Friday, September 16, 2011

The Tale of the Mysterious Black Cat

 I have been quite distracted the last week or so because I have spotted a small black kitten along the edge of the woods in Winton Woods.  My husband and I have been spending a great deal of time and effort trying to catch this little guy.  He's so little and the weather is turning colder we want to rescue him and bring him home. 

We usually set up our little "trap" and spend 90 - 120 minutes there waiting and watching.  Sometimes we go several times a day.  We've almost had him several times, but usually our trap fails.  Today, I tried something different and again it failed.  We are also hampered by the fact that raccoons in the area either try for the food we leave or scare the little guy away.  I will post more on my little kitten soon.  In the meantime, here is a post about another black cat that caught my attention about 6 weeks ago.  Could this be my little kitten's mama?  I don't know, but I get angry every time I see a new cat or kitten living in the woods.  People who dump these cats in the woods are so heartless!!
 
Back earlier on my blog I posted a picture of a black cat who was hiding out in some tall grass.  At first, I thought he may just belong to someone who lives near Winton Woods and is just an "outdoor" cat.  I watched him for awhile and he eventually slunk away very quickly.  He was a very large cat.  He kind of reminded me of a dachshund because his body was so long, and because he slunk away he looked very short.  Here is the same picture I posted back then.



Quite a while later I spotted him again, on a different trail.  The new trail I spotted him on was not too far from the original trail.  This time I got a little better look at him, but unfortunately not necessarily a better picture.  I'm not sure about his legs.  Either they are very short, or he may be deformed.  I sure wish I could get a better look at him. 





I started leaving food for him in the woods almost on a daily basis.

The first time I left food, as I got back into my car I caught him heading right for it.



I haven't seen him for quite some time, but I still leave food for him and I also leave food for my Itty Bitty Kitty (the white little cat) that I posted about a while ago.  I don't know what happened to either one of them.  So either they, or some other critters are enjoying the food I leave. 






Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Different Kinds of Fungi

Mostly fungi in this post.  Saw this fungi growing on a log...it looks like a lacy ruffle.

Interesting little spots of fungi.

A pretty little web.

More fungi.

Fungi and moss.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Beautiful Scents and Sights

This is so beautiful just to look at, but the cedar smell is wonderful too.  There was a small piece next to the stump, so we brought it home with us.

More nuts.  Anyone know what they are?

More ferns growing wild in the woods.

Ferns on the side of a dry creek bed...so beautiful!

Another interesting looking fungi.  My best guess would be this is a Flat-topped Mushroom (Agaricus placomyces)

Monday, September 12, 2011

Sights from Miami Waterwater

Pretty ferns growing in the wild.

A bag of worms...icky but beautiful at the same time.


Here's that pretty flower that I like again, plus the yellow/orange flower is a Spotted Touch-Me-Not.

I'm sure some furry critter will enjoy these acorns.

Various colors of Pokeweed.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Capturing Summer

These next two pictures are Evening Lycnis.  I love their heart shaped petals.


This little flower looks a little worse for wear, but he was such a pretty purple, I couldn't pass him up.  I don't think he'll show up so well on the blog.  I believe it is Spiked Lobelia.

Reflections on the lake.

Love the green swirl in the middle.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Several Unusual Specimens

These pretty little white flowers are White Wood Asters.

Little green berries, not sure what they are.

This is a most unusual flower that I came upon.  Never saw it before but thought it was quite beautiful with two different kinds of blooms. It is not shown in my field guide of wild flowers.

I am really guessing on these next two pictures.  My best guess for this first picture is that it is Many-colored Polypore (coriolus versicolor)
This little clump of fungi is quite cute.  At first I thought it was just growing up on it's own out of the soil.  On closer inspection there is a little tree stump that it's growing on.  It looks like a little Christmas tree fungi.
This next one may be Hen of the Woods (grifola frondosa)
In the same area I came across this fungi, it reminded me of a rose...so pretty.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Bright Sunny Pictures for a Dreary Evening.

With the feel of autumn in the air here in Cincinnati.  These bright sunny pictures are just what I need on a dreary evening.  Took a quick hike in the blustery misty evening and only took two pictures to be posted at a later date.

Just love the light and airy look of these. I believe they are called Teasel.

Pretty colors by the side of the lake.

A couple of pretty purple flowers.



These branches sticking out of the pond reminded me of the pictures you see of the
Loch Ness monster.