Pets/Wildlife

Nicole Magazu and her husband, of Land O’ Lakes, spotted this group of mottled ducks swimming in the pond at sunset. Mottled ducks are known as ‘dabbling ducks’ because they feed at the surface or tip up to reach vegetation. On water, a group of ducks can be called a brace, raft, team or paddling. In flight, a group is known as a flock.

Milo is a Dalmation with brown spots. His three favorite things to do are: lay in the shade, jump in the water, and help pick basil. Milo resides with Elsie Rehberg, of Wesley Chapel.

Thomas Kolessar got a close-up of a female ruby-throated hummingbird at his backyard feeder in Lutz. These tiny birds, ranging in size from 2.8 inches to 3.5 inches, often visit hummingbird feeders and tube-shaped flowers, and defend these food sources against others. They may also be seen plucking tiny insects from the air or from spiderwebs.

Coco is a Brussels-Griffin mix, adopted in June from Hillsborough County Pet Resources. She absolutely loves to cuddle with her family. Coco quickly made her new home with JoAnn and Frank Rygiel, in Wesley Chapel.

Ray Martinez Jr., snapped this photo in his Lutz backyard of a male and female red-bellied woodpecker at their nest. If you live near any wooded patches, you may be able to attract them using feeders filled with suet, peanuts and sometimes sunflower seeds. The red-bellied woodpecker will even drink nectar from hummingbird feeders. Dead trees may encourage the birds to forage naturally or even nest in your yard, and they may feed on berry trees.

Jagger is a 4-year-old lab, greyhound, charpe mix, and also is a rescue dog. To beat the heat, Jagger just may need a bigger pool at his home. His proud owners are Randy and Pan Ayers of Land O’ Lakes, and Laurel Ayers of Wesley Chapel.

There are two types of vultures in Florida: the black vulture and the turkey vulture. Both are often called buzzards or carrion crows, but are not related to either family. A group of vultures is called a committee, venue or volt. In flight, a flock of vultures is a kettle, and when the birds are feeding together at a carcass, the group is called a wake. Sharon Thompson of Wesley Chapel caught this ‘wake’ cleaning things up on Mansfield Boulevard, off State Road 56.

Max is a 9-month-old Blue Chihuahua. He has a blue tint in his fur, especially around his ears, and an exquisitely curled tail. Max loves playing catch and tag with his toy monkey while running at stealth speed. He takes anything into his lair under the dining room table, such as paper, socks and plastic. Max’s favorite pastime is finding the biggest piece of mulch to chew on, in the front garden. He even gets jealous during hug time, which causes him to shriek and jump. Max’s proud owner is Katie Wyka, of Land O’ Lakes.

Marisol Fontanez snapped this blue jay fittingly perched on a fence at the Blue Jay Mobile Home Park in Dade City. Blue jays are large, crested songbirds that like to mimic the call of hawks, especially red-shouldered hawks.

Emmie is a happy, healthy maltese rescue who enjoys her new life and home. After rummaging around in her bed one day, Emmie emerged looking like this! Emmie lives with Tom and Ann Kolessar, in Lutz.