Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday everyone!

I wish everyone a great day and a happy new week!

"Photos are a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Saturday's Critters # 405

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Hello and 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!

We have been sticking close to home lately, more walks on the local fire roads and to the lake. Some images are from my backyard, birds and blooms. 

1. The Hummingbird loves our potted Hibiscus and the Upright Fuchsia plants, the bees and butterflies love the zinnias and buddleia. All these plants keep putting out blooms, adding color to our back yard all summer into fall.

2. I've been watching the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds visiting my feeder and the various plants. This female seems to have taken over the duty of protecting her feeder and flowers.  They have been chasing each other all around the yard. 

3. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are a common sight on our Buddleia Butterfly bushes.

4. There are times I can see 10 of the Fritillary Butterflies on our bushes.

5. I was able to catch two of these Skippers on the butterfly bush. 

6. Some birds and views of our Prettyboy Reservoir, Great Blue Heron, Carolina Wren, Belted Kingfisher, Canada Geese, possible Spotted Sandpiper and another Great Blue Heron. 

7. I know this is a bad photo of a Sandpiper, I watched it fly in and land across the cove from us. It foraged in the mud on the lake shore. A branch goes across hiding the front of it's head, I am guessing it is a Spotted Sandpiper. 

8. I've been seeing the Carolina Wren in the same spot on different days. A few times there were 2 Carolina Wrens, maybe a parent and juvenile? 

9. This is a view of the lake from the fire road trail, it has become one of my favorite local walks. I can see and hear so many different birds on this walk. The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is usually always heard but I have not been able to find it sitting in all these trees.

10.  More recently I have been seeing the fall warblers in my back yard, they seem to love the berries on the (Aralia spinosa)  Devil's Walking Stick . 

Below are the Cape May Warblers males and females, Northern Parula, Scarlet Tanager, Tennessee Warbler, another shot of a Cardinal with the Tennessee Warbler. 

The grand-dogs ( Nibbles and Winnie the Corgi)  were here on their doggie vacation.  While our son, DIL and grandson Wyatt all go to the beach for their vacation. 

So this is my critter post for this week, I am looking forward to seeing your Saturday Critter post.

I am also linking up to Anni's blog party found here I'd Rather B Birding   Anni always has some beautiful birds to be seen on her blog, check it out!

Here is my linky:

YOU are all # 1.

Thanks to all my visitors and for your comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post.

Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday everyone!

Wishing you all a happy day and a great new week! 

"Be Kind, we rise by lifting others." 

A break during the raft float trip on the Snake River, view of the Grand Tetons.

Snake River float trip, Wyoming.

"Photos are a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

Comments off, enjoy your day! 

Saturday's Critters # 404

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Hello and 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 continuing our little getaway on Aug 2-3rd, after leaving Bombay Hook NWR we drove to Blackwater NWR in Cambridge Md. We arrived in Blackwater NWR a little later in the day so we drove the wildlife drive once and had a quick early dinner at a local BBQ joint and then headed to our hotel for the night in Easton Md.

1. Various scenes from Blackwater NWR. The Blackwater River wetlands, trail walk, Osprey, Great Egret, Terns and a Great Blue Heron.

2. A scenic view of Blackwater NWR.

3. Ospreys on nest, one adult and two juveniles.

4. 2 juvenile and one adult Osprey on nest. One of the young osprey looked like it was talking to it's sibling. Maybe a meal was not being shared. 

5. Below are a group of terns, a little far away for a good photo.  I am going back and forth, are they Common Terns or the Forster's Terns.

6. A Great Blue Heron adjusting it's feathers. 

This is one of my shorter post with less photos. I will do another post on Blackwater at another time.  

I am also linking up to Anni's blog party found here I'd Rather B Birding   Anni always has some beautiful birds to be seen on her blog, check it out!

Here is my linky:

YOU are all # 1.

Thanks to all my visitors and for your comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post.

"Be Nice, judge less and love more."

Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday everyone,  Happy Labor Day! 

Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week! 

"Photos are a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

Watching ships lined up to go through the Panama Canal.

"If we could spread love as quickly as we spread hate and negativity, what an amazing world we would live in."

Comments Off, enjoy your day! 

Saturday's Critters # 403

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Hello and 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!

On Aug 2-3rd hubby and I managed a getaway to visit Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware and Blackwater NWR in Cambridge Md.  It was time to see some shorebirds before they headed south. 

Click on photos for larger viewing.

1. Some views of Bombay Hook NWR and the wildlife drive, one of ponds, Semipalmated Plovers and Black-necked Stilts.

2. We were happy to see the 4 Roseate Spoonbills that were being seen at Bombay Hook NWR. They were a distance from the wildlife drive and they were spaced too far apart to capture all 4 in one photo. I did mange to catch 3 of the Roseate Spoonbills along with a Mute Swan and some ducks. 

3. Below a popular gathering spot for the birds, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets and a possible Little Egret along with Laughing Gulls, Terns, Canada Geese and ducks. I am guessing tern with the bright orange beak is a Caspian Tern? 

4. Bombay Hook NWR is a great place to see the Black-necked Stilt.

5.  A Great Blue Heron and a Tricolored Heron on the top row and the bottom row is various shorebirds, Egrets, Canada Geese and ducks on the left and on the right are the Roseate Spoonbills with some Mute Swans. 

6. We watched the Canada Geese taking off a few times, they flew by our car. 

7. So far away, in the background are the 4 Rosate Spoonbills, their pink color stands out a little. In the foreground are Mallards, Canada Geese and some Egrets. 

8. I am guessing at all the birds top line below, unknown juvenile Tern, Yellowlegs and 2 Dowitchers. Not the best photo for id's, Lesser or Greater, Short-billed or Long-billed. Bottom row are 2 Semipalmated Plovers and 3 Wood Ducks. 

9. A family of Black-necked Stilts with one Glossy Ibis..

10. One of the many Great Blue Heron's seen along the wildlife drive. 

11. The Tricolored Heron taking a break from it's foraging for food.

12.  A few Wood Ducks seen below. 

The Roseate Spoonbills are showing up all over the place now, there are being seen in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania and some other states. Other birds usually seen in Florida are showing up here too, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, a Wood Stork and a Limpkin in Maryland. Are these birds on the move looking for food?  The reason for their appearance, I do not know. After two loops around the wildlife drive we left Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware and headed to Blackwater NWR in Cambridge Md. We spent the night in a nearby Easton Md hotel, so we could do the Blackwater NWR wildlife drive early in the morning. I will make another post on my sightings at the Blackwater NWR. 

I am also linking up to Anni's blog party found here I'd Rather B Birding   Anni always has some beautiful birds to be seen on her blog, check it out!

Here is my linky:

YOU are all # 1.

Thanks to all my visitors and for your comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post.

Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday everyone!

Wishing you all a great day and a happy new week!

"Photos are a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

Moose seen Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Comments Off!  Enjoy your day!

Saturday's Critters # 402

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Hello and 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 the critters seen in my Prettyboy neighborhood and my back yard.  These photos were taken on various days from around July 16th through August 7th. 

1. We enjoy seeing the deer walking around our yard, this mama deer and her baby visited our yard often in the morning and again later in the day.

2. Hubby and I are taking our morning walks to the reservoir . The walks lately are early in the morning before the hottest part of the day. The photos below are take on July 16 and July 27th. We saw the Great Blue Heron both days, unknown ducks flying away, a large snapping turtle, a Belted Kingfisher, another Heron and a Carolina Wren. 

3. A closer look at the female Belted Kingfisher. She has the rufous belly band unlike the adult male.

4. In my backyard, I am seeing 5-6 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a bullfrog hanging out near our little pond, Monarch Butterfly, Clear-wing Hummingbird Moth, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies, Eastern Bluebird with insect, waterlily and a rabbit near our pond.

5. The male Eastern Bluebird, caught an insect to take to his babies in the birdhouse. 

6. Monarch Butterfly with a Clear-wing Hummingbird Moth. 

7. The male Ruby-throated Hummingbird sits close to the feeder. 

8. The Bull frog sits on a rock at the little pond. 

9.  On this day, a Rabbit was sitting close the our little pond. 

I hope you enjoyed these photos and the wildlife seen in my backyard and around my neighborhood. 

I am also linking up to Anni's blog party found here I'd Rather B Birding   Anni always has some beautiful birds to be seen on her blog, check it out!

Here is my linky:

YOU are all # 1.

Thanks to all my visitors and for your comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post. 

Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week!

Kirkjufellsfoss waterfalls and Mt Kirkjufell. 

Comments off! Enjoy your day! 

Saturday's Critters # 401

 Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Hello and 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!

July 5-6 , for a short getaway and to see some different scenery we went to Shenandoah National Park. We spent the night in Harrisonburg Va , drove the Skyline Drive both days. We hiked on the Limberlost Trail and the Big Meadows. 

Click on photos for larger viewing. 

1. Various images from our Skyline Drive, the hike on Limberlost and Big Meadows, various wildflowers and scenic views. 

2. A skywatch and view from one of the many scenic overlooks on the Skyline Drive. 

4. White-tailed Deer crossing the Skyline Drive. 

5. Another look at the Deer, I enjoy seeing all wildlife. 

6. A Dark-eyed Junco was seen on the Big Meadows camp store parking lot. 

7. Some of the birds we saw on our Shenandoah visit and hikes, A Wood Thrush, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco, Downy Woodpecker, White-tailed Deer, American Robin, Indigo Bunting and am American Redstart.

8. A larger image of the Wood Thrush

8. This was my first time seeing a snail in a shell. 

9. American Redstart, possible Viceroy butterfly, wildflowers, Indigo Bunting. 

10.

An adult Chipping Sparrow with what looks like a juvenile Chipping Sparrow.

11.  A closer look at the Indigo Bunting.

Shenandoah NP is one of our favorite places to visit, we try to visit as often as we can.  I hope you enjoyed going along on our little getaway and my photos. 

I am also linking up to Anni's blog party found here I'd Rather B Birding   Anni always has some beautiful birds to be seen on her blog, check it out!

Here is my linky:

YOU are all # 1.

Thanks to all my visitors and for your comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post.