Yesterday was great

[Walt Davies]

I was brush hogging about 35 acres for ahay field yesterday and while making my round and round the field runs I noticed this Peregrine Falcon sitting near by in the field waiting for me to come by and scare up a mouse or two for him. he was not a bit afraid of me or the tractor as long as we were chasing mice in his direction. he would take off now and then and I noticed in the trees was another Falcon most likely his mate he was taking mice to her. Ain't it nice to see nature up close an personal. Sorry I left the camera at home.

Walt

 

[jimont]

Walt -
That experience is just one example of why we old coots still farm. In this modern society, the almighty dollar seems to take precident over REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES such that. No way, no how, can anyone put a dollar value on just such times as that.

 

[Fudd]

What fun it is to watch the wildlife. I used to run a swather for a guy and every year I cut this one field, a coyote would hang around and get the voles I would chase out with the swather. Sometimes in the early evening, herds of elk will come out of the forests to graze. I love it too.

 

[rrlund]

You should see when the black birds get pis*ed at them. I watched one one day land right on the big buggers back when he flew up and rode on him all the way up in to a tree,pecking him on the head the whole way.

 

[730 virgil]

hi Jim how you doing?
i know what you're saying it took 55 years to get get a place of our own and some cows.
i'm as bad as an old woman with those cows and calves. isn't much better than seeing a calf getting to it's feet and following mom over the hill.
city people have not a clue as to what i'm saying.

 

[jimont]

Hi Virgil -
Everthing's fine here. Hope you and yours are doing well also. Great day here as our youngest son was cutting soys while #2 son was putting the finishing touches on the renovations on the home farm barns for his small sheep and beef operation. Remarked to the boys that I just wished their mother could still be around to see how the next generation is taking over. Kinda nice to stand back and see them take the "bull by the horns".

 

[Kentb of SWMO]

I watch the barn swallows ever year as I cut fescue seed. Man CAN NOT build an airplane that can do the aerobatic that the barn swallows can.

Kent

 

[GeneMO]

I wasn't there, and dont' know what part of the country you are from, but would suspect that you saw an American Kestrel. Still neat to see. lI just came in from bow hunting at dark. For about an hour I had watched 7 bobwhite quail run around me. Quail are in short supply here. The neighbor and I are starting a two or three year project to bring them back. Hope it works.


Gene

 

[Burnie]

I was planting sorghum one time and noticed a wedge-tail eagle gliding around over the next strip, just minding it's own business. After a while a couple of crows flew over and decided to have a bit of fun dive bombing the eagle and generally annoying it. The fun, however, came to a sudden halt when the eagle flipped on it's side, shot out it's claws and grabbed one of the crows. The crow must have complained a bit because suddenly his mates were flying in from all points of the compass. There must of been over 100 of them milling around the eagle, who by this time was on the ground enjoying a spot of lunch. Gives a new meaning to the expression "eating crow".

 

[37 chief]

I have also supplied a few dinners for what we call chicken hawks, while discing. They are always sitting in a high area to see what I scare up for them. One time one grabbed a large snake. He was like a plane with a full load trying to get off of the ground, but he made it to the trees. to enjoy his meal. Stan

 

[Anonymous-0]

The wildlife is one of the things that make farm life interesting. There is a bunch of walnut trees around my place and this time of year the squirrls are really busy storing them for winter. They keep my little half beagle/bird dog mix intertained and occassionally he will scarf up one and have it for lunch. Also lately a couple of red tail hawks have been hanging around to catch them selves a nice squirrel meal. Four days ago my favorite barn cat dissapeared. I thought it was too big for a hawk but almost every night I hear cyotes really close around the barns so I figured she had been out in an open field at night and a cyote had her for dinner. I had about given up hopes when just tonight I went over to the shop to take a look and there she was, in one of her favorite resting spots. It was really good to see her. What a relief. For now, everything is in its place again.

 

[Sunspot]

There was a couple of Great Horned Owls roosting in some trees next to the house. They stayed there about 4 months and have just now left. My wife saw one swoop down on a rodent and have lunch.
The cats were short of snacks and still are. I think the owls reduced the population of snacks.
Over the last 10 years we have lived in the country, we have seen lots of natures bountys.

 

[Steve in IN]

I've got a male cat that does that all the time. He'll be gone 7 or 10 days, then show up looking about half dead. He eats, drinks, gets some attention, bulks up a little bit, then is gone for another week. He's been gone about 8 days now, but I'm not worried.

He sure is hard to depend on for vet appointments though!