We see or hear a plethora of wildlife around the farm. Armadillos, beaver, coyotes, dogs, elephants...ha! just kidding on that last one, but I was enjoying the alphabetical game...all sorts of birds, lizards,frogs, snakes, turkey and lots of deer. 

I caught a stealthy picture of this guy through my fogged up window. At first I thought this was a woodpecker of sorts, but after doing my own internet sleuthing I believe this is a Belted Kingfisher. They live near rivers, streams, creeks, marshes and swamps to eat fish and other animals living in or near the water. They make a cool rattle sound when they call and we hear this noise all the time, just never knew what it was! 

So nice for the locals to come up on the porch and introduce themselves. I watched this one for a good ten minutes before he (or she) flew back to the riverside woods. Now the coyotes, feral hogs, wild dogs, and bobcats, they need not come over for a visit. Though there is something eerily beautiful about the song of coyotes late at night by the light of the moon.

To sit and listen to the night sounds of tree frogs, cicadas, crickets, coyotes, bull frogs, owls and other night birds while a planetarium of stars and planets sparkle and dazzle overhead is one of my favorite summer treasures. 

Wildlife abounds in, at, and near bodies of water. Read my recent, highly popular post on Childhood Creeks.