Patuxent NWR, North Tract

 I am linking up with   Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday

Happy Easter..I hope everyone has had a Happy Passover/Easter week!

My office was closed  for Good Friday, so hubby and I enjoyed some hiking and birding at the Patuxent NWR here in Maryland. Finally, it was a beautiful day to spend outdoors. The North Tract of the wildlife refuge was new for me, it includes the wildlife drive and hiking trails. 

Some scenes from our visit to the Patuxent National Wildlife Refuge, above are the Great Blue Heron, a Belted Kingfisher and a shot of the Rieves Pond.

Canada geese, looks like a female is sitting on a nest. 

We watched while this Great Blue Heron flew and landed on this tree.

I saw the Tree Swallows for the first time this year. They were flying low over this pond, and a few swallows were on top of the Purple Martin house. 

The reflections of the trees in the Rieves Pond were pretty.

Above are just two of the many sparrows we saw, the White-Throated Sparrow and a Song Sparrow.

Thanks for stopping by my post and I always appreciate your comments.
Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit  Mosaic Monday and more from  Our World Tuesday
 Thanks to our host: Mary our host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  Thanks also for stopping by to see my post.  I wish everyone a happy week!

More from around the yard

I am linking up with Camera Critters and I'd-rather-b-birdin

Happy Easter to everyone!! I hope you have a happy day!

These are more birds from around the yard, I see lots of activity at my feeders and some birds have been checking out my birdhouses.

The Carolina Wren is a cute bird and can also be one of the loudest birds around my yard. Who would think that one of the smallest birds can also be the loudest.

This Pine Siskin has been acting like a baby, holding it's wings open and it's mouth open and begging for food from other birds. I watched it the other day begging for food from a Nuthatch. Is it confused? It seems like my biggest group of Pine Siskins have moved on but I am still seeing a few stragglers.

I love these cute Red-Breasted Nuthatches, I am see at least two of the Red-Breasted Nuthatches in my yard.  I believe the other is a female has more of a whitish belly. I also see my year round White-Breasted Nuthatches.

Yesterday, I watched both the Carolina Chickadee and the Tufted Titmouse going back and forth to this tree. There is a hole there, I am not sure if they have a stash of seed there?

Maybe they are stealing the squirrels stash of food? Above the Chickadee is going down into the hole.

The Tufted Titmouse is looking a little guilty looking, like I caught her in the act. Maybe they are taking seed out that belongs to another bird?

The shot above, I watched the Titmouse going into the hole.

And yesterday, I checked on the GB Heron nest. He/She looks to be standing guard.

 Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the birds from around my yard. It is fun watching the birds and their behavior.

To see more wonderful critters and photos please visit and join in on the fun with Misty Dawn's Camera Critters and to see some lovely birds check out  I'd-rather-b-birdin

Thanks to Misty Dawn for hosting Camera Critters and to Anni the host of I'd rather-b-birdin. I wish everyone a great weekend and Happy Birding.

Around the Yard

Linking up with NF Winged   and  Skywatch Friday

Since it is officially Spring, I want to wish everyone Happy Spring, Happy Passover and Happy Easter to my blogging friends.

These are the skies from the past week the skies over my yard, the vultures are always here.  Both Black Vultures and Turkey Vultures are hanging around in high numbers.

I was worried that some of the vultures are landing in same trees that the Great Blue Herons have their nest. I can only assume that they get along well.

This shot was taken on the same day as the shot above with the vultures and if you look in the top right corner of the photo you can just barely make out black dots.... more vultures flying around.

When I first took this shot of the heron nest, I thought it was empty. But, if you look closely ( or click for a bigger photo) on the left side of the nest you can see the heron beak and the top of the heron's head. Looks like a cute mommy.

Our weather has been all over the place lately. Sometimes it is warm or it can be very cold. We have had lots of rain or snow showers. No real signs of Spring here, I do see the daffodils are just coming out of the ground but no blooms yet.

I love to see a real pretty blue sky with some awesome looking clouds.

For NF Winged, beside the vultures, I have another one of my woodies, this is the female Downy Woodpecker just outside my dining room window.

The last two mornings, I have been catching the nearly full moon setting. It does look beautiful.

This Wednesday morning there were some thin clouds around the moon creating shadow spots on the moon. I hope you enjoyed my post and skies. Thanks for stopping by and for leaving your nice comments.
Happy Skywatching and Happy Spring to everyone!

To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and to see more of the winged critters check out NF Winged

Thanks to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday! Thanks to the host of NF Winged.  Also, thank you for stopping by to see my post. I wish everyone a safe and happy weekend.

Pileated Woodpecker

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

 Lately, I have been seeing the Pileated Woodpeckers flying across my yard and landing on the trees across from my driveway.  The are fun to hear knocking on the trees and to hear their loud calls. 

This is a male Pileated Woodpecker, because the malar is red. The females have a black malar. They are large in size abut 17 inches in length and a 29 inch wingspan.

The Pileated Woodpecker is commonly seen in the woods and watershed property next to my house. I see and hear them often while walking on the fireroads.

I think they love putting holes into the trees, at least the trees and holes are not on our property. They do look for termites and other bugs to eat while drilling their holes. It is funny how some of their holes are square or rectangle in shape and not round.

I was hoping someday to see them or their babies peeking out of one of the many trees. I hope you enjoyed my post and thanks for stopping by. I always appreciate your comments too!

Join in and post your birdies and to see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes.
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.
I wish everyone a happy week ahead and Happy Birding!

Hashawha Nature Center

 I am linking up with   Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday


On the weekends, hubby and I always try to talk a walk somewhere. So on Saturday the weather was somewhat nice, we drove to the local Hashawha Nature center for a walk with Goldie Girl. The Native American Hashawha name means "old Fields".

On the drive to the nature center we pass many farms, some with really cool barns.

We always pass by this fence with these colorful birdhouses. Over the years new birdhouses have replaced the old worn houses.

Above some of the nature center scenes, the lake, a bridge crossing a creek and a couple of Mourning Doves.

The above scene is at the nature center, the fence around the tree is new. I do not think it was there during our last visit. I am not sure why they put the fence around the tree. This field attracts many sparrows and bluebirds. Yesterday, we were seeing lots of Robins.

The nature center has a lake, usually we see some Mallard ducks and this time with a few Canada Geese.

By the visitor center's feeders the Mourning Doves were eating the seed dropped by the birds at the feeders. Other birds around their feeders were Goldfinches, Cardinals, Chickadees, Juncos, Titmouse and White-throated Sparrows.

Back at home, I have been keeping an eye on the neighborhood heron nest. I am trying not to get close to the nest but this morning I noticed some movement in another tree across from this nest. We might have more than one Heron nest.

Thanks for stopping by my post and I always appreciate your comments.
Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit  Mosaic Monday and more from  Our World Tuesday
 Thanks to our host: Mary our host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  Thanks also for stopping by to see my post.  I wish everyone a happy week!

Yardbirds

I am linking up with Camera Critters and I'd-rather-b-birdin

It's official Spring has Sprung, but where? Certainly not here, our temp's have been in the 30's and 40's, cold blustery days. This coming Sunday they are calling for another snow/rain event. Did Punxsutawney Phil get it wrong and are we due for more winter weather? Do you even believe a groundhog can predict the weather? I think I hear Florida calling my name.

For this weekend's critter and bird post I have some of my yardbirds from during the week.

One of my pretty White-throated Sparrows, they are a winter bird. I guess that is why I am still seeing them. They know winter has not left yet.

This is a Fox Sparrow, they are also another winter bird for my area. I guess they do not believe it is Spring either. They are pretty with their vivid rust streaks.

The American Goldfinches are one of my year round birds. They usually they wear their dull look in the winter months. 

The Pine Siskins are one of the irruptive year birds, they visit in the winter only during certain years. They are always welcome in my yard and at my feeders. They can even bring more of their friends.

The White-Breasted Nuthatch is another one of my year round birds, lately I have been seeing two chasing each other around. Not sure if it two males being territorial or if they are a couple.

One of the many female Cardinals I am seeing in my yard. Pretty soon the territorial couple will chase off all the other Cardinals and I will be left with the mating couple for awhile.

Not sure if this is the Mrs mate, I am seeing at least 5 or 6 male Cardinals in the yard. One will be the lucky guy!

I

I caught the Bluejay at the birdbath, I guess he/she at sometime has to wash down all those peanuts they eat.

I hope you enjoy my yardbirds, I love to show them all off, they are so pretty. I am not sure how long my winter visitors will be sticking around..not much longer. Thanks for visiting my post and for the nice comments.

To see more wonderful critters and photos please visit and join in on the fun with Misty Dawn's Camera Critters and to see some lovely birds check out  I'd-rather-b-birdin

Thanks to Misty Dawn for hosting Camera Critters and to Anni the host of I'd rather-b-birdin. I wish everyone a great weekend and Happy Birding.

Sunrise Ocean City

Linking up with NF Winged   and  Skywatch Friday

I have more scenes and sunrise shots from our visit to Ocean City, Maryland. On my previous Ocean City post I shared my sunset shots now I more from the next day of our weekend away.  Since we stayed overnight  hubby and I were able to catch the sunrise coming up over the ocean.

We were out on the beach a little before the sun came out, the lighting was still pretty.

Ocean City sunrise, I love to catch the reflection of the sun on the wet sand.

The Purple Sandpiper is one of my favorite Sandpipers. They are usually found around the rock jetty. They have orange legs and the base of their bill is also orange. Violet highlights in the upperparts are visible in good light.

 The Common Loons are another favorite of mine, it was great seeing them somewhat close to the jetty wall.

Sunrises and sunset are a simple pleasure of mine. I hope you enjoyed the sunrise and my birds. Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate the comments. Happy Skywatching and Happy Spring to everyone!

To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and to see more of the winged critters check out NF Winged

Thanks to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday! Thanks to the host of NF Winged.  Also, thank you for stopping by to see my post. I wish everyone a safe and happy weekend.

Great Blue Heron nesting

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

 On Sunday, I happened to be at the window watching my yardbirds when I noticed a big shadow flying by. At first I thought it was one of the usual Turkey or Black Vultures but when I looked up I noticed the long legs. Our neighborhood herons are back on their old nest, this is the third year in a row.

After seeing the heron flying over my yard, I walked across my driveway to the woods. I could look toward my neighbors place and with the leaves off the tree the nest is pretty visible. And to my surprised both Great Blue herons were on the nest.

Even my neighbors are excited to see the herons back, it will be fun to watch their progress and to see and hear the heron chicks.

Seeing the Great Blue Herons is a sure sign spring is here. I hope you enjoyed my post and thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your comments too!

Join in and post your birdies and to see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes.
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.
I wish everyone a happy week ahead and Happy Birding!