Saturday's Critters # 372

 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!

My left eye has been bothering me, I see floaties and streaks of light. So I decided to cut back on my computer time to rest my eyes. I hope my eye is back to normal soon.  I am sharing some of my back yard birds and critters.. I see lots of gray squirrels, they take over and can empty my bird feeders quickly.

1. Jan 17th , I heard the Blue Jays and other birds fussing outside my window.  I can see why they were upset,  this Red-shouldered Hawk was sitting in our backyard tree.

2. It flew off after I was able to take a few photos, I am sure I ruined this hawk's dining plans.  

In the news, recently an Eurasian Goldfinch has been seen at feeders hanging outside a Columbia Md nature store.  I would love to see this Eurasian Goldfinch but I am no longer chasing birds. Even if I went to see this bird, I am not sure if this could be considered a lifer? Most likely this Eurasian Goldfinch is an escapee, someone's pet?  I will share my pretty American Goldfinches seen at my feeder. 

 

3. Two American Goldfinches outside my window. 

4.  I am constantly battling the Gray Squirrels, I have given up. I think they eat more of my bird seed than my birds are able to eat.  

5.  At the feeders, a Downy Woodpecker in front, a Hairy Woodpecker in the middle and last is a Red-breasted Nuthatch.

6. Another look at the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers.  They look so similar. The Hairy Woodpecker is overall larger in size, the head and body is larger also the bill is thicker and longer.

7.  The squirrels just sit in the feeder and feast on the bird seed.  

 

 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.


Here is my linky:

 

 



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

 

Our World, My World

 Happy Monday!

I am continuing with some of my favorite National Park visits and archived photos.  Hubby and I are not traveling as of yet, we are waiting for the vaccine and to feel safe.  I feel like a LONG road trip is in our future, post Covid times of course! Mean time I have some virtual visits and memories of our country's beautiful National Parks. 

1. Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, hubby taking a break at the lake, I stayed behind and watched hubby climb the steps to the top, one of the many elk we saw in the park, a Grouse was seen next to the road.

2. Moose seen from the trail, a young moose was taking a drink from the river. 

3. This is a view of Alberta Falls, one of the most prominent waterfalls in Rocky Mtn NP.

4.  A herd of Elk in the Rocky National Park not far from the town of Estes Park Colorado. 

5.  Some of the Rocky Mountain NP birds seen during our visit, the Black-billed Magpie, Lincoln Sparrow, Pygmy Nuthatch, Barn Swallows, Mountain Bluebird and  Dusky Grouse. 

6.  Great Smoky Mtn NP Tennessee: Grotto Falls, Dark-eyed Junco, Autumn colors, Cades Cove horses, Wild Turkey, behind Grotto Falls, Autumn colors, deer, view of Cades Cove.

7.  Elk herd, Great Smoky Mtn NP

8.  Laurel Falls, Great Smoky Mtn NP Tennessee

9.   Black Bears were plentiful along the Roaring Fork Motor Trail in the Great Smokies. 

10.  Autumn colors in the Great Smokies, a beautiful sight. 

I think to myself, what a wonderful and beautiful world!  It is hard trying to pick out a few photos to share on this post, I have so many photos.  These are just a few favorites images from happy times traveling with my hubby.  

 Please keep wearing your mask and keep your distance!  Be safe, stay safe!

 

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 # 371

 Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Hello, 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 more of my recent yard birds, from Jan 11 and 12th.  I had a few Pine Siskins and a male Purple Finch. These two species have been randomly visiting within the last couple of months.  These are just some my winter birds. I also see maybe 3 of the Red-breasted Nuthatches and lots of Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows. 

 

 1. Below top are the Pine Siskin and bottom are the Northern Cardinal with 2 Pine Siskins.

 

 

2.  The Pine Siskin is close to 5 inches in size. It has a thin bill and a yellow streak on it's wings.

 

 

 

3. A closer look at the Purple Finch, it has a forked tail. It's head and back are a rich rose red or raspberry color.

 

 4. Top is the Carolina Wren, below is a Downy Woodpecker and a White-breasted Nuthatch and a Red-breasted Nuthatch.

 

 

5. A male Purple Finch

 

6.  A female Red-breasted Nuthatch, the head was moving causing a blurry look.

 

I hope you enjoyed these birds, I am always happy to watch my feeders and yard  birds. 

 

 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.


Here is my linky:

 

 

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

Our World, My World

Happy Monday, 

Our world and my world has not been normal for over a year now. It would be nice to have everything feel normal again.  This week, I am looking forward to having President Biden in office. I am hoping and praying for peaceful times in our country. We may not agree on politics, but we can be respectful and kind to everyone. My post this week is on some of my favorite national parks, since we have not traveled due to COVID these images are from my archives. 

One of my favorite parks is Yellowstone, the scenery and wildlife is just amazing.  The scenic drives in these parks, both Yellowstone and the Tetons in Wyoming are beautiful. 

Grand Prismatic, largest hot spring in Yellowstone. It is the third largest hot spring in the world.  

Various birds seen in the Yellowstone and Tetons National Parks.

Unidentified Hummingbird, Cinnamon Teal, Magpie,
Trumpeter Swan, Cedar Waxwing, Dusky Grouse,
female Mountain Bluebird, Osprey, White Pelican.

Yellowstone's Canyon...  "The best thing about memories is making them."

Glacier National Park in Montana, I am guessing the top left is the Swiftcurrent Lake, we stayed nearby, the Running Eagle Falls or also nicknamed Trick Falls. Lower left the Beargrass looked pretty and bottom right is near Logan Pass Visitor Center. 

Going to the Sun, a very scenic drive in Glacier National Park.   This park road was a hair-raising drive for me.  We saw some Mountain Goats crossing this road, definitely keep your eyes on the road while driving.  

A view of Glacier National Park in Montana. 

Scenic view of  the Grand Canyon National Park.  

"A good life is a collection of happy memories."

Grand Canyon and Colorado River

Arches National Park, the various rock formations all had names, if only I could remember them all.  The top left could be the Balance Rock.  I do remember the bottom left are the Three Sisters and the bottom right is the Landscape Arch. 

Arches NP, Landscape Arch is the longest stone span. It stretches 306 feet and is only 11 feet thick at it's center.

"Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints."

Arches NP, Balance Rock.  "We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

"Never let your memories be greater than your dreams."

We are looking forward to the days when we feel safe to travel and take some road trips. My dream is to visit all of our National Parks.  Our world is beautiful and our country has some of the greatest National Parks to visit.  These are just of few of the National Parks that hubby and I have visited. Some parks we visited twice, my favorites are Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon, Bryce and  Zion. 

Hubby and I continue to be happy and healthy, I hope everyone is doing well too. 

Wear your mask and keep your distance!   

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 #370

 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!

 

My post is on dogs and more dogs.  I have always been a dog lover, during our travels I tend to greet any dog I see on the trails. These are some of the dogs hubby and I have met in various places.  A few birds are included...

 

1.  A pretty Collie was seen on a beach near the Palm Coast,  during one of our many Florida trips. 

 

 2.  These two Golden Doodles loved my hubby.

 

 

3. I met this cute puppy while waiting for my hubby who was hiking up a mountain trail in Colorado. 

4. Sol Duc Falls in Washington, hubby sat on a bench and this dog walked over and practically sat in my hubby's lap.

5. This dog was waiting for it's human to return. 

 

 

 

6.  All the dogs we met have been very friendly and well behaved.

 

 

7. This was another cute puppy we met on the trails at Lake Parker Florida.

 

 

8. Some times we came across dogs meeting other dogs on the trail. This was one of our regular Florida walks, the trails at Lake Parker.
 

 

9. We also met a lot of birds on our walks, Lake Parker was a very "birdie" park.  Some times the birds were right on the trail. Below is the Roseate Spoonbill and a couple of Wood Storks standing on the bridge. We had to wait till they moved off.  

 

10.  This is Peaches, she was our neighbor's dog when we lived in Lakeland Florida.

 

 

 11.  This was a new sight for hubby and I to see on our bike trail. Apparently you can book a ride with this sled dog adventure. On this day it looked like a group of girl scouts were going to be going for the sled rides.

 

 

 

12. Maryland  Sled Dog Adventures on the NCR trail. These dogs looked and sounded so happy, very excited to start running.

 I didn't hear GO, I tried to get a shot of them taking off but I looked up from my camera they were down the trail already. The sled has wheels but when we have snow on the ground they use  a regular sled.

 

 

 

 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.


Here is my linky:

 

 

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

 

Our World, My World

 Happy Monday everyone!

I hope this will be a peaceful week in our country.  No more wild times in DC. People need to check the facts before they spread lies and conspiracies. No more chants yelling "fight" or "hang pence" or trying to hurt our elected officials. I do not condone violence of any kind,  I am sick to watch more and more videos of the Capitol Building being attacked on  Jan 6th. 

 Hubby and I are going on with our usual activities, nothing too exciting lately.. On the good days we are outside going for a walk and we do our food shopping and the usual chores. I like cooking, but do miss eating out at my favorite restaurants. Carry-out is ok but it is just not the same.

1.  Here are some photos from the past week, scenes from our walks. On Jan 9th we were walking on the NCR bike trail. It was a cold sunny morning, temps were in the high 20's or 30°.

 

2.   I noticed a flock of Eastern Bluebird eating berries from a bush along side the trail. 

 

 3.  Icicles were hanging from a rocky section next to the trail. 

 

 

 

4. A small waterfall seen off the NCR trail.

 

 

5.   Can you find Me and my shadow among the shadows of the trees.

 

 

 

When we arrived at the bike trail parking lot we noticed a group of girls ( maybe girl scouts)  wearing helmets greeting a pack of sled dogs.  The girls were going to go for a sled ride and the dogs were so excited.

I will share more photos of these sled dogs on a future Saturday Critter post.  Maryland's COVID positivity rate is still going up.  The rate when I made this post is 7.3%. A rate of 5% or below is considered a little more safe.

 

 Please keep wearing your mask and keep your distance! Take care, stay safe!

 

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!