Thursday, July 24, 2014

Here Kitty Kitty!

Design - "Long May She Wave"
Designer - Val's Little Stuff
Fabric - 32 count Summer Khaki linen
Fibers - WDW - 2 strands over 2 threads
Started - 18 July 2014
Completed - 22 July 2014

I added the red and white striped button as a final touch.

The past couple of days we've had some Rare Cat sightings including the Extremely Rare - Two Cats (Brother and Sister) Sharing the Same Space and Not Fighting! This may have been because...

...both were pretty intently Bunny Watching!

See what I mean?!

As of Tuesday eveming I'd counted quail families with the following number of babies: 17, 13, 8, 4, 2, and 1.  

Some of the babies are pretty big now.

As this group is.

These babies are a bit younger and smaller.

Playing King of the Compost Pile!

They seem always to be on the move!

This group is rushing out of the garage from under my father's truck.

Around 7:00pm Tuesday evening as Tom-Cat, my Mom, and I were on the Back Patio, the three sets of quail parents became highly agitated. This time of year they get territorial and run off other families if they get too close.  So I did not think much of it to begin with. 

Then I spotted this! 

The reason for all the clucking cries of alarm!

A lone baby Bob-cat! 

First off I picked up Tom-Cat and tossed him inside then I grabbed my camera. By the time I got ready to take photos all the babies were gone. 

The six parents remained bravely confronting the Bob-Cat as a group hoping to lure him away from the hiding chicks.

There was no sign of other members of a litter or a parent cat.

The small Bob-Cat did not stay long and did not engage the quail.

He quickly dunked into a bunny hole in the thicket and disappeared from sight. The quail spent the next 30-45 minutes clucking and pacing. I assume they were continuing to communicate with their chicks.  One set of parents stayed very close to the bunny hole, never venturing in.  They were the last set to reunite with their baby.  I was about in tears as dusk was approaching, when finally the smallest of little chicks popped out and the little family briskly set off to safety.  I saw the group of three again Wednesday morning thank goodness.  

So how's that rate as a First Class Nature Adventure?

One year ago today Mom and I visited Hidcote - a lovely garden in the Cotswolds.

16 comments:

carol fun said...

WOW -- now that is up close and personal with nature! Great pictures - glad all the little quails are fine - they are too cute!

linda said...

Gorgeous pictures of the baby bob cat! My grandson calls the older baby quail "teenagers"!

linda said...

Gorgeous pictures of the baby bob cat! My grandson calls the older baby quail "teenagers"!

llknbillburg said...

How lucky you are to have such exciting glimpses of the natural world, right in your back yard!!

Jennifer said...

Love all those nature photos. The most fascinating to me was the brother and sister cats. Mine are the same way. It is rare indeed to see the two of them sitting together with out hissing or swatting. They used to be inseparable. They have bonded a bit more lately as we have a new addition to the cat family and they both hate him.

Ann at Beadlework. said...

The young bobcat is so cute and I know they have to eat too but I'm glad the babies are safe.

cucki said...

Wow
Beautiful pictures xxx

Vickie said...

Whew! That is so very cool, but nerve wracking too!

Margaret said...

Wow!!!! Great pics of the baby bob cat. I'm glad the baby quail were ok. Whew!

Barb said...

That is an adventure for National Geographic!!! Thank goodness the babies are all ok. Your little star button was the perfect accent!

Wanda said...

Beth, I got more anxious as I read your post! So glad the babies are ok and the little one came out of the hole. The baby bobcat is gorgeous (but better to admire him from a greater distance) - I can't even imagine how anxious you must have felt.

LaNelle said...

Wow! Mother Nature....how we love her,but at times she can provide us with some stress! Love the pictures. Baby bob-cat is adorable too!!

Melody said...

Wow, that was quite an adventure! Even tho, we know what happens in nature, we still don't want to witness an attack before our eyes!! I'm glad the quail and their babies were safe.

Andrea said...

What a thriller!

Pam in IL said...

Another cute red, white & blue stitch! Love that button.

That baby bobcat visiting sure sounds scary to me, although it kinda looks cute in your photos.

Melanie said...

He's so cute! And dangerous, I'm sure. But cute. :)