Saturday, December 2, 2023

Saturday's Critters # 520

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!


Oct 10th, we are on our little getaway to Chincoteague Island NWR in Virginia. It is one of my favorite places to visit. We love the beach, all the birds and the Chincoteague ponies. We started the day with the sunrise at the beach and ended the day with the sunset over Tom's Cove. 


Click on images for larger views.


1. A beautiful sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean and Chincoteague Island NWR. 






2. Some photos taken from the car on the way to the beach, we saw a few Great Blue Herons, Double-crested Cormorant and a Belted Kingfisher. 





3. Along the same road was a juvenile Little Blue Heron, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets and White Ibis. 





4. The Chincoteague ponies are a highlight of this trip for me. 





5. The Great Egrets were looking beautiful. 





6. We saw large groups of Sanderlings on the beach. 





7. Below are Chincoteague Scenes, the Assateague Island Lighthouse, Tom's Cove visitor center and boardwalk trail, American Oystercatcher.





8. I found a few butterflies, while walking on the Tom's cove trail, we saw a few Monarchs and the Common Buckeye. 






9. Below are some of the birds seen along the wildlife drive, I was expecting to see more birds along this drive. Birds numbers are down, I could count all the birds I saw on the drive on my two hands. 





10. The sunset at Tom's Cove with lots of Gulls flying around.  





Thank you for sharing your critters and post!


Thanks to all my visitors and for your past and present comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves and respects wildlife. Thank you for linking up a critter post.





Here is my linky:




I am linking up to Heidrun's Mosaic Monday  I hope you can stop by and visit Heidrun and check out the Mosaic Monday post.

112 comments:

Shiju Sugunan said...


It sounds like you had a wonderful time at Chincoteague Island! The photos are beautiful. The ponies are especially cute, and I love the sunset at Tom's Cove. My favorite pic is of the Sanderlings on the beach.

Mae Travels said...

Bird counts that are dropping like the one you mentioned here are very concerning. Your photos are very lovely.
And thanks for hosting.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Lydia C. Lee said...

Not for the critters but that Tom Cove Firey ball shot is just WOW!!!

roentare said...

The sanderlings are looking so gorgeous. That is my favorite!

italiafinlandia said...

I like the Egrets and Sanderlings. The ponies look lovely, but how wonderful to view butterflies!
Have a nice day and a lovely weekend! Thanks for sharing.

rupam sarma said...

Amazing series of photos, Great post.
Thanks a lot for hosting. Have a nice weekend.

Rostrose said...

Dear Eileen,
it was a pleasure once again to accompany you on your wildlife observation. Lots of beautiful birds, the large photo of the Sanderlings on the beach is particularly cute (taken close to the ground?) and the Chincoteague ponies are also a highlight for me. Sunrise and sunset are also beautiful. However, what you wrote under #9 makes me sad.
All the best and have a good weekend, Traude
🥁🧸🍸🕯️☕🧸🍸☕🕯️🧸🥁
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2023/11/govt-mule-kindergeburtstag-und.html

Iris Flavia said...

Very beautiful sunrise at the ocean... remind me of Jamaica, we were up early and the water so warm we went for a swim.
The ponies are very cute and oh, the Sanderlings, very, very cute.
Beautiful scenes and a huge good-bye!
Thank you for the journey! Happy Saturday

Marit said...

Hello Eileen,
Your photo of the sunrise is very beautiful. The buttertlies are so pretty, and I long to see them here too next summer. Take care, and have a happy weekend!

Irma said...

Hello Eileen,
Beautiful series of photos and collages from your trip to Chincoteague Island NWR in Virginia.
I really love the sunrise.
The Chincoteague ponies are very beautiful to see.
You could also see many large groups of Sanderlings, I also like the egrets as well as the butterflies.
I wish you a good weekend.
Greetings Irma

chica said...

Adorei ver o nascer do sol!
Mas TUDO aqui é lindo e as garças sempre nos encantam...
Beleza de post mais uma vez!
Feliz dezembro! beijos, chica

NatureFootstep said...

I love all the birds and the beautifully colored horses :) Thanks for sharing.

EricaSta said...

Thank you for your wonderful post about the birds, dear Eileen. It was once again a great pleasure to follow your observations.

It's deep winter here. As I sit in the warm living room, I watch the great tits, the blackbirds ... and even a pigeon flocking around the feeder. The branches groan under the heavy weight of the snow, threatening to break.

Now I wish you and your dear family a festive 1st Advent.

Hugs from Heidrun

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
...and now I have the song Sunrise, Sunset in my head... beautiful! YAM xx

William Kendall said...

The ponies are a delight.

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

What a delightful place, Eileen! A wonderful variety of wildlife, but the ponies were definitely my favourite. Thank you for hosting and have a great new week.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Shiju, for your link and your comment.
I did enjoy watching those cute Sanderlings on the beach.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Mae, for your link and your comment.
It seems like the birds numbers are going down even around my yard. I am seeing less this year. I am guessing the Avian flu may have affected our song birds.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Lydia, for your link and your kind comment.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Roentare, for your link and your comment.
The Sanderlings are cute!
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Luisella, for your link and your comment.
We usually see the butterflies in late Autumn along the coast.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you for your link and your comment.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Traude, for your link and your comment.
I did enjoy watching the Sanderlings from my beach chair. Sunrises and sunsets are my simple pleasures.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Iris, for your link and your comment.
I do love watching the sunrise over an ocean.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Marit, for your link and your comment.
The butterflies were a lovely sight.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Irma, for your link and your comment.
Chincoteague is a wonderful place for viewing wildlife and sunrises.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Chica, watching the sunrise is my simple pleasure. A nice way to start the day. Take care, have a happy weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Monica, for your link and your comment.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Heidrun, for your link and your comment.
I enjoy birdwatching from my windows too. No snow here yet.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

stardust said...

The Chincoteague ponies are a highlight of my visit to this post. I love the mosaic of Sanderlings; flock of them by the big waves are nice captures. Have a nice weekend, Eileen.
Yoko

eileeninmd said...

Thank you YAM, for your link and your comment.
Is that the song from Fiddler on the Roof?
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you William, for your comment and your visit.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Nick, for your link and your comment.
The ponies are one of the main attractions, a treat to see these wild horses.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

Breathtaking said...

Hello Eileen :=) Both sunrise and sunset images are outstanding. The sunset made me gasp, WOW! Lovely nature photos throughout your post. The Sanderlings on the beach is a super capture, and I also enjoyed seeing the Herons Egret Ibis and the Chincoteaque ponies. The beautiful butterflies are a bonus, there are none around where I live, and I haven't seen one in months, except for the pesky little one that ruined my geraniums.:=(
Thank you for sharing your post, I'm sorry there were not as many birds to be seen as usual, but perhaps next time you go, there will be.
All the best and thank you for hosting Eileen.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Yoko, for your comment and your visit.
The Sanderlings are cuties and fun to watch.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

Marco Luijken said...

Hello Eileen,
Wonderful pictures. Great to see that sunrise.
Nice that egrets on nr 5 with a wonderful reflection in the water.
The Sanderlings on the beach are really fantastic. So nice!!

Many greetings,
Marco

Angie's Recipes said...

wow that sunrise shot is really gorgeous, Eileen. I love the elegant Great Egrets!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Sonjia, I appreciate the link and comment! I do love my visits to this wildlife refuge. It is always a treat to see the ponies and all the birds. The sunrise and sunsets are a beautiful sight to see too. I am hoping the larger group of birds already migrated south. Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Sunrise over the ocean certainly has a special quality about it. You have captured its beauty very well.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Marco, for your comment and your visit.
The Sanderlings are so cute and fun to watch!
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Angie, for your your comment and your visit.
The sunrise was pretty, a great start to our day.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you David, for your comment and your visit.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

Tom said...

...that sunrise is a great way to start the day. Thanks Eileen for hosting the party. Be weel and enjoy your new week.

Jeanie said...

Whenever you visit Chincoteague I think of Marguerite Henry's Misty of Chicoteague books, which I loved as a kid. I'm glad the horses are there! And I love those Sanderlings! Happy to share my last fall visit to the ditch!

Bill said...

I love the ponies. Nice sunrise, it's a beauty. Lovely photos as always, have a great weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Tom, for your link and your comment.
Yes, watching the sunrise is a great way to start the day.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Jeanie, for your link and your comment.
The book Misty of Chincoteague was one of my favorite childhood books.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Bill, for your link and your comment.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

Kenneth Cole Schneider said...

Love all the birds and ponies and the beautiful sunrise and sunset.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Ken, for your link and comment! Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

Jenn Jilks said...

You sure find amazing critters in your travels! Thanks for hosting.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Jenn, the wildlife views are a fun part of our travels. Have a great weekend.

Barbara Rogers said...

So great to see the wild ponies, as well as some butterflies. Birds that you catch in your lens are always such a joy! Have fun the rest of your weekend.

Lea said...

What a great idea to start your post with pretty sunrise and end with amazing sunset photo!
Love all the birds!
I enjoyed seeing the ponies and the butterflies, too.
Have a wonderful weekend!

magiceye said...

Lovely captures as always!
Happy weekend y'all!

Black Knight said...

Sunrise and sunset, the perfect way to start and end the post.
Have a nice week end.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Barbara for your link and your comment, they are appreciated.
Take care, enjoy your weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thanks Lea! I do love seeing the birds, ponies and the sunrise and sunsets. Have a great weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you for your link and your comment!
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you for your comment and visit. Yes, watching the sunrise are a great way to start the say. Take care, have a great weekend.

Phil Slade said...

I can see why the ponies are a favourite Eileen. They are quite lovely and so colourful. I like too the sunrise start and the sunrise end. Thank you for the link today and do enjoy your Sunday birds and critters alike.

RedPat said...

I love the reflection shots with the Great Egrets, Eileen.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Phil, for your link and your comment.
The ponies are always a treat to see.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you RedPat, for your link and your comment.
Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

Red said...

You always give us a good tour of places with many critters. I notice you say gull
not seagull. It's a thing of mine that we should use the proper term "gulls".

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Red, I appreciate the comment. It is a great place to see wildlife. Have a great weekend.

John's Island said...

Happy Saturday morning Eileen. The sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean is an absolutely beautiful shot! And a delightful selection of bird photos. I can see why the ponies are a highlight of your trip. Love the butterflies! Surprised to see Monarchs still haven’t left for the winter. Beautiful sunset at Tom’s Cove. Excellent Saturday’s Critters #520! Happy first week of December to you and yours. John

eileeninmd said...

Thank you John, I appreciate the comment and visit. Happy December! These photos are from the middle of October, that is why we were still seeing the butterflies. Skywatching is my simple pleasure. Take care, have a great weekend.

Debbie said...

beautiful big birds, little birds and butterflies. today, i think i enjoyed seeing the ponies the most, they are so pretty!! i am not seeing egrets anymore, your images are gorgeous, especially with those stunning reflections!! happy weekend, and many thanks for hosting us crazy critter lovers!!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Debbie, for your link and comment. The ponies are the main attraction the birds are a bonus. Take care, have a wonderful weekend.

DeniseinVA said...

A gorgeous sunrise and all your other photos, always delightful. Thank you Eileen, enjoy the rest of your weekend and have a great week.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Denise, I appreciate the comment. Take care, enjoy your weekend.

Bob Bushell said...

Hi Eileen
The Great Egret is my favourite, but, I love them all.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

What a full day you had, from the great sunrise and sunset, to the ponies and huge variety of birds and everything in between. I love it.
Thank you for hosting!!

HappyK said...

Spectacular photos of all the critters and the sky is breathtaking.

ellen b. said...

Wow...that is a large number of sanderlings. Great photos of all the critters you saw. Happy you could travel to a favorite spot like this.

Marie Smith said...

I loved all the birds photos you captured, Eileen. The ponies and monarchs were highlights too.

Linda said...

Wow, that’s quite a crowd of Sanderlings! Your lovely pictures make me want to go back there, but it’s a very long drive.

eileeninmd said...

Thanks so much Bob, for the link and comment. Take care, have a wonderful week!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Alan, for the comment and for the link. Take care, have a wonderful week!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Karen! Take care, have a wonderful week!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Ellen! This is one of my favorite places to visit, lots of wildlife and the beach is beautiful. Take care, have a wonderful week!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Marie, the wildlife sightings are always a treat to see! Take care, have a wonderful week!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Linda, for your comment and link! It is a long drive, but well worth the time. Take care, have a wonderful week!

Laura. M said...

Aparte de tus estupendads fotos de aves . Hoy me quedo con las dos más preciosas. El mar de la cabecera y es bellísimo amanecer. Gracias Eileen.
Buen domingo y Diciembre.
Un abrazo.

EricaSta said...

Thank you for participating in
MosaicMonday

with your fantastic link.

I am very happy about it and wish you a pleasant week,
hugs by Heidrun

carol l mckenna said...

Fantastic sun rise photo and later the sunset photo ~ wonderful series of delightful birds ~ Great photography ~ thanks,

Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Laura, I do enjoy seeing the sunrise and sunsets. Along with the birds! Have a great week!

eileeninmd said...

Hello Carol,
Thanks so much for your link and comment, much appreciated! Take care, have a wonderful week.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Heidrun, I wish you a wonderful week!

Veronica Lee said...

Glad you had a wonderful time at Chincoteague Island.
Your photos are incredible!
I especially love the sanderlings.

Hugs and blessings, Eileen

Tanza Erlambang said...

Ponies look so cute....
Thank you for sharing beautiful photos.....

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Veronica, for your comment and the link! Take care, have a great week!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Tanza! The ponies are cute, I always enjoy seeing them. Take care, have a great week!

Sharon Wagner said...

Beautiful shots today!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Sharon, for you link and comment. Take care, have a great week!

Rain said...

Oh the sunrise photo is just gorgeous Eileen!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Rain, I appreciate your comment and visit. Take care, have a great week!

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello Eileen
Such a wonderful post.
From your first photograph of the sunrise to your last photograph showing the amazing sunset, and all the birds, butterflies and ponies in-between, I say thank you.

Have a lovely week.

All the best Jan

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Jan, I appreciate your comment! Take care, enjoy your day!

Teresa said...

Maravillosa entrada como siempre. El amanecer me gusta muchísimo, los ponis son muy lindos, todo lo demás también me ha gustado. Un abrazo.

Teresa said...

Feliz mes de diciembre.

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Teresa, for your comment and visit. Take care, enjoy your day!

eileeninmd said...

Happy December to you!

Rainbow Evening said...

We saw Great Blue Herons in our areas... beautiful bird

Ana Mínguez Corella said...

Fabulous images of this beautiful species, Eileen.. Regards

eileeninmd said...

Thanks so much for your link and comment. Have a great day!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Ana! Have a great day!

Ana Freire said...

Uma publicação fascinante! Aquela primeira foto está incrível! Mas também fiquei especialmente encantada, com as imagens dos cavalos, das borboletas... e daquele por do sol na última foto!...
Beijinhos
Ana

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Ana, I do enjoy this refuge and the horses. Take care, have a wonderful day!

Shiju Sugunan said...

Beautiful photos! Looks like a fantastic trip. The sunset, reflections, sanderlings and pony pictures are amazing!

eileeninmd said...

Thank you Shiju, your link and comments are always appreciated. Take care, have a great day and happy week ahead.

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a ha ppy new week! "Whatever your beliefs, spread love not hate." East Paden Twin Bridge, Fishing...