Wildlife Wednesday- watching for the little guys..

Another great idea- a meme focused on noticing the wildlife around us ("getting to know the neighbors" as someone aptly put it). It was started today by Tina at http://mygardenersays.wordpress.com and I've enjoying following everyone's posts!

I looked around on this (hot, sunny, mosquito filled) afternoon and found a few creatures (more on the small side than the great and small side..).  I think most of the wildlife had retreated into the shadows to stay cool!

This Gulf Fritillary caterpillar looked plump and happy as it chewed through a passionflower vine. His spikes are apparently not poisonous, but I don't plan on petting him..

A jumping spider turned around to wave it's tentacles at me (seriously!) as I took it's picture. He's smaller than my fingernail but walks with a healthy attitude..

The neighborhood doves, bluejays, cardinals and grackles love the chicken feeder (and water bowls)..

The other "wildlife" in the yard is acting pretty lazy...

My square foot garden has been renovated into a dust bath..

I re-did the driveway chicken fence and the girls are already plotting their next jail break..

Hopefully tomorrow I'll spot other pretties. I enjoy when they pop up unexpectedly, like these from earlier this spring:

Mini egg (what bird, where, how did they do?), crab spider lurking, spotted butterfly temporarily fluttering inside the chicken tractor, and the (thankfully) few juicy tomato hornworms I fed to the chickens...

Happy gardening everyone!