Sunday, December 16, 2012

A walk to the lake

Hello, I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday.

My first thought today is to send my prayers to the families of the victims and children involved with the tragedy in Newtown. I have a question also, why did this boy's mother feel the need to have these kinds of weapons in her home?

We are staying close to home today and I am trying a new recipe for Pepper Steak in my crockpot. So, hubby and I took a short walk to the lake in the front of our house. I like to call it my front yard, we only have to cross the street and walk thru the woods to see the lake.


My yardbirds above are the Carolina Chickadee, Redbellied Woodpecker, Goldfinch, White-throated Sparrow, Mourning Dove, Cardinal, Dark-eyed Junco and the White-Breasted Nuthatch. Also, more birds I saw around my yard this morning were the Brown Creeper, Carolina Wren, Pine Warbler, Pine Siskins, Downy Woodpecker, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Bluejays and a flock of piggy Starlings.

And since I am home I am watching my yardbirds, still hoping to see a new bird show up in my yard. A Common Redpoll, Red Crossbill or even a White-winged Crossbill would be very exciting.

 I was checking out the pine cones on our hemlock trees in the yard, they are just waiting for some Crossbills.





 The Cardinal decided to stand tall and proud for his photo.

I was seeing a group of the Dark-eyed Juncos in my yard.

It is always nice to get out of the house for some fresh air and a walk to the lake.

The woods seemed full of these guys above the Carolina Chickadees, I heard some Kinglets, Nuthatches, Cardinals, Titmouse and some Wrens along the trail to the lake.


Back in my yard, the goldfinches were enjoying the feeders.

 The White-throated Sparrows were in the yard, on my deck and on the trail to the lake.

Now, I am just playing around on the computer and watching White Christmas for the umpteen time, feeling a little blah and hoping I am not getting sick.



To see more wonderful photos and mosaics please visit Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday
 Thanks to Mary of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia and Sandy .  Thanks also for stopping by to see my post.  I wish everyone a happy week!

59 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

the puffed out little junco is too cute. :)

HappyK said...

I really like the cardinal photo. He looks like he's stretching his neck to get a better look at something.

Maria said...

I like the red cardinals and the pine cones. Beautiful place.

Anonymous said...

You have the most amazing gathering of bird's visit your yard. Beautiful captures, Eileen.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

love your header shots. so pretty.

love that red of the cardinal. so lovely. my favorite bird is the chick-a-dee if i had to pick my most favorite bird of all time. ( :

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous images Eileen! Love the chickadee and junco. Actually love them all.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Love seeing all the different birds that come to your yard. I guess I need to get a few more feeders and some different kinds of food out in my yard.
I love the photos of the pine cones and the lake too.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I always enjoy seeing what birds you are seeing. We see a lot but don't always get good enough photos to share. We saw a lot of cardinals at the park today and in our feeders there are goldfinches, purple finches, lots of chipping sparows and a few warblers.

Vee said...

I have a cardinal in my mosaic, too. He's a fake cardinal. ☺ Lovely photos of so many of the birds and my favorite photo of all? The hemlock tree and cones.

Lynne said...

Beautiful Eileen . . . Loved the walk with you!

Rajesh said...

Beautiful birds around the lake.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

You always capture good close ups of the birds Eileen. I had to smile about the piggy starlings, they sure are!
I have trouble picking out the pine siskins from the goldfinches at our feeders.
Judith

Tammie Lee said...

lovely images
so nice that this is your yard ;-)!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I'm doing a bird blog tomorrow (shock, I know---ha)... AND I have some of the same ones you have featured....

Hugs,
Betsy

Jo ~ Lifestyle Fifty and ZigaZag said...

Love your bird pics, Eileen. Thanks for sharing. Transported me. Merry Christmas from across the pond, in Western Australia :)

Stewart M said...

Nice set of yard birds - I always think that sounds funny as the Yardbirds were the band that became Zed Zeppelin!

This clearly shows my age!

Stewart M - Australia

Gattina said...

What a variety of birds you can watch ! In our garden I only see sparrows and once in a blue moon a robin !

vivi ka said...

My prayers to the families of the victims!! I wish to stop all these tragedies!
I love the place that you live! So beautiful !! The forest, the lake and the lovely birds!!
The Cardinal is really standing proud!
Have a nice new week!

orchid0324 said...

Dearest Eileen,
Your Mosaic (or collage) is wonderful (^_^)彡☆ Oh, you always show us beautiful birds with your wonderful shots♡♡♡
Among the beautiful ones, the Cardinal looks so lovely and proud of herself♬♬♬

Love you always from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

Mary said...

All of your yardbirds are very familiar to me, and they are like old friends who visit every morning -- they bring with them a sense of serenity and "rightness" in this sad and grief-filled week. I, too, don't understand the need to keep those weapons in the home. But thank you for sharing your sweet images this week at MM. xoxo

Jill Harrison said...

walking to the lake must give you such a glorious sense of calm - so beautiful. I wish you and yours a safe and joyous Christmas and all good things for 2013. I have enjoyed linking up to you in 2012 through Mosaic Monday and seeing your corner of the world. And I thank you for coming over to see me!

Phil Slade said...

A great set of photos Eileen and I just can't beleive the variety of birds you get in your garden - So much so that you hardly need to go far birding! It must be wonderful to have that lake so near too and just stroll on down there on a whim. Have a great week.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

All the birds are wonderful -- and your "front yard" is incredible and as always thank you for sharing.

I guess I'd carry your question one step further even and ask why ANYONE feels the need to have guns, especially those kind, in their home.
(Feel free to delete this paragraph if you publish my comment...I just had to vent a bit).

I hope you're not getting sick -- With that news of last week, I don't think anyone feels at our best right now..

Hilke Breder said...

Wonderful post and shots, Eileen! Regarding your remarks about the shooter's mother, Newtown is a gun-happy town according to this article in the New York Times: http://tinyurl.com/ctngj9n
It's a deranged world!

Lorrie said...

What a great front yard "you" have. What great photos, too. I love that cardinal standing so tall, and the sweet Carolina chickadee in gray and white.

DIMI said...

Hallo Eileen!Love the birds photo collage!!What a wonderful bird Cardinal is!And the view of the lake is fantastic!Have a lovely week my friend!
Dimi..

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

How lovely to have the lake so close. It must be a perfect place to watch the birds. Valerie

Our Neck of the Woods said...

All the birds are beautiful, but the Cardinal has always been one of my favorites. I love the shot you got of him!

Emilie's daughter said...

You are so lucky to live in such a bird's sanctuary! I envy you!

We are also absolutely devastated by what has happened in Newtown. There are no words for this.

Christa

My name is Riet said...

You make the most wonderful photo's of those little beaut ies. My favorite is that red cardinal. Love it's color.Merry Christmas Eileen.

EG CameraGirl said...

I love all the wild birds you see so close to your home. :)

Findlay Wilde said...

What a briilant walk to have right next to your home.

Sylvia K said...

Like the others, I do love all of your birds, Eileen! Such wonderful captures! I hope you have a most wonderful holiday season and a very Merry Christmas!!

mick said...

Beautiful birds and that lake would be very nice to have so close to your house.

BunnyKissd said...

Beautiful! Love all the birds...

carol l mckenna said...

Wow! Excellent shots of beautiful birds ~ What a location you must have at this lake ~

(A Creative Harbor) ~ aka ArtMuseDog and Carol ^_^

podso said...

Just beautiful, Eileen, and the lights on the lake are nice but the beautiful birds top it all!

Bush and Beach (Australia) said...

The lake is beautiful Eileen, and you have an amazing variety of yard birds. I particularly liked the cardinal too ... it seems he is the favorite this week!

Debbie said...

They are all so beautiful Eileen! Your focus is so crisp and clear, love mr. cardinal, so tall and proud!

Unknown said...

It would be my dream to have house close enough to the lake that I could wark! Lovely pics, Eileen!

SandyCarlson said...

These are marvelous. I love the cardinal, too.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

You are very lucky to have such a beautiful lake so close to your home Eileen! It looks like there were quite a few birds there looking for food.

Indrani said...

I love the variety you have today! The cardinal looks great!

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

What a great front yard. Even if somebody else may own it. Great pics.

Rebecca said...

Love your close up shots! Hope you're feeling better soon :)

Anonymous said...

What wonderfully peaceful scenes - much needed after the tragedy of the weekend.

Lew said...

Delightful shots of the birds!

Vores have said...

Great image series showing - really like the first (collagen)
Wish you a good day :) Hanne Bente

Friend of HK said...

The cardinal is so pretty! The lake is beautiful. Great captures!

Hayu Maselli said...

Dearest Eileen,

Oh My.. that lake so beautiful!
You have so many birds captured perfectly amazing.
those critters so cute.
wishing you a great week

DeniseinVA said...

Your images are beautiful Eileen. I didn't grow up in a country with firearms and am very afraid of them. This horrific event in Connecticut, like many I cried a lot of tears when I heard. Those poor families, they will never get over this.

AVCr8teur said...

Very nice close ups of your little visitors. You must be looking out your window all the time. The Cardinal appears to be staring back right at you.

NatureFootstep said...

that´s a nice mosaic you present today. Love it.

Pepper steak sounds delicious. :)

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Yum Pepper steak sounds good, my husby would love that. I love all of your friendly birds.
I was wondering the same thing, about the boy, and his mother even took him target practicing with those weapons...such a huge tragedy~

betty-NZ said...

Wonderful post, as usual! I love the birds you see.

Icy BC said...

What a gorgeous birds mosaic! You have a wonderful collection of them.

I am seeing more of starlings and black birds at this time.

Rohrerbot said...

The Dark Eyed Juncos are so different from our here. Again, they are all put into the same category but look completely different. When I EBIRD, I put in the variations(they have subcategories)...just in case they decide to break them up again:) You never know. Love all your yard birds. I haven't seen over half of them! You and Betsy have some great birds visiting your feeders.

Unknown said...

Lovely birds. What a fantastic job you have done capturing them.

Dan said...

Beautiful collection. The tall male Cardinal was flirting with you. lol

Happy Monday!

  Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "Calm is a super power. Don't let stress kill your happiness." "Jud...