Monday O'Malley

"If a magnificent cat is caught looking or behaving like a doofus, such appearance or behaviour is thenceforth accordingly considered magnificent."

Quoth E.Thorvald, 2019

Magnificent!

The PO'M hangs out on his perch.

Snapped before the big snow.
I am just the pedestal...

 AND....

I have a new boyfriend!

His name is Rito, and we had a moment this weekend.
He stared into my eyes, and I into his...
*sigh*

Rito, an Eastern Screech Owl

Yes, I was out cavorting with owls again!

Stage Nature Center in Troy, Michigan

Support your local wildlife and humane societies, folks!

🦉🐈💖

Owl Be Seeing You...

Last Friday, my brother and I went on an Owl Hoot!

At Lake Saint Clair MetroPark, in Harrison Township, Michigan, we attended a brief lecture about native owl species, then wrapped ourselves in hats, scarves, thick coats and boots to traverse the trails in the dark.

Our MetroPark guides had recorded Screech and Great Horned Owl calls, which were played here and there within the forested area.

Not only did a Great Horned Owl return our calls, but we could see him 'way up in the treetop!

It was nighttime, so there wasn't much to photograph, except the stuffed owls on display:

Screech Owl

Barred Owl

Snowy Owl

See?  My wee camera wasn't a match for the darkness!

AND THEN!

Saturday, I went on a Autumn Color Walk at Tenhave Woods in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Due to lots of rain and cold (the snow didn't hit until Monday...), our seasonal color is mostly gone, but walking around with knowledgeable tree, bird, and fungus experts from The Royal Oak Nature Society was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot.

Interesting leaves

Witch Hazel blooms

Although pretty, these berries are from an invasive non-Michigan plant that will be pulled out in the spring.

I enjoy this park, which is less than two miles from my office.
I visit often on my lunch breaks.

Here's a jigsaw puzzle!

We have another owl event this Saturday, where we will visit living owls at Stage Nature Center in Troy, Michigan.

We are fortunate to have such resources nearby.

Bass Terd Burds

Trout Talking Tabbies...do not read any further!

I purposely used Bass Terd Burds as today's title, to warn you away!

At my office, a pair of Canada Geese have chosen the front door are of one of our buildings to nest near.

We've added caution tape and signs telling everyone to go around!

In addition, I attended "Owl Fest" at Lake St. Clair Metropark last Saturday.  How cool to be within a few feet of these beautiful creatures.

Barred Owl

Eastern Screech Owl

Saw Whet Owl

Long Eared Owl

Peregrine Falcon

Needless to say, since we've had warmer temperatures in Michigan, all of the inside Eastside Cats are enjoying plenty of window time, watching the robins, wrens, and chickadees.  The 'O' Cats appear to be indifferent to birds, at least when I'm around.  

Speaking of The 'O' Cats:

The PO'M is not modest!

Paddy O'Malley has a big bald spot on his belly!  I have no idea what this is about; is he over grooming?  He has a couple of other bald spots, which look like chunks of his fur were pulled out.  He always seems itchy.  We may have to try new foods, to see if there is any change.  In spite of his missing fur, The PO'M is as lovey dovey as ever.

***

Thankful Thursday: Friends Who Flock

This Thursday, I am thankful for my friend Beth.

Beth and I met at a cat adoption event. 

Since then, we've found that we enjoy a lot of the same things, in addition to felines:

The mystical side of life
The is a bone throw that I had a couple of years ago, which predicted Chucky's passing (see the cat totem laying outside of the circle?)

A great cup of tea!
This image is a cat teapot, cup, and strainer all in one!

Monarch Butterfly
We dig butterflies!

Garden Walk
In St. Clair Shores, Michigan

My artsy-fartsy image of a fern fiddlehead
Beth inspires me to expand my photography skills, of which she has A LOT!

A window designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright
Taken at the Cleveland Museum of Art when Beth and I visited last year.

Native plantings, at Elizabeth Howell Park in Detroit, Michigan
We attended a flora and fauna lecture there

In front of "Marilyn x100" by Andy Warhol
Cleveland Museum of Art 

Beth also introduced me to her holistic veterinarian, and we are both believers in the work of chiropractors.  We like history, books and reading, and all things owl.

We are both adamant anti-declaw, and docking tails and ears.

Also, staunch adversaries of animal testing, and eating organic, natural foods.

I am thankful for Beth; we are birds of a feather who flock together!

***

Let's Hop!

Click here to join Brian's Home Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!

😺😸😺

Not Cats...Bats

Friend BG and I visited Stage Nature Center in Troy, Michigan this weekend, to visit with some bats! The lecture, called "Bats of the World", was presented by members of Organization for Bat Conservation.

Big Brown Bat (native to Michigan)

Female Fruit Bat

Another type of fruit bat, male

Then we walked around the 100-acre area, and I snapped a few photos:

Shelf fungus on tree stump

Interesting tree and plant life

Someone spied this screech owl just hanging out, waiting for us to take his picture!

Screech owl in a wood-duck box!

Bats are our friends; they pollinate and spread seeds.  They need flowers, water, and places to sleep and raise their young. Unfortunately, cats can be predators of baby bats testing their wings, or if they find a nest up in a tree.  We have bats flying around our yard, but Patty O'Malley and Sweetie do not seem to be in the mood to chase them down, not with bowls of kibble and food at their noses!

Vacation Travels: The Birds

I love cats, yet I have always been an amateur bird-watcher.  On the stay-cation part of my recent vacation, my friend BG and I traveled all over the area to observe some of Mother Nature's feathered children.

Kensington Metropark allows folks to feed the birds, so we had some sitting right on our fingertips!

Howell Nature Center helps all types of animals with rehabilitation and to teach folks about our furry, feathered and scaly friends.

Lake St. Clair Metropark (formerly Metro Beach) has an owl show, plus much more when you walk the nature center paths.

Here are a few of the photos that I snapped, and please forgive me, Trout Talkin' Tabbies for showing BASS-TERD BURDS on my post today!

Black Capped Chickadee
Kensington Metropark

Female Downy Woodpecker
Kensington Metropark

Something is budding!
Kensington Metropark

Sandhill Cranes
Kensington Metropark

Kestrel
Howell Nature Center

Bald Eagle
Howell Nature Center

Great Horned Owl Mama and owlets 'way
up in the tree bucket
Lake St. Clair Metropark

Male Screech Owl
Lake St. Clair Metropark

Female Screech Owl
Lake St. Clair Metropark

Barred Owl
Lake St. Clair Metropark

Saw Whet Owl
Lake St. Clair Metropark