Late, late, late...and another difference of opinion

Moon over the woods near the park

 
 We woke early, but could not seem to motivate ourselves out the door...
 
 Late as we were to the park (the "quack, quack, quack" of the duck-call for robot dog training greeted us as we crossed the street to the mouth of the park), we decided to walk the dirt road for photos of the tiny tomato-like fruit of the silver-leaf nightshade. [Actually, I decided to do that. DH was not sure why I wanted to walk the road as it was too late for deer. With so many people making noise in the park and the sun almost over the tree-line we were only going to see tracks, insects, and a few birds.]

Dirt road - partially overgrown

 I quickly found examples of fruit.

"tomatoes"

Silver-leaf nightshade: plant, flowers, fruit. [circle of weed - ???]

We talked and dogs fussed and we all made noise...only to find the herd in the far meadow. One was standing at the edge watching us get closer and closer. Then she snorted that now familiar warning and they moved away from us and towards the woods. Three stopped and watched again as we arrived full into the meadow. Then with the shake of her head the same doe issued another warning snort and the far meadow was empty save two walkers and two ratty old dogs.

Road at the far meadow. See the deer?

Let me help you...

We turned towards home and talked about the wild batch of tracks in the dust of the road, the webs of the master weavers all along the road...then DH held his arm out to stop me. The maker of the tracks was some 20 or 30 feet away. There is no longer a mystery...not raccoon, not possum...skunk.

Tracks - not possum, not squirrel, not raccoon

The skunk wandered across the road and into the woods.

And we waited.

It was late for a skunk to be out. We thought it wise to give him a good long head-start. Neither of the walkers wanted to confront a rabid skunk.

The dogs, however, were crazed over the scents and I finally had to pull them away.

We walked with the moon on our right, sun on our left  - back down the dirt road. Suddenly more deer - five at least - crossed the road from the near meadow to the woods beyond.

Again the dogs went crazy, first after the fleeing herd and again as we arrived at the fresh and heavily scented crossing point.

After the excitement of the meadows we headed home for well deserved breakfasts...

We met two grey cats at the top of the steep hill and another creature...and met with another difference of opinion --

DH: There's a loose dog (indicating an animal some distance away).
Me: I think that is just a big yellow cat.
DH: It is a dog.
Me: Really, it is just a big cat. It has a cat's tail and walks like a cat.
DH: If it is a cat and that big, it is a mountain lion.
Me: OK, then let's get out of here as I do not want to mess with a mountain lion.

Tissue paper moon as we reach the top of the hill

COUNT:

Many "quacks" - no ducks
10 deer
1 skunk
2 robot dogs
5 people in the park
26 cars (or more)
1 moon just past full
1 sun ready to heat up this day
2 grey cats, one tuxedo cat
and 1 cat or dog or mountain lion, but definitely not a bunny...
 [79 photos, mostly bad]