Animals Around the Ranch

Blue Fountain Farm is, of course, primarily a horse ranch, but I realized awhile back, (while taking a walk around here with my camera one day), that there are so many more animals than just horses here.  So, I've compiled a little photo journal of the denizens of this 40 acre piece of land.  Some are "pets", some are migratory visitors, some were here way before we developed this land as a ranch - but all of them are a part of our lives in one way or another.

There's good ol' Jake - the reliable ranch dog - who's one in a long line of big dogs who have lived here over the years..... 

........and his good buddy, Dude, who is as old as the ranch - he's 18 years old, and still ticking (or should I say licking??)

Sweet little Lisel was a feral kitten, but, as you can see, she's not wild anymore - she loves to be loved.......

Her brother, Lance, is a real looker, but likes to keep his distance.......

Her royal princess, Alexandria, is the house cat, and she thinks she's way to pretty to go outdoors with the working cats........

Then we have JoeLlama - described as an exceptional llama by Mario the vet......

And our two goats, Lil Bea and Jasmine.......

There are 4 sheep residing at the ranch (there were 17 at one time!), here's young "Sprite"........

...........and goofy looking "Violet".

This cow actually lives next door, but I couldn't resist her looks - I call her "Panda"........

And we have a lot of little Cotton Tail bunny rabbits - this one strayed from it's nest, so we loved on it for awhile, then put it back.........

Now, I won't even go into all the birds that come through here, but there are a few I want to include here.  The first is a new arrival to this area - a Collared Dove.  It hangs out with the Mourning Doves, and makes a very distinctive, and beautiful call..............

Out on the back deck of the house we have a few hummingbird feeders, which are frequented all day long by as many as 12 of these little marvels at one time............

One day, during shedding season, the sparrows went to town with the horse and dog hair strewn about the ground........ 

Later, after a wind storm, we found this very delicate nest on the ground, and I put it back in a tree .............

Another morning, looking out the back of the house, I saw this mama Blackbird taking care of her two almost grown youngsters.......

Recently, out in the front of the house in the Cat-tails of the pond, I came upon three little fledgling black birds.  

Unfortunately, their parents saw me coming, and did not like me being there AT ALL.  Dad sounded the alarm...........

Then took to the air..........

........and while I was ducking for cover I snapped a shot of Jake almost getting bombed..........

In my very first post in April I introduced everyone to Phred and Phrank Pheasant.  Well, they are still around, and Phrank makes regular rounds - 5:30 every morning and 7:30 every night - in the back of the house.  He's so funny - when he crows for the girls, he nearly knocks himself over backwards!

I was sitting in my office (which overlooks the pond) one morning, and two male mallards landed.  Luckily I had my camera on the desk, so I was able to snap a couple of shots through the window before they took off.

They didn't seem to bother the resident bullfrogs......

Say hello to "Fatty" the koi, in our other body of water, the fountain.  This is how he greets you - he's always hungry........

He's good at blowing bubbles, too.....

When he's done eating and blowing bubbles, he goes off to play with the other kids...........

If you don't like reptiles, skip over the next two photos - the first one is a lizard doing push-ups on the back deck............

and, finally, we have a 4' long gopher snake I saw one day while gardening out in the back - sure wish he could get all the gophers that keep getting into my garden!!!

I'll finish this photo journey of the animals of Blue Fountain Farm with a non animal animal - Benchley, the horse bench next to the pond.  I'm sure glad I don't have to take care of all of these animals!!