I was going to ask whether a horse counted as a pet... He wouldn't think so I'm guessing!

He's actually my son's horse but I ride him occasionally. His name is Maui (name of the mythical Maori warrior who fished up New Zealand) - registered name is Omanawa Grand Complication (yes - there's a watch reference!) He's 7 year's old, 17.3 hands and 800kg - and still filling out - so big is the word...

I don't ride regularly anymore but it is truly a great experience and you learn a lot about yourself! My last horse...

 

Hec yes. If you care about the horse and take care of it it’s a pet. 100% counts. You have the benefit as your pet can actually do things for you, things greater than fetching or meowing for treats. My neighbors have two miniature horses. They don’t mow their lawn they let the little horses eat it. Must be way cool owning a horse you are like a top tier pet owner. My cat hairy is a low tier Swiss watch type pet, you have a Rolex Daytona pet. Hairy thinks she is a Daytona and very useful.

 

I took this picture near my house.

We get Bald Eagles every now and then. They are big birds.

They are big enough to carry away small pets although they are usually after rabbits or fish in the ponds or streams.

 

Who killed Oona K?

 

90% of their diet is that which is already dead. I was in Minnesota staying at a place where bald eagles were all around a lake out back. I would watch them try to swoop down for fish, must have seen 20 attempts by various bald eagles don’t think any were successful. They certainly are big, I got close one I saw had to be a six foot wing span I that’s not even the largest of them.

there are numerous birds of prey that do get rabbits etc but bald eagles, while they will, primarily eat road kill etc. I think that’s one reason why Ben Franklin was against having them as our national bird, they certainly do look majestic

 

Finally youngster comes in handy for something

 

We have then here as well - I recall walking the dogs one morning early, it was still out, and we were walking we heard the wings of a large bird. Looked up and a bald eagle was flying off a telephone pole just ahead of us.

 

My big bird stories... two HUGE rock pigeons on my balcony for a week. The male disappeared and the female was alone until she didn’t come back either.

Had a mourning dove nest one year, that was kinda cool.

And, one day, a HUGE red-tailed hawk in a tree in the yard. Clearly a female. Couldn’t get a pic, darn it.

 

We see hawks here often - various kinds and red tailed are the most common. Had this young Coopers Hawk just outside my shop window a few years ago:



He was after the squirrel in the lower right corner of this photo:



The squirrel managed to escape...

 

Neat! I see what are either kestrels or male red tails on power lines but they’re too far to know for sure.

 

One of my girls sent me these images earlier this evening





As a hobby she is a qualified nail technician, what a name but thankfully it was a windup. I was already thinking how I was going to explain to other dog walkers

 

Seems @killer67 s hedgehog has gone missing

 

Dogs are better.

 

We had one visit this past 4th of July. Directly across the street in the woodlot. Stayed for about 45min, had quite a few of the neighbors watching.

Not bad for a suburban area in WNY
Made for a perfect 4th.

 

Derping in the orchard.

 

you know I had to look up derping.

 

Finally, it has taken two months but it appears that Ziggy is wanting to get to know Bonnie

 

The Sunday ritual … picture No1..... It is only 10am you must be kidding / no you cant make the bed....
Picture No2.... You are just not getting this... close the curtains and shut the door on your way out....

In fairness he needs his sleep, as I ended up giving him breakfast and triple AAA pass …(access all areas) at 5am!!! :0(

 

Here are my two precious guys, Pandarus the Siamese and Bacciagalupe the black guy: