Sunday, January 29, 2012

Birding & Covered Bridges

I am linking up with  Mary's Mosaic Monday  and Our World Tuesday

On Saturday morning I was up early with the birds. On the weekends, the first thing I do (after coffee) is to go out on my deck and feed the birds some extra treats like peanuts and the little peanut suet nuggets. I noticed a pretty pink sunrise and I knew this day was going to be a pretty day to do something outside. I woke hubby up and said lets get out and go for a ride. I already had a place in mind, in fact I had just about the whole day planned.


 In the mosaic above is my sunrise, a couple of Bluejays on my deck and the pretty sky and trees around my house.



 On the way to the covered bridges I had to stop and check out a field that birders have been reporting seeing Short Eared Owls. No luck on seeing the owls but we did enjoy watching two Northern Harrier hawks hunt over the field.



I had read that there is a riding tour in Thurmont, Md where you can see three covered bridges all within a thirty mile loop. These covered bridges are also close to a waterfalls in the Cunningham Falls State Park in Catoctin, Md.   Of course, at all of these places I was checking out the area for birds. When I pulled up to the parking lot for the first bridge. I noticed two Red Tailed Hawks sitting close together in a tree. I tried to get a little closer but one flew off and at least I got in a shot of one of the hawks.


The Covered Bridge in this mosaic is named Loys Station Bridge. This bridge is listed on the National Parks National register of historic places. Each bridge had a different truss system, which I tried to show in one of the photos.



 My far away shot of my Red Tailed Hawk. I was checking out all along the stream for a Kingfisher, It just looked like the kind of area they would be found. The only other birds seen at this first covered bridge were some Grackles.



I think we surprised the female Belted Kingfisher and flew away only to land a little further away. I love their telltale rattle sound.

I will do a separate post on all three of the covered bridges and a waterfall on my travel blog. But I just wanted to do a post on how I spent my Saturday in the morning at home and a preview of our little day trip.  Covered Bridges and Lighthouses are just a few of the historic places that are definitely worth a trip to see. Oh, and waterfalls are great to see and visit.

To see more wonderful mosaic and beautiful photos please visit Mosaic Monday  and Our World Tuesday

62 comments:

  1. looks like you had a great day! the top mosaic w/ the blue jays is beautiful! and those covered bridges are art all to themselves!

    ReplyDelete
  2. The pictures that you got of the sky are magical! I have always loved covered bridges especially when we are in Vermont. Have a wonderful week!
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful skies, just so pretty. And I love those covered bridges! Stunning captures of the birds, I enjoyed your mosaics, Eileen.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an awesome day you had! Now I have to find out how far that area is away from home...may have to plan a trip to see them for myself! Great photos - enjoyed your commentary! Have a great evening...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love covered bridges and that's a fine one. Good pics all around.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks like that lovely pink sunrise did lead to a gorgeous day. I love that bluejay. I would be in heaven to find three covered bridges on such a short drive, they are fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  7. What wonderful covered bridges! Your mosaics are wonderful too~ I especially love the Blue Jay & silhouette of the trees against the ski :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I would love seeing more photos of the covered bridges. They are amazing and something I've only seen a few times. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful mosaic I love the covered bridge.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fabulous shots of the covered bridges. Hope you have a wonderful week:) Jen

    ReplyDelete
  11. Birds and bridges. Now that sounds like the perfect day to me!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You must live is such a beautiful area to be able to see so many wonderful birds and then such picturesque covered bridges! Wonderful photos!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I always feel very excited shooting an eagle.

    It maybe that I have not successfully shot any eagle.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Eileen, I have never seen a covered bridge in person. I hope to see on some day. I like your picture of that Kingfisher. Have a super coming week and a great Monday!

    ReplyDelete
  15. You had a lovely day! I used to love to go to Cunningham Falls State Park when we lived in southern Pennsylvania.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi there - what a great set of pictures. Any day with a kingfisher is a good day I think!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

    ReplyDelete
  17. The cloud formation on your header photo is so nice. I like the covered bridge.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Jeg kom tilfældig forbi.
    Smukke billeder.
    Jeg holder dog mest af dine fuglebilleder.
    Tak for kigget.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Great shots Eileen. I miss seeing covered bridges, not many here in CT. Need to go further north to settle :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Like you, I like to get up and out early and usually have the day planned!!. Great photographs of the bridge. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving a comment, we saw quite a few birders on the day.
    Jackie in Surrey

    ReplyDelete
  21. Each one of your photographs are beautiful. I love covered bridges and you captured this perfectly. Wonderful mosaic.
    karen

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful photos. Why do you think the covered bridges were built, to keep someone dry?????????

    ReplyDelete
  23. Love your birds! What a glorious day...three covered bridges. We have several green herons in our creek. We were so happy to see them when we 1st moved to Va from Fl.
    Blessings, Audrey

    ReplyDelete
  24. Lovely places. I lived in Frederick for years and some how missed that there were covered bridges nearby. Perhaps I'll get to go back some day.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wonderful post Eileen!
    Miss coming here!

    Regards.
    xo

    Regina

    ReplyDelete
  26. A post full of wonderful nature, Eileen. I love all your bird shots!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great shots, love those bluejays and covered bridges.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great shots...
    Have a wonderful week,
    Markus

    ReplyDelete
  29. Beautiful photos. I love those sweet blue jays.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I do love covered bridges. There are not many left around. Looked like a nice day to be out and about. V

    ReplyDelete
  31. Wonderful shots from nature. Very scenic.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Amazing mosaics and great pictures .....
    Best regards, Karin

    ReplyDelete
  33. Lovely photographs. I love covered bridges, and you captured these beautifully. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  34. What a great day and what a beautiful place, Eileen!! I love the covered bridge, the lovely skies and, of course, the blue jays! Another delightful look at your world! Hope your week goes well!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great covered bridges!! Boom & gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Such beautiful covered bridges...and the little blue jay!!! Very nice! Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  37. Fantastic shots, Eileen. We don't see these covered bridges here in Australia, so they are quite fascinating to me...

    ReplyDelete
  38. What a Saturday morning -- I LOVE this post!!!! You see more birds on a trip where your real goal is to see the bridges than I would if I went out on purpose to bird! It's as if you are a bird-whisperer, I love it!!!!

    That bridge photo showing the trusses is just amazing, just makes me feel like I could walk right into the phot.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Covered bridges are interesting! You got good bird shots too.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Great shots of the birds and covered bridges. There is something so attractive to me about covered bridges.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I'm envious of your belted kingfisher, I still don't have a good image of one.
    I keep thinking we should do a trip with its focus on the covered bridges in Oregon, maybe someday.

    ReplyDelete
  42. You made the most of your trip. Those bridges and the birds are very interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Sounds like a perfect day!

    What a lovely soft sky and that covered bridge is gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  44. You must be close to all the birding areas. Just like you, I always look forward to my weekend fun!

    I am nowhere close to covered bridges and light house, it is quite a ways from me. But am glad you can share your experience and photos with us.

    ReplyDelete
  45. that covered bridge is interesting! i love the bird photos too!

    ReplyDelete
  46. the little blue jay is so gorgeous. beautiful skies and i love the composition of the last photo.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hi Eileen..I missed you and appreciate you checking in on me! I'm sorry for the delay..I've had a draft in my post (I think I have a draft in my head)..(lol) well, looks to funny to change.
    Your photos of this beautiful day are fabulous!! Simply amazing! I will be back soon. It's late but just wanted to stop by and send some warmth from the Pacific..thanks for such a delightful visual!

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love these covered bridges, I have never seen one "life" ! Instead of reading "Blujays" I read Blue Jeans, lol ! Must say the little birdie is so cute !

    ReplyDelete
  49. What a lovely captures!
    I love your sky and bird pictures...
    Greetings from Holland,
    Anna :-))

    ReplyDelete
  50. You had a lovely productive day. I love the pretty morning sky and the bluejay photos.

    ReplyDelete
  51. the covered bridges are beautiful. we don't have it here. so unique!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Great series of photos Eileen. I haven't seen a covered bridge in a couple of years but I remember being impressed on the craftsmanship on the inside as well as the outside. Loved the photos of the birds, especially of the female Belted Kingfisher as I have never seen one of those before.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Eileen, my husby enjoys covered bridges very much. As a matter of fact in Cromer's Mill, Georgia, named after his ancestry, there is a covered bridge as well. Your bridge images are really lovely, looks like a wonderful day. Oh I would love to see a Kingfisher like that...some day. Great post~

    ReplyDelete
  54. When I see those bridges I think of the movie "Bridges over Madison county" love it (I think it is 15-20 years old).

    Kingfisher - I saw three different kind in Sri Lanka. (Not this one) Have just come back from 6 weeks in Sri Lanka with my family.
    /MB

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hello! I agree with these comments...Beautiful post!
    Thank You very much for Your visit!

    ReplyDelete
  56. oh, wow! totally stunning photos....:)

    thanks for dropping by my entry at www.explorerminded.com

    ReplyDelete
  57. Great shots! These old bridges are one of my favorite spots. The covered bridges date to mid to late 1800's. Loy's Station bridge was burned in 1991 and rebuilt by the County with volunteer funds and labor. There are a number of historic iron bridges in the same area as well. I have links in my sidebar on www.lewsotherpics.com to some of them.

    ReplyDelete
  58. The perspectives of the bridge are wonderful. I love the scenes, filled with beauty and contrasts.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Beautiful skies and such a gorgeous covered bridge!

    ReplyDelete

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

BTW, Anonymous comments unless a name is included will not be published. Also, comments with links will be deleted.

Have a happy day, Eileen

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "Sometimes miracles are just good people with kind hearts." Rick's Cafe, N...