a little different for you this week.The capybara is a native of South America, and when I visited the Biological park de Guia some years ago I took these photos of this very large rodent, which is the largest rodent in the world, but I never shared my photos until today. The capybara are social animals, often described as calm, relaxed, and compassionate, even adopting wild strays and abandoned young from other litters. They are very friendly, get along with humans and make friends with other animals as well. Crocodiles and capivaras are the best of friends and often can be seen swimming together, as the crocodile does not see the capivara as a threat because of it's calm disposition. The capybara has webbed feet to help it swim and escape from it's preditores. They live in herds and are herbivorous rodents, they are active at  twilight, feeding on grass and aquatic vegetation. Their twilight activity is likely because capivaras have fewer predators to fear, almost all animals love them. They are however threatened by jaguars ocelots which steal their young, eagles, and the dreaded anaconda, but their main threat is from humans. They are hunted extensively for their meat and their hide,which is made into leather coats. It is a great shame that this kind and gentle creature should be hunted at all.

Their facial features are located towards the top of their large heads to help them see and breathe whilst 

swimming. keeping their noses just above the waterline at the edge of the banks. They can also dive and stay under water for up to 5 mins at a time.

The gentle giant of rodents does not mind if other animals sit on its back.

Their pups drink milk for the first 16 weeks of their lives, suckling indiscriminately from any of the mothers in the group.

Linking to Saturday's Critters, and if you would like to check it out, click on the icon on the right sidebar. You won't be disappointed to see many different creatures from around the world. You too can join in by posting a pet, or any creature you like on Eileen's blog. "Saturday's Critters".

PORTRAITS OF A WOODPECKER

All these photos were taken on the 1st of August. As I have had quite a busy social life lately I'm posting them now as I haven't had much time to take any recent photos. I hope you enjoy them as they are the last of my woodpecker photos for this year

NATURE PHOTOS

It is much cooler now, still sunny, but it's pleasant to be outdoors again. The following photos for the most part were taken this week on my balcony, and in and around the garden and farm, but the birds in the shade were taken about three weeks ago when Eva, Pedro, and I went to the park. I used the same strategy as before, and headed for the nearest bench in the shade and waited for the birds to come within view. They were all hunting for food and many were successful as you will see in the images below. 

Plunp March Frog

 

I think this is a Hornet or an Asian Wasp as there is a nest in the abandoned cow shed.

I could only manage to photograph the rear end.

Not a good photo, but I wanted to show the eyes and this is the nearest I came to showing the face.

These little blue butterflies are everywhere in the garden.

A Coal Tit taken from my balcony

Not sure, but probably a Buzzard

A thirsty wasp on my balcony

Drying off afterwards.

The Geranium Bronze butterfly is back again

Western Conifer seed bug  Leptoglossus occidentalis

Saw this insect on my balcony

• The following photos were taken in the Park, all some distance away.

SQUIRREL WITH NUT

Squirrels visit my balcony every day. Sometimes they eat their findings on the balcony ledge or they scurry away to eat them elsewhere.When I saw this one in a nearby tree I took a series of photos to share with you all. They are all very similar, except for the last photo,and they are not in order but I hope you enjoy these images as much as I enjoyed taking them. 

After finishing the nut, the squirrel came back for another.

I will be linking up to Eileen's blog "Saturday's Critters," A wonderful nature blog where you can post photos of your pets or any animal of your choosing. To get there click on the icon on my left sidebar.