Around the Yard, April 2019

Hello, Happy Monday! 

I am sharing some blooms and birds from our yard. Spring has really sprung, blossoms and plants are blooming. As of April 22nd I am still seeing a mix of winter and spring birds.  The Great Blue Herons nesting nearby are always a treat to watch. I am happy to see my hummingbirds back in the yard and nesting nearby. 

The Ruby-throated Hummingbird sitting in the tree watching a squirrel above him. 

Blooms and blossoms around the yard. The Redbud tree is looking beautiful. I love the Bleeding Heart plant.

Some of my yard birds: The Pine Siskin, American Goldfinch, Purple Finch and White-breasted Nuthatch. Not in the photos but I am seeing the Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-throated Sparrows and even a Dark-eyed Junco both winter birds for me. They must like my yard. 

A squirrel high in the tree eating seeds or something?

A pretty sky day, love the puffy white clouds and the redbud tree.

I can watch the Great Blue Herons nest from my kitchen window, our deck and driveway. 

I have a pair of Pine Warblers that visit my feeders daily. 

Thanks for your visit today!  I hope you enjoyed my post and photos.


Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi  the host of Our World Tuesday!

Check out the links above, I hope to see you there. Thanks to the hosts today. Enjoy your day and new week.


As always I thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

Saturday's Critters #280

Welcome to Saturday's Critters !


If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

The Northern Flicker posed nicely for me. 

Two Purple Finches on my sunflower seed feeder. 

A Purple Finch and in the background the Pine Siskin. April 16th I was still seeing 4-5 Pine Siskins at my feeders. 

I've been hearing the Eastern Phoebe before I finally saw in my yard. I have not seen one yet but I have also heard the Wood Thrush singing in the forest next to our home.  They have a lovely song. 

I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments !









Here is a list of my linky parties;

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

I have been happy watching my yard birds, recently I have had a lot of Purple Finches at my feeders. The male is a pretty raspberry color. 

I have been seeing more American Goldfinches lately. I sweep the dropped seeds on my deck into a pile and the birds and squirrels  just eat it up. 

I am thankful to see my Hummingbirds return for the season.  April 19th it seems they returned earlier this year? 

This is my view of the Great Blue herons from my kitchen window.  I counted 6 herons in one tree. There are more herons and nest in different trees.

April's Full Pink Moon.

Great Blue Heron walking on the branch.

April Pink Moon

Did you know (copied from google)
Expressing appreciation and being thankful can reduce depression, lower blood pressure, increase energy and happiness, and even prolong your life! Gratitude also increases the feel-good neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin and helps you deflect those negative thoughts.  This sounds good to me! 


Just a few things I am thankful for: a new book, a pretty sunrise/sunset, the kindness of strangers, memories of our trips, visiting new places. I could go on and on. 


I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


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



Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

Our World, My World

Happy Monday Everyone!

Happy Earth Day!  Time to get outside and take a walk!


Hubby and I have a lot of options for our walks. This fire road trail is close to our place and we do not have to drive anywhere. It is a 2 mile round trip walk from our house.  We have views of the lake and some tall pine trees. We pass by the opposite side of the Great Blue Heron's nest, the same nest I see from our house and yard. 

 We saw a flock of Purple Finches during our walk, they have a sweet sound. 

The Purple Finches stayed high in the tree, it was hard trying to get a good photo with branches in the way.

A flock of mixed finches were in the trees above the fire road, this was a Goldfinch.

I love these pine trees.

There is NO Planet B.  Take care of our Earth!

A view of the lake, pine trees along the fire road, a few nest high in the trees and a Turtle. Recently blogger John from John's island  asked me if our lake had a name. The name of our lake/reservoir is  Prettyboy, it is one of 3 reservoirs that hold drinking water for Baltimore City.  We are at the top part of the lake and there is a dam at the lower section. I have blogged many times about our walks around our Prettyboy lake and at the dam.

A view of the lake, there is a turtle on a log and a fisherman nearby. 

We have another view of these Heron's nest from our house but this view was from the nearby fire road. There are two nest below one nest looks very small is is still being worked on and then there is one right below which is more substantial in size. 

This nest is in a bare tree, I worried when I could see the nest and tree swaying back and forth on a windy day. 

Thanks for your visit today!  I hope you enjoyed my post and photos.


Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi  the host of Our World Tuesday!

Check out the links above, I hope to see you there. Thanks to the hosts today. Enjoy your day and new week.


As always I thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

Happy Easter

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter!

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Saturday's Critters #279

Welcome to Saturday's Critters !

Happy Easter Everyone! 

If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

Except for local walks on the fire roads and my backyard I have not been anywhere to see critters. So I am sharing some of my back yard birds and some herons from the nearby nest and a new born foal in the neighborhood.

A female Downy Woodpecker.

The Dark-eyed Juncos are still here, they are a winter visitor for my area.

The Chipping Sparrow is a Spring/Summer bird for my area.

A neighborhood farm has a few horses and this momma has a new foal. Very cute!

A Great Blue Heron on a nest, I can see this nest from our kitchen window.

These two herons were having an argument, I can watch them from our house and deck. 

When the leaves are back on the trees my views of the herons nest will be gone. The heron flying away lost the argument. 

The Easter Bunny came to visit my yard. 

I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments !






Here is a list of my linky parties;

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Hubby and I enjoyed some of our nice weather lately by going on a walk to see the Bald Eagle nest at our lake.  We had a pretty sky day, mostly blue sky, some clouds here and there. 

We were able to see the white head of the adult eagle on the nest. Not sure if the eggs have hatched yet. 

We could hear some Canada Geese in the distance and was able to find a Belted Kingfisher flying back and forth along the lake's edge. The kingfisher was across the lake, too far for a clear photo.  I still like to document my sightings, this was my first sighting of the kingfisher this season. 

The budding trees remind me of fall with the pretty red colored buds. 

I am thankful the for good spring weather and a nice walk.
I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


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



Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

Our World, My World

Happy Monday everyone!

Spring has sprung in my neighborhood and yard. Our first blooms to see are the daffodils. We are seeing lots of new buds on the trees and our forsythia is about to bloom. 

I was thankful for my hubby doing some spring cleaning in the yard and pond. The frogs will be happy that the leaves were removed. Living next to the forest, we have way too many leaves in our yard. I saw about 5-6 frogs in our little pond. One day I saw the frog eggs floating on top of the pond.

The Carolina Chickadee has a nest in our side yard, they were fussing at me one day when I walked past to get our mail. 

The Great Blue Herons are adding to their nest, I guess to make it sturdier! 

Thanks for your visit today!  I hope you enjoyed my post and photos.


Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi  the host of Our World Tuesday!

Check out the links above, I hope to see you there. Thanks to the hosts today. Enjoy your day and new week.


As always I thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

Saturday's Critters #278

Welcome to Saturday's Critters !


If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!


I am sharing some of my yard birds, I have been seeing some of my spring/summer birds arriving. I still see some of the winter birds hanging out too. Overall I am very happy with the birds I see in my yard. Also, we are seeing the Great Blue Herons on their nearby nest. One nest I can actually see from my kitchen window. Here are the photos, I hope you enjoy! 

Photos taken April 2nd -4th. The Northern Flicker is a daily visitor.

The Great Blue Herons on their nest in our neighborhood.

Below: Top row the Red-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Chickadee, female Pine Warbler. Second row: Pine Siskin, Tufted Titmouse & Goldfinch and Northern Flicker. Third row: Another Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-bellied woodpecker and female Purple Finches.

Below are the Chipping sparrow, Purple Finches, Downy Woodpecker, Pine Warbler, Goldfinches, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Goldfinch and Pine Siskin.

A Purple Finch couple!

The Blue Jays love the peanuts.

Pine Siskins, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pine Warbler, Brown Thrasher and another Pine Siskin.

Brown Thrasher, squirrel hanging on feeder.

Brown Thrasher, a beautiful bird. I love their eyes.

Dark-eyed Junco, Goldfinch and Pine Siskins.

I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments !







Here is a list of my linky parties;

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!