Northern Mockingbird

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

For this weeks wild bird I am featuring the Northern Mockingbird. The Mockingbird is best known for mimicking the songs of other birds and insects. They are usually loud and will mimic songs in rapid succession.

Some information on the Northern Mockingbird, they eat both insects and fruits.

 They are medium sized and a long tail. Both males and females look alike. They are mostly grey with some white patches around their wings. They have yellowish eyes and a black beak..

Thanks for stopping by my post and for all the nice comments.

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 our host Michelle our host Stewart.  Happy Birding and have a wonderful week!

Saturday walk

  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday 

On Saturday, hubby and I took our walk on one of the local fireroads. I had not been this direction for some time and I was amazed to see how many down trees there were across the fireroad.. This past winters ice storms and snow caused so many trees to come down. During our walk we had to either climb under, go across or around the downed trees. It was like a workout on an obstacle course.

 During our walk on the fireroad we spotted another Great Blue heron on a nest.. You can just barely make out the yellow beak.. Some scenes from along the fireroad..bottom left looks like a deer's jawbone?

A first of the season, the Ovenbird seen along the fireroad.  A breeder in the forest next to us.

Still looks like winter, we can see the lake from the fireroad.. I am looking forward to seeing everything green again.

Back in the yard, my first hummer sighting of the season, redbud tree, cherry blossoms, bleeding heart plant, waterlilies in the small pond

A closeup of the weeping cherry blossoms.

I was so happy to see the hummingbirds return to the yard.. I was happy that I recently hung the hummingbird feeders.

A view from the deck of our weeping cherry tree and the redbud tree.

 I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and my weekend walk.. Thanks for stopping by and for the 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.  I wish everyone a happy week ahead!

Saturday's Critters #21

Saturday's Critters #21

The Gentle Barn TheGentleBarn on facebook

I was asked if I would do a review on My Gentle Barn. I was not offered money and I am doing this because I want to....no other reason. I would highly recommend reading this book, hubby and I had fun reading the book at the same time. Two different bookmarks kept our place and we enjoyed talking about the book as we read. 

On my post this week I am including a review of Ellie Laks book called My Gentle Barn. A true story begins with Ellie’s life as a child and shares her love of animals. Being an animal lover myself, it was sad reading about some of the animals being abused.  But, this story made me feel good that the rescued animals received necessary medical attention, respect and lots of love. Ellie loves all her animals and in return the animals loved Ellie.  

Ellie takes it a step further in helping at risk teens. Ellie knew from her own experience just how much animals can bring a person comfort.  Ellie’s rescued animals were perfect to teach, heal and share compassion with the special needs of the at risk youth. There were many happy and sad times throughout Ellie’s life.  I think the happiest of times were made at the Gentle Barn. It would be nice if there were Gental Barn rescues across the USA. Thanks to Ellie and her husband Jay who run the Gentle Barn in California. 

Now for my critter part of the post.. I am sharing some various animals you might find on a farm or in a barn.

To see more cute critters, check out the link below. If you get a chance, I hope you read the book My Gentle Barn.

I am looking forward to seeing your critters.

Thank you for linking up to the critter party. I appreciate the visits, comments and the support of my blogging friends..

An InLinkz Link-up

I am  sharing with Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting.

 Thanks for stopping by and  I wish everyone a happy weekend.

Hashawha Nature Center

Linking up with Skywatch Friday  and Good Fences

Last Saturday, hubby and I went on our  walk at the Hashawha Nature Center. It is usually a good spot to see the birds. Saturday was a gorgeous spring day for a walk. The sky was blue and it was fairly warm for our outing. There are so many places for a birding walk this time of year. Hubby and I have some favorite spots where we will do repeat walks, this is one of those places. 

I heard these American Goldfinches way before I found them in this treetop. The males are sporting their pretty breeding colors.

A scene along our walk..the fence and sky shot.  Perfect for the Good Fences meme . Not sure why the fence around the tree? The tree is too big for the deer to eat.  

 A pretty blue sky and a  partial view of the lake and wetlands at the nature center.

 The boardwalk near the lake and wetlands.. We saw a lot of turtles, either the Snapping Turtle or the Sliders. I will share on my Saturday Critters post.

Pretty sure this squeaky sounding bird was the Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher.. It would not stay still for even a half of second..

 It is a pretty area walking around the lake and the boardwalk.. This shot above also includes a fence for my Good Fences post for Tex's meme..

 

Back at home the sunset was pretty in pinks and blues..

 

The yesterday morning the 21st was close to see the last quarter of the moon called the waning gibbous.

I hope you enjoyed my post and I hope to see you on Saturday sharing your critters..

To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and check out Tex's Good Fences


Thanks to Tex @ The Run*A*Round Ranch for hosting Good Fences and to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday!   I wish everyone a safe and happy long weekend.

Eastern Towhee

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

I am featuring the Eastern Towhee for this week's wild bird. I have been seeing them in different places during the last week. The Eastern Towhee is in the Sparrow family.
 

I think the Towhee is a beautiful bird with its rufous sides, black head and white chest. It has a long dark tail with white edges.  The Towhee also has a dark stout bill.  In a Maryland summer they can be found in shrubby areas with berries.

I wish the branches were not in the way, it would have been a good shot..

The female above is a pretty has the brown back with rufous sides and the white chest and belly. They can also be found on the ground scratching at the leaves and foraging.  

Thanks for stopping by my post and for all the nice comments.

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 our host Michelle our host Stewart.  Happy Birding and have a wonderful week!

Shenandoah National Park

  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday 

 HAPPY EASTER to everyone who celebrates..


On Friday I was off work for the Easter holiday so hubby and I decided to take  a ride to Shenandoah National Park. 

We saw lots of deer along the Skyline Drive..groups of them here and there. 

I always enjoy seeing the wildlife, the deer do not seem at skittish as the deer I see at home.. We were hoping to see a Black Bear.. maybe next time..

The morning fog looked really neat hanging around the Appalachian mountains..

Birds seen were the Eastern Towhee, American Robin, Tufted Titmouse and lots of Dark-eyed Juncos. Not pictured, we also saw  hawks, vultures, Eastern Bluebirds and a Black White Warbler.

We always seem to come across the trail riders while hiking the Limberlost trail. You can arrange to go on the guided trail ride from the Skyland stables. The Limberlost Trail is 1.2 miles mostly level and easy walking..I like this trail in the spring and early summer, there are a lot of warblers around.

In the mosaic above, Dark Hollow Falls, some horseback riders seen while on the Limberlost trail and some scenes from the Dark Hollow Falls trail.

Dark Hollow Falls, it was nice to see it with a lot of water.  The Dark Hollow Falls trail is 1.4 miles, somewhat steep in places located near Big Meadows. It is an impressive falls with water cascading down 70ft.

This Dark-eyed Junco did not seem shy around people. It hung around us while we were looking at the waterfalls.

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.  I wish everyone a happy week ahead!
I hope you enjoyed our quick visit to the shore and seeing the birds. 

Saturday's Critters #20

Saturday's Critters #20


Happy Easter everyone! 

 Above is my neighborhood Great Blue Heron on the nest..You can just barely see the heron's beak and eye. My view with the camera will disappear as soon as the leaves show up on the trees.  But, it is cool to be able to watch their progress. 

One of the local breeders the American Goldfinch.. The male is already showing off his pretty summer colors.

A male Downy Woodpecker outside our dining room window.. I hope you enjoyed my birds, they are always a treat for me.

Thank you for linking up to the critter party. I appreciate the visits, comments and the support of my blogging friends..I am looking forward to seeing your critters.

An InLinkz Link-up

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Please visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni of I'd Rather-B-birdin. Also, sharing with Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting.

 Thanks for stopping by and  I wish everyone a happy weekend.

Saturday Walk Part II

Linking up with Skywatch Friday  and Good Fences

This is part two of our Saturday walk, the first being our stop at the Yellow Crowned Night Heron rookery. We then drove to Cromwell Valley/Sherwood Farm park in Baltimore County. They have a nice loop trail that follows along a stream, fields and farm. A great habitat for the spring migrants and breeders!

I love this big old tree and the sky and clouds were beautiful, a perfect day for our walk.

Part of the loop trail was walking along the driveway for Sherwood Farms. The farm was acquired by Baltimore County with Program Open Space funds..A portion of the park is a demonstration farm. the park is 426 acres

We saw a lot of  Tree Swallows along the trail, mostly near the Bluebird houses. I hope the Bluebirds are not being pushed out of their homes.

My first of the season Palm Warbler, it posed nicely for a second..

We also saw the House Finches walking along the trail.

A shot of the farm and house way in the distance and a beautiful sky. This park is also a located for the hawk watch. I saw two hawks in flight during our walk, but my photos were blurry :(

More of the farm and I got some awesome shots of fences for Tex's Good Fences meme and a beautiful sky for my  Skywatch Friday post.

A beautiful Eastern Bluebird..

And just because I love taking photos of the moon, this shot was from the morning of April 16th 99% full.  Our skies were cloudy, rainy and snowy for the Lunar Eclipse. :(



I hope you enjoyed my post and I hope to see you on Saturday sharing your critters..

To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and check out Tex's Good Fences


Thanks to Tex @ The Run*A*Round Ranch for hosting Good Fences and to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday!   I wish everyone a safe and happy long weekend.

Yellow Crowned Night Heron

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

For this week's featured bird I am sharing the Yellow Crowned Night Heron. I have been reading about the Yellow Crowned Night Heron rookery in Baltimore for a few years now and have never visited.. I drive past the area every weekday going to work.. So on Saturday, hubby and I finally visited the rookery to see these gorgeous birds.

Our timing was perfect since the leaves are not blocking our view..Some of these shots were taken from the bridge looking down and some were from the trail's viewing platform near the Jones Falls.

A viewing platform near the falls was perfect for viewing the rookery and the Yellow Crowned Night Herons. Some were landing on the trees above our heads. We watched them as they broke off branches to add to their nest.

The Yellow Crowned Night Heron is a nocturnal heron and can be found breeding along wooded streams.

They have a black face and bill, with a white cheek and a yellow crown stripe. They have a gray body and yellow legs.

These herons above were not happy with each other.

The habitat around the rookery, a view from the bridge looking down.  It is located right next to the Jones Falls trail a bicycle-running trail. The trail starts at the Inner Harbor Baltimore and when finished will end at the Mount Washington Light Rail station.

Sorry for the overload of photos, I took so many different shots. I had a hard time choosing which photos to share.


Thanks for stopping by my post and for all the nice comments.

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 our host Michelle our host Stewart.  Happy Birding and have a wonderful week!