Monday, May 25, 2020

Our World, My World

Happy Monday everyone,

 Happy Memorial Day!

 Remember and Honor! 

I wanted to thank all our military, veterans and heroes who serve and or died protecting our country.  I also want to thank all the front line workers who are serving us during this pandemic, they are heroes too. This Memorial Day weekend is unlike any other I have experienced.

 I am always happy to take a walk in our nearby forest on the fire roads. These are some photos and the birds I saw on a recent walk.

Below in the mosaic top row on left is the Worm-eating Warbler, top right is an Ovenbird. Lower left the Ovenbird again and a Pink Lady Slipper is the wild orchid growing near the fire road.





 Below the Worm-eating Warbler is seen on some hilly section along side the fire road, they have a strange sound. They have a striped "buffy" head. This Warbler is a breeder in my area, I am thankful to see them in the nearby forest. You can hear them at this link Bird-sounds.net_Worm-eating-warbler




 The Ovenbird below is one of the loudest birds in the forest. I can hear them from my yard.


It is hard taking photos of the birds sitting in high in the trees, my neck hurts just looking up at them.


A view of our local fire road trail, a small creek runs into the lake in this spot.





 I am thankful to still see some of the Great Blue Herons in our local heron rookery.  I was starting to think they all were gone.  These photos were taken from the nearby fire road. I can hear them making their clacking noises from my deck. They can be loud but it is such a happy sound!







One more time sharing the Pink Lady Slipper orchid are beautiful to see and find along our fire roads. Hopefully no one pick this pretty and somewhat rare and wild orchid.



Maryland road to recovery from Covid-19. Maryland has had close to 47,000 positive Covid 19 cases and 2,277 deaths.  We are currently at Phase one, some counties and cites are opening and some are still closed. It depends on if there are more new cases each day.  My county is open, small businesses, retail and salons are open using the safety precautions and no large gatherings are allowed..


What's happening in your corner of the world? Please check out and visit the following memes and links. I hope to see you there.


 
Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday



Thanks to LadyFi  the host of Our World Tuesday!


Thanks for visiting and commenting, have a happy day and a great new week!

113 comments:

  1. Hello Eileen,
    I told you the Blue Herons come back when it gets hot! You really should listen to an old grandma! LOL
    The Pink Lady Slipper orchid is so gorgeous!
    Enjoy your day and have a nice week!

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    1. Hello Ella, some never left their nest. I am happy to be able to see them. Thank you and I wish you a happy day!

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  2. Those herons look mighty and powerful! Love them so much! I hope I can see herons someday :)

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  3. I think for us being able to get out and about after being in lockdown for 5 weeks has made everyone appreciate our surroundings more than we did before, it's a good thing.

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    1. Yes Amy, I do appreciate all the nature in my area! Thanks, enjoy your day!

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  4. Hello Eileen,
    Nice pictures of the funny birds.
    And what a special flower you have found at the last picture. Wonderful.

    I wish you all the best!!
    Greetings, Marco

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  5. Hari OM
    To spot the orchid is a true bonus! The sun has come out here and this morning the birds are enjoying that. I can hear robin, blackbird, great tit and wood pigeon. Hear them, mind. Not a single one to be seen!!! YAM xx

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    1. Hello Yam, I do enjoy finding these orchids in our neighborhood. We are lucky! Thank you, enjoy your day!

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  6. Belas tuas fotos! Desejo ótima semana! bjs, chica

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    1. Chica, you visit is much appreciated! Thank you, enjoy your day!

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  7. Ovenbird is a delightful little warbler, but that's a bit of an oxymoron isn't it? They all are. Worm-eating Warbler is very rare here, and I have never seen it in Ontario. In fact in my entire life I have seen it but three times, once in Texas and twice in Costa Rica. Enjoy the week ahead,

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    1. Thanks David, I do enjoy all the birds in my area! Enjoy your day!

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  8. you can watch the news about what is going on in the new normal open Florida. over stuffed pools and beaches. i am staying home and doing the same thing i have done for 10 weeks now.
    that lady slipper is awesome. love the photo. I love macor photography like you love birds. the worm eater sounds as cute as he looks.

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    1. Thanks Sandra! We like trying to visit the uncrowded places for our walks. Except for our walking and food store was have been in 8-9 weeks now. Take care, enjoy your day!

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  9. ...the Pink Lady Slipper is my favorite, take care and enjoy your day!

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    1. Thank you Tom! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

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  10. The Pink ladyslipper is stunning! And I love that Ovenbird and the Warbler. There are so many different Warblers that I have trouble IDing them. Our state has opened quite a bit but I hope people will be careful and take precautions. It's still a scary time. Hugs!

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    1. Hello,

      The warblers can be difficult to id, I do not know them all. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

      Delete
  11. Hello Eileen,
    Beautiful photos and collages of your walk.
    You live in a beautiful area.
    The schools have started here and the catering industry will be open again on 1 June.
    Here are 5,822 people died and 45,236 people were tested postively for covid-19.
    Fortunately we are still healthy and so is my family.
    Best regards Irma

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    1. Thank you Irma! I know our country as a whole has the most deaths anywhere in the world, it is very sad.
      Thanks you for the visit and comment. Take care and have a great week!

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  12. Happy Memorial Day to you too! It's a glorious day here!

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    1. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

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  13. I read this more than an hour ago. I finally decided I had to go check my lady slippers out! Sure enough, just 2, but two indeed! Thanks for the reminder!

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    1. Thanks Jenn! I am glad you found your lady slippers! Have a great day and happy new week!

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  14. A nice series of shots! The oven bird is cute.

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    1. Hello Karen, thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

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  15. We owe a great debt to the sacrifices of others. Now that many parts of the world are opening up in varying degrees, I think the essential workers we are thanking would prefer we proceed with great caution and respect for each other’s spaces. I am thankful to those who put in the effort and puzzled by the selfish who do not.

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    1. Yes, I wish more people would take the precautions, keep their distance and wear the face mask. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

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  16. That scene with the new green of spring is my happy place!

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    1. Thanks Marie! Spring time is my happy time! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

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  17. I'm going to sneak in a comment...I read your blog daily, but sometimes there are so many comments! Anyway, thanks for sharing your beautiful nature photos. Yes, Lady-Slippers should be left to be enjoyed by others! I'm hunkered down staying in quarantine, but our little town has gone against the county's recommendation for mask wearing in commercial establishments...thus nobody is masked at all. I can't go to any of those places of course, but they think that will provide better incomes for businesses. I wonder what they'll do when all those people get sick. So sad.

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    1. Hello Barbara, thanks for the comment, it is always nice to see you visit here. I think we are safer if we wear the mask in public, especially indoors. We do not have restaurants open for indoor eating, only carry-out. I wish more people would be nice and think of others. Take care and have a great week!

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  18. What a lovely place to walk and such divine nature photography ~ take care of your neck ~ ^_^

    Be Safe, Be Well,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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    1. Thank you Carol! T Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

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  19. Washington State has a mix of phase 1 and 2 counties. While ours doesn't have large numbers we are just over what is needed to move to phase 2 on June 1. I fear that may spark more protests which are bad in their own right. It won't change what we do if restrictions are eased, but some people take it too far and endanger the rest of us. - Margy

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    1. Hello Margy, I think some of these protestors are taking it too far. I think it is best to be safe than sorry or sick with the virus. Stay safe and take care! Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

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  20. oh that sweet little ovenbird, singing it's heart out. what a beautiful image!! the lady slippers are so pretty!! happy memorial day, have a great new week!!!

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  21. Beautiful photos, I love the heron. The trail looks like a nice place to walk on.
    Enjoy your day!

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    1. Thank you Bill! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

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  22. I'm glad that the herons are there again! Stay safe. I'm still trying to self isolate unless I really need groceries.

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    1. Hello,
      Thank you for the comment. I hope you stay healthy and safe! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

      Delete
  23. I didn't realise that you too have the Lady Slipper orchid. "FOR A FEW WEEKS EACH spring, a lone guard monitors the moors of northern England. This warden pitches a tent in a remote field to watch over a prize so rare that collectors have been known to break laws, trek into deep jungles, and risk capture by guerillas in its pursuit. The object? A single lady’s slipper orchid, Cypripedium calceolus—the last wild plant of its kind left in the United Kingdom."

    I saw it once Eileen but I think thaat with journalistic licence, there's probably more than one.

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    1. Hello, Phil

      We are lucky to see these orchids blooms so close to home. I was sick to find that someone did dig up one near Mother's Day. The blooms do not last long, I am glad we know where to look for them. I will never tell anyone exactly where we find them. Thanks for the comment. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

      Delete
  24. Our early total lockdown must have saved so many lives. 21 deaths, the border closed, compulsory quarantine for anyone flying in, 14 days in a hotel with security people making sure that the people there did actually stay there, , meals provided, government paying for it all, and then providing secure transport to their residence. We can now have more at a funeral or gathering, restaurants are open again, but I am still very careful when I venture out. LOVE those magnificent herons up so high. Super photos and the walk way looks so enticing. I miss our property that had privacy and all the trees to walk through.

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    1. Hello Jean, I am glad to hear NZ has been so good at handling this virus. Our government seems to be the opposite, they say more than actually doing more. I would not want to travel during these times, too risky. Thanks for the visit and comment. Stay safe and healthy! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

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  25. I am so glad you are still seeing some of the herons and hearing them. I would be quite content to hear them from my house. I have not seen one at the strip pits in a while...though I have seen one hear and there elsewhere. Makes me wonder if it is because they nest elsewhere.

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    1. Thanks Rose! The herons surprisingly can hide well in the tree tops. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!

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  26. I'm glad you're getting back out in the woods - lovely photos. Happy Memorial Day!

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  27. Helli Eileen,
    Beautiful photos. I hope the rare Lady Slipper Orchis stays in the wood. They grow in the woids here too. They are so rare and pretty.
    Have a nice Veteran day!

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    1. Thank you Marit! Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  28. Wonderful to take another walk on your fire road, Eileen. You always find something new and exciting to share with us! I love the pink lady slipper. When I was a child, the forest near my home was full of them. Even then, my Mother wouldn't let us pick them. I haven't seen a heron in a while, so nice that they are nesting nearby. They really are like little pterodactyls! The only reason I can spell that is because my grandson has dinosaur magnets on my fridge. Haha! We are just now opening up a bit here in WA state. Most people here are taking proper precautions and wearing masks, etc. We are still seeing an uptick in cases, although the numbers have stayed low. We are staying home except for essentials. Stay safe, take care and Happy Memorial Day! x Karen

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    1. Hello Karen, I wold probably have to look up that spelling of Pterodactyls. :)
      Most people around here are wearing their face mask and keeping the social distancing. Take care and stay safe. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  29. Magnificent photography ~ and great tribute for Memorial Day ~

    Be Safe, Be Well,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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    1. Thank you Carol! Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  30. The fire road looks like such an inviting place to go walking. I'd sure enjoy a walk along there.
    Beautiful photos.

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    1. Thanks Karen! The fire roads are nice for walking! Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  31. I love to hear the warbles in spring. They at their best when they arrive here in the spring.

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    1. Thank you Red! Take care and have a great week!

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  32. It is nice that you have such a pretty place to take a walk. I haven't seen our neighborhood blue heron for a couple of weeks. I'll have to listen for their sound. I hope you have a great week.

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    1. Hello Heather! Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  33. Hi Eileen, I hope your community is doing their best to stay safe here I just don't see it, Im trying to stay safe, but if you go out at all with the restrictions lifted people come right up to you! Hard to avoid them. I was on the road by myself looking for birds before you know it I was joined by 3 others I had left my safety gear in my van because I was alone...but then..ok I just can't see the worm eating warbler in the photos...Lovely shots of the Ovenbird and the Pink Lady Slipper...so lovely!! Im watching this fellow on Youtube he walked across America on the American Discovery Trail, he came right thru MD, on the C and O Towpath Trail, are you familiar with it? Really nice. Have a great week!!

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    1. Hello Sondra,
      Yes, hubby and I have hiked on various sections of the C&O Canal trail. It is pretty along the river and towpath. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  34. That lady slipper is beautiful. I had bought a few Lady Slipper orchids when we lived in Florida, but I never had any luck keeping them alive.

    We are still in the red phase here. Only essential businesses may be open, but it's pretty strange what the governor deems essential ---- vaping shops????? We may go to yellow on June 6, but that really won't change much. Still won't be able to get a haircut or eat IN a restaurant.

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    1. Thanks Dee! I do enjoy just seeing these lady slippers growing wild. I can not imagine why vaping shops would be essential. We only have carry-out available here too. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  35. Eileen - I can relate to your comment about your neck hurting. We went on a hike today, and as I am learning more bird songs, I have a better idea of what to look for and where - but it's almost always up! Lovely selection of birds, and that orchid is spectacular! Thanks for linking up to Mosaic Monday on this special day.

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    1. Hello Angie! Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

      Delete
  36. Hello, Hope you are doing well.
    Beautiful post. Loved all clicks.
    Happy Memorial Day _()_

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    1. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  37. Really loving the pink lady slipper. Don't think I've seen one in person. Happy Memorial Day.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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    1. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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    1. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  39. lovely mosaics images Eileen. Love to see the herons in the treetop. And the pink Lady is something I would love to see. :)
    Take care!

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    1. Hello, I was so happy to see the herons again. Some have left, not sure why. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  40. I agree...bird pictures are tough! I've been trying, and everytime I do...I'm wishing for a 600mm lens--which I don't think will ever be in the budget!!! Thanks for letting me walk along with you.

    http://stephanieyoung.zenfolio.com

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    1. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  41. One precious moment you have shot the camera at the blue heron. Very beautiful picture, Eileen.

    I was shocked to read the statistical data in Maryland that many victims of the corona epidemic. Oh, you and your family should temporarily be more active in the house first.
    Always take care of your health.

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    1. Hello, The data is finally showing our cases are going down. Which is good news. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  42. LOVE the pink Lady Slipper - brings back so many memories of VT to me. The worm eating warbler has an interesting pattern on it.

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  43. Hello Vera, I do love seeing all the wild flowers, especially the lady slipper! Thank you for the comment. Enjoy your day, have a great week ahead.

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  44. it is a slow go around here ... we have gone to a few places. my husband has done the shopping. i don't like the mask wearing, but i have gone out a few times, i don't feel comfortable with it, but i try to relax, different is just weird. i think that is the odd part. i love the lady slipper, never seen one myself ...but i keep looking. i am hoping one day?? i hope things will go smoothly til we are more normal?? we will see. gorgeous birds. ( ;

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  45. Thank you, Eileen, for sharing the beauty of your fire road walk! Love that lady slipper.

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  46. The lady slipper is great! And as always your birds (I could look up into the trees until my neck froze and never get such good photos!). ... our county here in Oregon is at about the same place yours is ... opening in the stare was on a county by county basis. But I’m sure that people from still closed counties traveled to our parks and beach this past long weekend (though they were asked not to, there was no way to check.). So I’m wondering what might happen there. We stayed home.

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  47. Herons way up in the tree tops always amaze me.
    Our parks are opening up now but the trails are far from clear. We had numerous storms since all the COVID started and lots of limbs are down.
    Be careful while out and about
    Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade

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    1. Hello Dawn, sorry to hear about your tree coming down, the storms sound bad! Thanks for the visit and comment. Enjoy your day!

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  48. The lady's slipper is so pretty. I'm glad you still have your herons. I saw two today and was thrilled!

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    1. Hello Jeanie, Your two herons may have a nest near by too. Thanks for the visit and comment. Enjoy your day!

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  49. Wonderful photographs you've shared, the Pink Lady Slipper is just beautiful.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Jan, thanks for the visit and comment. Enjoy your day!

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  50. Hi Eileen! Thank you for the bird song link! I enjoyed listening to the worm eater warbler and a few of the other birds on that site. I'm going tom send the Mountain Chickadee sound bite to my older granddaughter as she loves the sound they make.
    Much is open in Colorado but I'm still staying home most of the time. We do food shopping but wear a mask and thankfully most of the other people do too. We were supposed to travel to Italy in JUne and sadly had to cancel that trip until the future. Stay well!

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    1. Thanks Pat! I hope you and your family stay healthy and safe! Enjoy your day!

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  51. Sweet little Ovenbird. Don't think I have heard of that one before. Like the Lady slipper Orchid. I found a different flower in our pasture last year and it is a type of orchid. It is coming back this year---I hope to get a picture of it.
    Enjoy your week
    MB

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    1. Hello MB, I will look forward to seeing your wildflower. Thanks for the visit and comment. Enjoy your day!

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  52. Glad you can still hear the happy sound from the herons! Fun to see that ovenbird.

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    1. Hello Ellen, yes I do enjoy hearing the sounds coming from the heron's nest. Thanks for the visit and comment. Enjoy your day!

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  53. That orchids is beautiful! I've only seen an ovenbird once. (Y'wonder how it got its name?)

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    1. Annie, I had to look that up, the name Ovenbird is in reference to this bird's nest. It is shaped like a domed structure having an entrance like an oven. Thanks for the visit and comment. Enjoy your day!

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  54. Lovely photos! I'm currently reading a book about bird migration (which I'll review on my blog in due course). it focuses on the Americas so I'm learning lots about your birds, including the odd fact that worm eating warblers don't actually eat worms! Is that really true?

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    1. Hello Juliet, yes it seems is true, they eat other insects and caterpillars but not the earth worms. Thanks for the comment. Have a happy day and week ahead.

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  55. Solidarizo-me na sua homenagem, Eileen, a todos os verdadeiros heróis que defenderam e defendem o seu país!... e com o Twitter... que passou a assinalar as notícias falsas de Donald!... :-)
    O mundo precisa de saber, sobre as poucas verdades, que esse homem divulga, no seu meio favorito de comunicação!...
    Grata por mais uma publicação fascinante, em que nos mostra tantas belezas encontradas, nos seus caminhos, Eileen...
    Amanhã virei, com tempo, para ver o que mais recentemente se me escapou por aqui!
    Aqui em Portugal... estamos lentamente a abrir a economia... apenas receio, quando as ligações aéreas forem retomadas em pleno... daqui a mais um mês, talvez...
    Beijinhos! Boa semana! E até amanhã!...
    Ana

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    1. Thank You Ana! I am happy to hear your area is slowly opening too, Take care and stay safe. Enjoy your day and the week ahead.

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  56. Hi Eileen,
    A privilege to live in a beautiful place like this.
    The birds and their songs are wonderful.
    The pink lady orchid is charming!
    Portugal, a small country, is in the process of becoming unfinished.
    You can go for a walk and stroll along the seafront, as well as go to the beach.
    Shops are open, restaurants and pastry shops.
    Churches and daycare centers will start to open in early June. It's not bad.
    (But always wearing a mask and keeping respect for the prescribed spaces).
    Hugs and take care.
    Ailime

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    1. Thank you Ailime! I try to comment on your blog and I get a virus warning? Take care! Enjoy your day and the week ahead.

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  57. Greetings from the Little Wren in the land of orchids - just stopping by to admire your birds and orchid (much more fancier than around here!) Wishing you a happy day! All good here in Bangkok things are easing. xx

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    1. Hello Wren,
      I am glad all is well there. Thanks for the visit and comment! Wishing you a happy day!

      Delete
  58. Hello Eileen,
    the little wild orchid is a treasure.
    In Italy we are in phase two, hoping things start getting better...
    All the best to you!

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    1. Hello, it is great hearing that things are getting better. Thank you for the comment! Wishing you a happy day!

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  59. Thank you! Wishing you a happy day!

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Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

BTW, Anonymous comments unless a name is included will not be published. Also, comments with links will be deleted.

Have a happy day, Eileen

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