That will teach me...

iNat link: William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message

Nine banded armadillo photographed in spring in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, USA. The nine-banded armadillo, or the nine-banded, long-nosed armadillo, is a medium-sized mammal found in North, Central, and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos. Now common in the southeast United States and Georgia.

Wednesday, 7:50 AM - I had 10 minutes before I had to clock in, why not do a quick eBird list? I quickly ticked off the typical birds on our pond: Canada Geese and goslings, Mallards, Grackles, Cardinals, a Towhee, a Northern Mockingbird perched high and singing away, a Red-shouldered Hawk crying off in the distance, a Great Blue Heron flying overhead, etc. (see the list at https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44923988).
 
But as I rounded the corner by the Sheriff’s firing range, dang if I didn’t have my camera. An armadillo just moseying along. Having a class coming up, the kids would have been excited to see some close up photos. But all I had was my iPhone. Better than nothing! ​​Well darn, I violated my own rule of always having my camera at the ready. That will teach me! But...

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Nine banded armadillo photographed in spring in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, USA. The nine-banded armadillo, or the nine-banded, long-nosed armadillo, is a medium-sized mammal found in North, Central, and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos. Now common in the southeast United States and Georgia.

​​Thursday 7:55 AM - As is my habit of late, I found myself walking to the pond behind the animal shelter just before the start of a day’s work. And I’m also aware that that armadillos are creatures of habit as well! I found the same armadillo, in the same spot, at the same time. But this time my camera was ready.
 
I froze in my steps as I first saw him emerging from the small ditch. I did not want to alarm him so I can get some good photographs. I sat waiting for him to reemerge. But when he did not appear, I realized he must have entered the culvert under the gravel driveway. I quickly trotted to the other end of the culvert and there he was; his little pig-like face sticking out of the other end.
 
I tried to slowly bend down and quickly grab the little guy for an upcoming school presentation. But alas, armadillos are far too quick and their shells too hard to grab ahold of.

​Walton County, Georgia
Mostly sunny, high near 73°
Sunrise 6:50 AM, Sunset 8:12 PM
Day length: 13 hours, 21 minutes

Nine banded armadillo photographed in spring in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, USA. The nine-banded armadillo, or the nine-banded, long-nosed armadillo, is a medium-sized mammal found in North, Central, and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos. Now common in the southeast United States and Georgia.

Nine banded armadillo photographed in spring in Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, USA. The nine-banded armadillo, or the nine-banded, long-nosed armadillo, is a medium-sized mammal found in North, Central, and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos. Now common in the southeast United States and Georgia.