Crocodile

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Crocodile

This crocodile reminds me of our komodo dragon friend. Alligators and crocodiles are reported to be responsible for more human fatalities per year than any other predator on earth. The American crocodile is found in the swamps of the southeastern U.S. Do you know how you can tell it's not an alligator? Because its teeth show even when its mouth is shut.

Tree By Lake

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Tree By Lake

Here's our last stop at Buck Creek State Park. It's been a beautiful day for a walk. This lake is 2,120 acres. The Spotted Turtle, a state-endangered animal, is found in the area around the lake. It took about fifteen years to finish the dam across Buck Creek as a flood-control project. The park was opened in 1975.

Winter Tree

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Winter Tree

I have always enjoyed taking pictures of trees from this angle. The knobs and branches on this tree create a very interesting effect. I guess you could call it a squirrel's-eye view.

Stairs To Water

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Stairs To Water

Buck Creek has some interesting trails. One of them is quite long and gets rather muddy when it rains, I can tell you from experience\. You could actually see it in this picture at the bottom of these stairs, running right by the lake. The lake can be see from many places in the park and is well worth the trek around the trails.

Berries With Sky

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Berries With Sky

It is always fun to discover red winter berries after the trees have dropped their leaves. The crunch of leaves underfoot and the chilly air remind us of the beauty of this winter season.

Walk At Buck Creek

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Walk At Buck Creek

Maybe it's time for another stroll in the park. This is a trail at Buck Creek State Park located near Springfield, Ohio. Buck Creek was dammed up to create the C.J. Brown Reservoir, and now there is a beautiful park around the whole area. Come along and explore!

Christmas Peace

Mud Valley Memories

Christmas Peace

Blessings of Christmas peace to all my readers and to the whole world.

Komodo Dragon

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Komodo Dragon

Here we have the biggest living lizard in the world. Maybe that is why it is called the "king of the lizards." It can run as fast as a human on its stubby legs. It smells its food using its long tongue, then attacks with its claws and short sharp teeth. Weighing more than 300 pounds, it will eat almost anything, including deer, pigs, and even buffalo. Unlike most lizards, it is a carnivore. It is found among the islands of Indonesia.

Spiny-tailed Iguana

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Spiny-tailed Iguana

Can you guess why this is called a spiny-tailed iguana? It is a genus of lizard common to Mexico and Central America. Lizards are popular pets. This one is an excellent climber. It has also set the world record for speed at 21.7 mph, making it the world's fastest lizard. The spiny-tailed iguana is hunted and eaten in Central American countries and also by some hunters in Florida.

Scrub Python

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Scrub Python

Here is one of the large snakes we saw in the reptile house. Pythons can weigh up to 250 pounds and measure 33 feet long. They only move about one mile per hour on land but are excellent swimmers. They lay eggs and the mother snake warms them by "shivering." This would be interesting to see—it looks like the snake has hiccups.

Turtle

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Turtle

These turtles were quite a comparison to the 500-pound tortoise. There were small 50-gallon aquariums with water and rocks the turtles could climb out of the water on. This little guy seemed to be taking a rest while the other ones swam around or floated in the water asleep.

Cheetah

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Cheetah

This animal looks like an overgrown kitty-cat. I'm not sure I'd want to get close enough to play with it. However, there are quite a few cheetah jokes out there and I thought I would share some.

Q: Which side of a cheetah has the most spots?
A: The outside!

Q: Why don't you want to play cards in the African Savannah?
A: There are too many cheetahs!

A lion and a cheetah were playing chess. When the cheetah won, the lion complained, "Hey, you're a a cheetah!" The cheetah said, "Nah, you're lion."

Lorikeet

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Lorikeet

Lorikeets are a kind of parrot found in all different colors. They have a unique brush-like tongue with which they eat pollen and nectar instead of nuts and seeds like other parrots. They also use their strong beaks and feet to perform lots of acrobatics. We enjoyed watching the lorikeets climb on branches and in and out of their wooden birdhouses.

Kangaroo

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Kangaroo

Most people think kangaroos live only in Australia, but several species can be found in Papua New Guinea. The name kangaroo comes from a native Australian word "gangurru." Young kangaroos are called joeys. "Roo" is a local name used for any kangaroo. The kangaroo is the only large animal that moves by hopping. Did you know a kangaroo cannot back up? Of course, besides hopping, kangaroos are famous for their pouches. Baby kangaroos are born when they are very tiny and it takes months for them to get big enough to leave their cozy little pocket home.

Victorian Crowned Pigeon

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Victorian Crowned Pigeon

This beautiful bird is native to the lowland tropical forests of New Guinea. They are very docile and easy to train and can live up to 25 years. They eat mainly fruits, seeds, grains, and small invertebrates off the ground and are now an endangered species because of the wide popularity of their meat and feathers.

Kookaburra

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Kookaburra

This popular bird is a member of the kingfisher family. It is native to Australia. The bird is valued for eating snakes and lizards. The kookaburra truly does have a loud, raucous laugh which is heard at dusk and at dawn. I don't know if it really eats gumdrops.

Okapi

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Okapi

This beautiful animal looks like a cross between a zebra and a deer! Actually, okapis are related to giraffes, and have the same long tongues for eating leaves. In fact, they eat forty to sixty-five pounds of leaves every day. They're rarely spotted in their native rain forests since the zebra stripes camouflage them in the shadows. Their amazing fur repels rain but feels like velvet.

River Otters

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River Otters

These little otters seem to be having a good time at the zoo. We watched them chase each other through the mud and water and slide down the mud bank into their river. Otters can stay submerged for five minutes at a time. They eat fish, frogs, crabs, and crayfish. We had a lot of fun watching their playful antics.

Gorilla

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Gorilla

This is about as close as I've gotten to a gorilla. I don't think I'd want to get any closer. This one seemed a little upset. While we were standing watching, it ran over and socked the window as hard as it could. I felt kind of sorry for it.

Tortoise

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Tortoise

Can you guess where I found this turtle? It wasn't hard to spot at the Columbus Zoo. This is the largest turtle I've seen. The males weigh more than 550 pounds, with a four-foot shell. Scientists believe that tortoises live longer than any other animal. But this is hard to prove, because they outlive the scientists!

Mountain Railroad

Favorite Pastimes

Mountain Railroad

Here is a special treat for you, my friends. I used my camera's video feature to capture my train in action. I combined eight videos to create the effect I wanted. In the background you can hear "Life's Railway to Heaven" played by Steve Kaufman, my favorite guitarist.

Blue Moon

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 Blue Moon

And here is a special surprise: after the sunset, the moon appeared. Thanks for taking this walk in the park with me.

Sunset In The Park

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Sunset In The Park

It is always tempting to linger in the park and watch the sunset. I don't usually hang around that long, but on this particular evening, I was at the Metro Park photo group. We were supposed to be doing bird photography, but I guess the birds had all gone to sleep. So I snapped this beautiful sunset instead. I think it makes a nice ending to our walk in the park.

Purple Sunburst

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Purple Sunburst

Now the sun is getting lower in the sky. Our stroll in the park is coming to an end. Catching the sun coming through a bunch of flowers is fun. I thought this purple bouquet made a pretty nice frame.

Creek

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Creek

Here is a sudden change of seasons. We did want to walk down by the creek, didn't we? I hope you have your boots on, 'cause this is the only creek picture I have. However, it does showcase the beauty of the park, even in the midst of winter.

Yellow Flowers

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Yellow Flowers

You can see many different wildflowers on a walk in the park. In the summertime, the trails are surrounded by meadows of beautiful colors. This flower looks like a yellow coneflower or maybe a kind of daisy. Gold Finches love it and can be seen sitting on the yellow flowers. Other wildflowers along the trail include Queen Ann's lace and honeysuckle.

Purple Flowers With Sky

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Purple Flowers With Sky

Why don't we take some time to stop and smell the roses? I like the angle I got on these pretty wildflowers. I guess I was a lot shorter then.

Ancient Trail

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Ancient Trail

Let's hike down this ancient trail. I thought this was a pretty neat sign. The trail goes down by the creek and through the woods. You can also see an ancient Indian mound. Quite possibly, it was made by Indians of the Fort Ancient period. There is a large mound in the shape of a fort at the Fort Ancient monument near Oregonia

Fence By Trail

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Fence By Trail

There's nothing like a walk in the park to soothe your spirits and give your mind a break. So let's take a little hike at Battelle-Darby Creek Metro Park. Isn't this an inviting picture with the flowers nodding over the fence and the trail beckoning ahead? I took this picture several years ago and the park has changed since then. There are bison now and a fancy new nature center in the works.

Mallard Duck

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Mallard Duck

The Mallard is thought to be the most abundant and wide-ranging duck on earth. I guess that's why we found one at the zoo. It was sharing the river with the sea gull. This picture is kind of unusual because you can actually see the duck's foot. Like most ducks, this one seems to be smiling.

Sea Gull

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Sea Gull

Here is a bird that was not in a cage. Do you know what it is? The Columbus Zoo sits on the bank of the Scioto River. The zoo has a dock you can walk out on to look at the river. That's where I found this sea gull.

Galah

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Galah

This cute little parrot is native to Australia. It is one of the most widespread parrots and spends its time hunting for seeds, nuts, and fruit. But it can also become quite a nuisance, causing major damage to cultivated grain crops.

Black Swan

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Black Swan

Although you may think of swans as being white, this Australian swan is black. It is also native to Tasmania and New Zealand. It's diet consists of grasses and water plants. It's red beak is quite a contrast to its black head.

Sacred Ibis

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Sacred Ibis

This little bird looks like a cross between a flamingo and a pelican. Sacred ibises are native to East African wetlands, where they probe the mud in search of food. They roost, feed, and fly in large groups, but build their own nests, sometimes on top of telephone poles. What an interesting bird!

Trees With Sunset

Mud Valley Memories

Trees With Sunset

This is a very peaceful shot of a sunset over Mud Valley. I can almost hear the twittering of the birds as they settle down for the night. The cool night air would be drifting in over the valley. We might smell leaves burning or freshly-mown grass. I like how the sun lights up the trees.

Crowned Crane

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Crowned Crane

This magnificent bird is called the East African Crowned Crane. They are one of the largest cranes, about three feet high, and live in flocks of 100. They build nests in marshes, where both parents help hatch two to three chicks. They draw insects to eat out of the marshes by stamping their feet as they walk.

Blue-Bellied Roller

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Blue-Bellied Roller

Here is a bird of a different feather. the Blue-Bellied Roller comes from Africa. It is found from Senegal to northeast Zaire. It likes to perch on trees or overhead wires while watching for grasshoppers. I guess it gets its name from the twisty-turny way it flies. I really like how this bird looks.

Buff Orpington Hen

Pictures From Spring Valley

Buff Orpington Hen

This hen is a Buff Orpington. We got four in this year's batch of chicks, but one grew up to be a rooster, so we have three hens. This one's name is Sunflower and it's not very friendly. It usually lays pinkish eggs.

Barred Plymouth Rock Hen

Pictures From Spring Valley

Barred Plymouth Rock Hen

This chicken is one of the new Barred Rock pullets we got this year. It's name is Velvet and it is the most friendly of all the Barred Rocks. It is about seven months old and lays tan eggs—sometimes with a double yolk.

Araucana Chickens

Pictures From Spring Valley

Araucana Chickens

While we're on the topic of chickens, here is another picture of our backyard flock. These two beautiful Araucana hens are unique because they have tufts of feathers around their beaks instead of waddles. They also lay blue and green eggs. They seem to be enjoying pecking in the grass on this beautiful fall day. The white one's name is Birchie and the brown one is Pinecone.

Chicken Truck

Mud Valley Memories

Chicken Truck

Can you guess what this truck is carrying? You probably wouldn't expect that it's packed with hundreds of live chickens. Holmes County is famous for raising cage-free chickens. One of our neighbors had a huge poultry barn. The chicks would be brought in and kept under heat lamps for several weeks. We got to see them once and even hold the chicks. There were only 35,000 of them in each chicken house. The chickens run free in the house and have access to fresh air. After they are grown, they are packed in a truck and sent to the processor. Although we have moved away from Holmes County, we still buy these delicious chickens which are processed and sold by Gerber's Poultry.

Cattle Crossing

Mud Valley Memories

Cattle Crossing

I really like this panoramic shot of the hills of Holmes County. I was there at just the right moment to see the cows crossing. Once we saw some calves loose, up on a hill where they weren't supposed to be. We drove down the long lane in this picture to tell the farmers their calves were loose. One of the farmers took off on a horse. We drove the other farmer back out to the road. The horse got there first. Pretty fast horse.

Corn Row

Mud Valley Memories

Corn Row

Have you ever wanted to run into the middle of a corn field? Maybe that's what I was thinking when I took this picture. This pathway looks like an invitation to somewhere, anyway. The light was just right to bring out the yellows and golds in the corn. Corn mazes are very popular at this time of year. I heard about some people who got lost in a corn maze and had to call 9-1-1.

Autumn Morning

Mud Valley Memories

Autumn Morning

Imagine walking down this country road on a crisp fall morning. You can smell the musty leaves as they crunch under your feet, and hear the clackety-clack of horse hooves from passing buggies. Horses and cows graze in nearby pastures and dry cornstalks rustle in the fields. You enjoy the warm sunshine after feeling the chilly autumn air against your skin. This is truly the way to experience fall!

Horse Through Fence

Mud Valley Memories

Horse Through Fence

This curious-looking horse lived just down the road from the last picture. It used to like to come over to the fence when we walked by. In this picture, it looks like it wants a treat, or maybe it's just curious about the camera.

Autumn Pastorale

Mud Valley Memories

Autumn Pastorale

Fall is such a beautiful season in northeastern Ohio. The rolling hills and many trees accent the reds, yellows, and oranges. In Holmes County there are many open fields because of pastures needed for horses and cows to graze. This beautiful black horse stepped into the perfect frame for this picture.

The Tiger Returns

Mud Valley Memories

The Tiger Returns

This is the same tiger cat I posted a picture of earlier. It was the biggest of all the cats and always acted like it was in charge. Most of the cats would sleep during the day, and at night they liked to play on the roof of our storage shed. Some of them would walk along the peak of the roof, making interesting silhouettes in front of the security light. This is the cat I liked best.

Cat Walking

Mud Valley Memories

Cat Walking

Cats sleep fat and walk thin.
Cats, when they sleep, slump;
When they wake, pull in -
And where the plump's been
There's skin.
Cats walk thin.
Cats wait in a lump,
Jump in a streak.
Cats, when they jump, are sleek
As a grape slipping its skin -
They have technique.
Oh, cats don't creak.
They sneak.
Cats sleep fat.
They spread out comfort underneath them
Like a good mat,
As if they picked the place
And then sat.
You walk around one
As if he were the City Hall
After that.

If male,
A cat is apt to sing on a major scale;
This concert is for everybody, this
Is wholesale.
For a baton, he wields a tail.
(He is also found,
When happy, to resound
With an inclosed and private sound.)
A cat condenses.
He pulls in his tail to go under bridges,
And himself to go under fences.
Cats fit
In any size box or kit;
And if a large pumpkin grew under one,
He could arch over it.
When everyone else is just ready to go out,
The cat is just ready to come in.
He's not where he's been.
Cats sleep fat and walk thin.
               —Rosalie Moore

Barn Cat

Mud Valley Memories

Barn Cat

I always wanted to pet these barn cats, but I was never fast enough to catch one. These cats used to stalk our bird feeders. There was a white one that even came up on our porch to get a better shot at the feeder. When we complained to our landlord, he said we should adopt the cat, take it inside, and name it Snowball. This cute little cat looks like it wouldn't even hurt a flea, but looks are deceiving.

Hanging Out

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Hanging Out

Here's my last picture of a bonobo. Bonobos build nests for themselves in trees every evening. By sleeping in the same area, they can help each other look out for predators like leopards. There are few bonobos left in the wild, and also not very many in zoos. These bonobos seem to be doing very well.

Tree House

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Tree House

Can you imagine hanging way up there? The  bonobos seem to be having a great time at the top of their tree house. They only weigh between 60 and 130 pounds and are excellent climbers. Bonobos have been known to live for 50 years in zoos.