Thursday, October 5, 2017

Enjoying My Neighborhood

Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!

Have you ever notice all the variety of life in your neighborhood and nearby habitats? Definition of Biodiversity: the variety of life in the world, or in a particular habitat or ecosystem. 

I live near a lake and forest, in which there is always something to see. If you have a small pond, river or your very own backyard habitat, the ecosystem is amazing. The threats to the ecosystem are many, a few are loss of habitat, over exploitation and the spread of non-native species. 




The first time I saw the Green Heron at our lake. It is great to see such a variety of birds at our lake.


Lesser Yellowlegs, I was confused since this bird's leg colors look like bright orange to me?


A couple of Solitary Sandpipers at our lake.


Below some shorebirds, the Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and a Solitary Sandpiper.


My mosiac from our walk on the local fire road lined with tall pine trees, next to the lake, some fall leaves and mushrooms, an Osprey in flight, our lake and a Belted Kingfisher across the lake.



A view of the sky and clouds, later the same day after our walk on the fire road. 





I am thankful to live in a state and neighborhood with such biodiversity. It is the variety of life,  I have only seen a small amount of species contained on earth. Biodiversity is important to people and the health of ecosystems. It is beautiful when you take in the wonder of it all. 

I am always thankful for your visits and your comments.

Thank you Michelle for hosting. Thankful Thursday
Thank you to the hosts of   Skywatch Friday


Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments. Have a happy day!

59 comments:

DeniseinVA said...

There is a lot to see even on our own back doorstep, thank you for reminding me Eileen. Great post as always :) Have a wonderful day :)

chica said...

Que beleza de observar a natureza, a biodiversidade...Lindas fotos e céus! Adorei! beijos, lindo dia! chica

Tom said...

...nice neighbors!

amo sin blogg said...

Nydelige bilder.
Jeg er så imponert over alle fine bildene av fugler.
Du må være en tålmodig fotograf som kommer så nær innpå dem.

Ønsker deg en fin dag og resten av uka.
Klem fra Anne-Mari

Francisco Manuel Carrajola Oliveira said...

Belas fotografias.
Gostei deste trabalho.
Um abraço e continuação de boa semana.

Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
Livros-Autografados

Christine said...

Hello Eileen and lots of wildlife to be thankful for in this area! I'd love to see a kingfisher but they are elusive!
You have a great area to enjoy right beside you!
Enjoy!

Sue (this n that) said...

Most beautiful indeed. The lake is teeming with dwellers.
The walks you have are so interesting Eileen, thanks for sharing :D) xx

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
It is all there, when we take the time to look!!! Nicely put together Eileen. YAM xx

MadSnapper said...

I have proved this over and over, each time I step into the back yard that we have lived in for 27 years, I see beauty, even ugly things become beautiful. the sky is a favorite of mine to....

Sandi said...

I love these photos!

Karen said...

I am fascinated by the constantly changing sky and the color variations in the fall leaves now. As always, I love to see the variety of birds in your area that we don't see here in Indiana.

Crissi said...

Great post as always Eileen!
Happy day Crissi

September Violets said...

You are very fortunate to live in such a beautiful area Eileen. Water alone attracts so much wildlife. I always see birds, chipmunks and squirrels even in my backyard at our small pond, bird bath and water fountain. Even if I don't keep the bird feeders filled all through summer, the sound of water brings in the critters.
Wendy x

Marit said...

Hello,

Beautiful photos and birds! You have such a variety so close to your home.

Happy Thursday!

Gayle said...

Our biodiversity is similar to yours and we attempt to enjoy it everyday. Love the big puffy cloud photos. Happy Day.

kr ena said...

Nature is beautiful and you don`t have to go far to observe it.
I like how you pay attention on your walks, see all little things and appreciate them. Hava a blessed day - Nadja

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

A rough neighborhood you live in :)

Have a great day

Lea said...

Great photos!
My favorite photos are the Mushrooms and the Kingfisher
Have a beautiful day!

Jeanie said...

Just this past weekend, I saw a new breed of duck I'd never before seen on our lake and -- I think -- a cormorant (didn't get a pic of him.) I'm always surprised at what surfaces in the fall that we didn't expect!

Lois said...

How wonderful to have this area so close to your home. So many things to see and admire. Your photos are beautiful, as always!

magnoliasntea said...

Great post, Eileen! Love that all these birds are in your area. We've made a bird habitat on our property. When we moved here they were so scarce. I'll never forget the joy I felt the first time I saw a bird light in our young trees. That was years ago, and the trees now shade our home.
Isn't it remarkable how the bird "authorities" see colors differently? LOL

Nancy Chan said...

Good to see the surrounding area where you stay. You have so many interesting critters. Have a great day!

Mary Hone said...

So many wonderful things for you to see, right in your own backyard!

Seraphinas Phantasie said...

Hi Eileen,
fabulous impressions of the naiborhood and the nature.
Best, Synnöve

Lady Fi said...

Our ecosystems are vital to life! Yours is lovely.

Linda said...

Absolutely gorgeous, Eileen! Thank you so much for sharing, I SO enjoy your posts and lovely photos.

Amanda Peters said...

Great to see what's about, I love finding something new in my garden. We had a Squirrel in this morning, two a penny at the park but to see one in the garden was very exciting for me. The shed roof is now covered in peanuts just in case it comes back :)
Amanda xx

RedPat said...

You are so lucky to be surrounded by such beauty, Eileen!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Wonderful to see the beauty surrounding you, dear Eileen! I think the green heron is my favorite bird of all. I love your thoughts on the ecosystem and how fragile it is. If we all just take a moment to think of how we impact it on a daily basis, it would help so much. I hate to see litter, especially plastics....Hope you have a lovely week in your beautiful neighborhood. xo Karen

Carol Blackburn said...

How wonderful! It's so nice when one enjoys the surrounding area that they live in. I derive much pleasure from where I live also, so I can related to your feelings on the subject. There are not enough who notice the everyday things around them that hold so much fascination for others, they are always looking beyond where they stand. No matter where I venture off to, it is always wonderful to come back to my own back yard. Enjoy your evening.

Prunella Pepperpot said...

So much to see and do on your doorstep Eileen. You must feel so privileged. Love your photos.
Have a wonderful weekend :)

Jim said...

Good shots.

Spare Parts and Pics said...

You are fortunate to have this biodiversity right outside your door! One of the reasons I like going out to the desert is it isn't so built up and you feel like you are part of nature. Great post, Eileen!!

Anonymous said...

These are pretty pictures. We once lived on 2.5 acres with a creek and wooded area. We loved all the wildlife there. It was truly six years of enjoyment.

carol l mckenna said...

Fantastic sky and cloud shot along with your beautiful nature shots too ~ ^_^

A ShutterBug Explores aka (A Creative Harbor)

This N That said...

Yellowlegs looks like there is a crocodile under him/her.Pretty sky shot..Nice series of pictures. Hope you are having a nice evening..

Michelle said...

Eileen, I always appreciate your photos and commitment to nature. You always take the time to search out the best that it has to offer. Thank you for linking up today and have the BEST weekend!

Mia said...

You are very luchy for living near to a lake and a forest, Eileen. Unfortunately I live in the big city and I am so happy everytime I go for a walk to the mountains. Beautiful photos, my friend.

Photo Cache said...

You sound like you live in paradise and the images you share support that. Have a lovely day.

Worth a Thousand Words

ellen b. said...

You prove over and over again that you are thankful for the things in nature that you see. I'm thankful for your knowledge and what you share with us.

A Colorful World said...

Wonderful lake birds and other pretty scenes from your area.

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

I love this post, what a beautiful place you have to visit that is so full of life! This post also reminds me of all the wonderful things I used to see when we lived in a subdivision - There was a lake about a block from us, and we used to walk the dogs there and I really miss being able to do that.

HappyK said...

There is beauty everywhere if we just take the time to look for it.

21 Wits said...

Hello Eileen, I'm so enjoying your neighborhood too! Such a peaceful, content and lively place for we humans filled with critters and nature, can't ask for much more than that!

italiafinlandia said...

Lovely surroundings!
Have a nice Friday!

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Wonderful environment to live in.

Ohmydearests said...

Your neighbourhood is wonderful! Have a beautiful weekend!

Cat Lover said...

What wonderful photos Eileen! We are blessed to live in a fantastic rural area with farms, forests and a lake. I do appreciate it all and try to get out and enjoy it as often as possible.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Robin

Linda W. said...

What a great Lake to have next door!

Suzanne said...

I really enjoyed your post this morning, although it is Friday by now. I, too live in an area of Biodiversity. I see things changing from time to time. Sometimes I expect to see things of a particular season the next time around, but that season will bring something new. As in the Waxwing birds. I have only seen them come through my yard one. They had a huge party with the mulberries and bird baths.

I noticed too the bright orange legs on the "Lesser Yellowleg" birds. Maybe it's a sign of their mating time, just like the Yellow Crowned Night Herons.

Thank you for this informative post on Biodiversity, I didn't know about it. Have a great weekend, Eileen!

Jeevan said...

Yes, it looks orange than yellowlegs but that’s lovely capture along with others. Really you are surrounded by wonderful nature and not everyone is chanced to live close up such great biodiversity. Love the mosaic images!

Small City Scenes said...

I am as thankful as you. I look around with wonder at the beauty around me.

the world and our tiny piece of it is and can be beautiful
MB

Phil Slade said...

Hi Eileen. Such a simple defintion of biodiversity, yet as you say, such a wealth of variety in the smallest or largest of places on earth. If only we could get everyone to enjoy their own bit of biodiversity they might take just a few steps to save it for future generations.

Debbie said...

your walks always provide such beautiful images. it's nice that you walk so often...and that your husband enjoys it too!!!

Hootin Anni said...

The ever-changing sky along with your road of wildlife are dazzling today!

Meulen said...

Muy hermoso
me encanta la naturaleza!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I am thankful when you show the biodiversity in your area -- which is a wonderful place.

Thomas Lee said...

Beautiful ecosystem captured,have a nice weekend.

Lynne said...

I would enjoy a walk on that Fire Road and
a visit to the pond as well . . .
Love a “look up” around here to see the cloud formations . . .
Artistry all around . . .

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