Carrying a birding binocular on a regular basis can earn you reputation as a “peeping Tom”, or, in my case, maybe a “peeping Joanie”. It’s happened, before, to me when I forgot to explain to my neighbors that I am an avid birder and birdwatcher. I think I am safe, though, in my new Milwaukee neighborhood – Bill has done a good job of bragging me up and explaining what I do for both fun and to pay some bills.

I suspect the local wildlife also thinks I am a “peeping Joanie” they way I keep them under constant surveillance with my binoculars, cameras and spotting scope. I make no apologies for that, however - my bird feeders are well stocked and all birds are invited. (The squirrels do fine, too – they get leftovers that spill from the birdfeeders and I also throw out some corn and millet for them.) In fact, my Chickadees usually scold me when I am out refilling the feeders and there are days when I could reach out and touch one. I suspect they will be landing on my back, next.

It works both ways - I have some wildlife that “peeps” on my yard. One is a Cooper’s Hawk that makes a pass at my bird feeders, every afternoon, hoping to snatch an unwary bird. Our local deer also like to keep an eye on us, too. I suspect they get nervous about or dog, Roscoe, but I caught the one in the pic with my Panasonic FZ50 digital camera, yesterday morning. Roscoe was barking up a storm in our living room. I walked out from the kitchen to see a deer staring into our living room window. Once he saw me, he bolted across the street and took refuge in the trees, but he continued to stare. I took the pic, then went back to washing my breakfast dishes.

Isn't it great when the birds expect you to feed them, then yell at you when you come out to do it? (Posted by  C. E. Webster: 8:32 AM  ) I've been meaning to have a talk with them about that, but I'm still trying to learn their language. They are cute, though, even when they scold, aren't they? (Posted by  Joanie K: 6:50 AM  )