Happy Thankful Thursday!

Hello everyone,

Can you believe we only have only more day left in the month of July?   These are some sky images from our most recent visit to the Blackwater Wildlife refuge in Maryland.  I hope you are not tired of seeing birds, because I took a lot of photos. Mostly birds, some shadow and  scenic shots.  


This is a peaceful Blackwater NWR scene. I love the clouds reflecting on the water and the line of trees in the distance.

 Hubby and I are always thankful to be able to getaway, even if it is only for a short time.  During these stressful Covid times, we needed a change of scenery.  I am always thankful for all thing nature related, nature is soothing for my mind.  They say nature sounds can relax your mind and ease stress.  



Me and my shadow at Blackwater NWR, Red-winged Blackbird, Blackwater wetlands, the Marsh lookout.

"The more grateful I am the more beauty I see." Mary Davis

 Is it a Five-lined Skink? Is it missing a tail? 

 We saw lots of Ospreys on the nest, this Osprey is busy taking care of 3 young. 

 The Bald Eagles were seen near and far, this one was on a pole that held the wildlife web camera.

 There was a Great Blue Heron rookery, I could hear the babies clicking and clacking..

 The Great Blue Heron looks very hot, cooling off with it's beak and wings open. 

 A Bald Eagle seen far off the wildlife drive. 

Keep your soul rooted in gratitude and your branches open to blessings." Mary Davis

The Osprey also known as the Fish Hawk, Sea Hawk or River Hawk. They live near open water that has an abundant supply of fish.

 Lone Gull, Blackwater reflection..

 I am thankful for the simple pleasures. I am guessing this is the  Pennant dragonfly. May we find joy in the small things.

Be Kind! Kindness changes the world, one heart at a time!!  Take care and stay safe! 


Live simple and be happy!  😊 Take care, keep smiling!


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


Thank you for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!!  😊

Our World, My World

 Hello, everyone!

I hope everyone is doing well, hanging in there and staying safe.
We are trying to enjoy doing our favorite things, like taking walks and for me bird watching. I think my hubby is able to identify more birds now, maybe my bird watching addiction hobby is contagious.  I am sharing some scenic and of course some bird photos from our recent visit to Blackwater NWR in Cambridge Maryland.  

These photos were all taken from my car window. 

Photos from the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge Maryland.  We saw Ospreys, Eastern Painted Turtle, Great Blue Herons, Swallows and the American Avocets.

The American Avocets, males with their orange or rusty colored head and curved bill.

 Great Egret, they are always nice to see. Very elegant and pretty!

A White-tailed Deer seen along side the drive. 

The Osprey nest were all over the place, we did see a few Bald Eagles too.

 Queen Anne's Lace and Trumpet Vine was seen along the side of the wildlife drive. 

Not sure if you can see it, but I stopped the car for a black rat snake in the road, it went off into the grass.  

Below are the Great Blue Heron, Eastern Kingbird, Osprey on nest and lower right are the Great Egret and another Great Blue Heron. 

I know I am repeating myself here, but we are still staying safe. Wearing our  mask and keeping our social distance.  Maryland is seeing a slight increase of positive cases. There will be no traveling out of the state, maybe it is for the best now. The COVID cases are going up even higher and faster in some states.  It seems like  COVID has no end.  My thanks and prayers for all the health care workers and essential workers still risking their health.  I hope everyone stays safe, happy and healthy.  




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!

Saturday's Critters #345

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!


Happy Saturday! Have a great weekend!


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!

Most days I am found watching my yard birds. I usually see a nice variety of birds in my yard.  On this day I watched a Carolina Wren, a House Wren and a Woodpecker spread out on the deck railing. 

 A Downy Woodpecker looks like a young one begging for food. It was spread out on the railing like it was airing out it's wings. 

 The House Wren seems to have taken over a few of my birdhouses, they chase away any bird that comes close. to "their" home. 

 The Carolina Wren stops by the feeders and deck for a snack. 

A Brown Thrasher made an appearance on this day, sat on the deck railing looking around..

We try to take early morning walks on the local fire road. We've had a streak of hot humid days, it is best to get out early. On this day I watched 3-4 Worm-eating Warblers. I managed to catch 2 of the Worm-eating Warblers in the same tree. The other 2 warblers kept moving around the same area. Their sound or song is one I have become familiar with over the years. They have black and buffy head stripes and they are a small bird 4 1/2 - 5 inches long.

Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful comments. If you like, stop back for any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post.


Here is  my linky:











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

Happy Thankful Thursday!

 Hello everyone,

Hubby and I decided once again to get out for a long car ride. A good part of our getaway was just being in the car, we were not around people at all. So we felt safe.  Our snacks and drinking water in the car, we had a nice time. 

 "Happiness is nature's beauty and tranquility."



It was a beautiful sky day, puffy white clouds here and there. We drove on the wildlife drive at Bombay Hook NWR, checking out the views and birds.

 The American Avocets are common birds seen at Bombay Hook NWR in the summer.

Three GB Herons,  actually there was a 4th Great Blue Heron standing off to the side.  A family of herons.

 The Great Egrets are a pretty sight to see. 

Three Mute Swans floating by.  

 The larger tern is the Caspian Tern, I am not sure about the smaller Tern. Maybe the Common Terns?

 The Killdeers are so cute, I love their big eyes. 

"Spending time in nature is healing energy." 

  You can almost always see the Egrets in the trees along the wildlife drive. 

"Life is full of give and take. Give thanks and take nothing for granted."

 It is great to see the Purple Martins doing so well..

"There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude, a quiet joy."

I am thankful to get out and enjoy nature and the great weather.

My reading has slowed down some, here are my latest books:

To Die But Once by Jacqueline Winspear is # 14 in the Maisie Dobbs series.

Currently reading, Little Girl Gone by Gerry Schmitt. It is the first in the Afton Tangler series who also writes the Tea Shop series in the name of Laura Childs.




I hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy! I am always thankful hubby and I are both well!



 
Live simple and be happy!  😊 Take care, keep smiling!


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,

As July marches on, I have been enjoying the flowers outside my windows on the deck and around our yard.  It has been hot and dry here, so we are having to water our plants often.  


 Some blooms around the yard, the Purple Coneflowers, Zinnias, Red Salvia, Lantana and Upright Fuchsia called Firecracker.

 The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are zipping around the yard, I am refilling my hummer feeders every other day. Can you find the 2 hummers below, the feeder is hanging near our butterfly bush?

 A few of my yard birds, the male Cardinal, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Sootywing Butterfly on Zinnia.

 The male Eastern Bluebird seen in his usual perch spot on the gutter above the birdhouse. I think the baby Bluebirds have fledged, they left without me even seeing one of their babies. 

Sometimes I would see both the male and female sitting on the gutter that is right above the birdhouse. I assume they were taking a break.. 

 The Common Sootywing is a black butterfly with speckled white spots on the wings. The Zinnia is looking pretty with lots of blooms.

I have seen a few different birds in my yard recently, I think this one was a juvenile Great Crested Flycatcher.

  We had one of our large pine trees just fall over in our yard, so it is a mess to clean up.  It fell on top of our blueberry bushes, a very sad sight to see.
 

"Today I will give thanks to all the things in my life that don't need fixing."  Mary Davis


In Maryland, we are still required to wear our mask in public areas and to keep the social distance.  The numbers of positive cases, deaths and hospitalizations are going down in Maryland.  The reopening of schools in Maryland maybe up to each community or county.  We are thankful for all the essential workers, especially the health care workers. I hope everyone takes care and is safe, happy and healthy.



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!

Saturday's Critters #344

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!


 Happy Saturday!


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 birds, seen either in my yard or seen close by.  The days are flying by, I am happy to see these sweet birds right from my dining room window.

A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird at the feeder.

 The male and female Bluebirds like sitting on our gutter, close to the bluebird house. If these 2 Bluebirds are not sitting on the gutter, the male is sitting in a near by tree, he keeps a watch on the birdhouse. 

 A Scarlet Tanager in a nearby tree top.

 I am pretty sure this is the Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly, it likes the Lantana blooms.

Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful comments. Stop back to see replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post. Wishing everyone a great weekend. 


Here is my linky :


 

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

Happy Thankful Thursday!!

Hello,

I have been posting a lot on our local fire road walks,  our lake  and of course the birds.  So between house chores, taking walks, reading and blogging my days go by quickly.  I can not complain, hubby and I are doing well, happy and virus-free. 

 

On July 6th, I was able to see the Buck Moon aligned in a triangle with Saturn and Jupiter.  

One day hubby and I took our walk at a park in the near by town of Hampstead.  This park is called Leister Park, I have blogged previously about our walks at this park.  There is  a nice paved walkway mostly in the clearing and a bit of the path goes through a wooded area. A pretty blue sky day, but it was hot and humid to be walking  especially in the sunny areas.

 Below are the: Northern Mockingbird, Flycatcher, guessing maybe Acadian Flycatcher. Bottom row are the Gray Catbird, American Robin and a Chipping Sparrow.

The park has a spot conserved, we saw a lot milkweed and other native plants.  The Monarchs should be happy here.  

I am thankful for the conservation land and the park land.  We need areas conserved as open space, fields for the wildlife, birds and native plants. 

"Conservation is humanity caring for the future."  Nancy Newhall

 We a few Northern Mockingbirds, most were sitting high in the tree tops. 

"The wildlife and it's habitat can not speak, so we must and we will."  Theodore Roosevelt 

 Heading to some shady area and the wooded part of the path.  This spot was good for watching the Swallows flying low over the field catching bugs.

 Someone or something was watching us, I could feel it. 
 We were not the only ones enjoying the shade, this park backs up to a cow farm..

There were cows standing up and laying down in the forest. 

 A long and winding path, it was nice to be in the shade. I heard some birds calling maybe a Scarlet Tanager and a few Catbirds.

People were going around the loop so fast, they were passing us a second time. Benches in the sunshine, a little too hot for me to sit in the sun.  

  

We were kind of just strolling, watching the birds, blooms and butterflies.

"Let your dreams blossom."  A big group of these yellow flowers,  they looked pretty.  I am thankful for the wildflowers and my early morning walks. 

"An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day." Henry David Thoreau

I am thankful for our library, I am able to borrow and download all these ebooks to read, I have a never ending supply of books.


My latest books:
Leader of the Pack by David Rosenfelt this is #10 in the Andy Carpenter series.
Criminal by Karen Slaughter is # 6 in the Will Trent series.
Journey to Munich by Jacqueline Winspear is # 12 in the Maisie Dobbs series.
In this Grave Hour by Jacqueline Winspear is # 13 in the Maisie Dobbs series. 


Live simple and be happy!  😊 Take care, keep smiling!


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!!