Saturday's Critters # 495

 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!

A break from my Ireland trip and photos. More of Ireland will be shared again soon. Today I am sharing some photos from our walk on the C&O Canal trail in Potomac Md and at the Great Falls Nat'l Park.  

1. In the mosaic below are the Prothonotary Warbler, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Eastern Bluebird, wildflowers, turtles, Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorants, Mallards and Blue-winged Teal.

2. The Prothonotary Warbler, is about 5 1.2 inches, he was singing loudly and heard way before I was able to find him in the tree top. This bird nest in trees and there are nest boxes set up along the canal trail.  

3. The male Prothonotary Warbler is a bright yellow with dark wings. 

4. The Green Heron is seen every year in about the same spot close to the Riley's Lock parking area. 

5. The Green Heron, one of my favorites. The breeding adult has a rust colored neck, a dark cap and a green back. 

6. The Slider Turtles are enjoying the sunshine, resting on the rocks. 

7. The Black-crowned Night Heron was seen on the canal side of the C&O canal trail.  

8. The Great-Blue Herons have a rookery in the trees that line the Potomac River.  

9. The Double-crested Cormorants nest along the river, a group of Cormorants is called a "gulp".  

10. We saw at least 4-5 Blue-winged teal on the river. 

11. A view from the Great Falls overlook. 

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

Saturday's Critters # 438

 Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Hello and happy Saturday!

Happy Mother's Day weekend, I include all the furbaby Mom's too.

 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!

Since I am only posting once a week with my Saturday's Critters I am able stay a little more up to date sharing photos. At this time we were celebrating our 32nd Anniversary! These images are from the middle of April. I am always looking for birds on my walks with the grand-dogs. Some times for a new location hubby and I will drive somewhere for our walk. 

1. April 8th, we drove around our Prettyboy reservoir, taking photos of the lake and dam. There was one Double-crested Cormorant hanging out, we did see some ducks but they moved away quickly. 

2. April 8th after checking out the dam, we drove past the Friendly Farm's pond to see if any new ducks or birds showed up. I did see a few Blue-winged Teals, possible Gadwall or female Mallard?

3. April 8th, we have had a lot of rain which makes the lake water look more brownish like muddy water.  The Canada Geese did not seem to mind the muddy looking lake water. 

4. April 9th, our walk on the fire road with the grand-dogs. This trail is mostly covered with pine needles. 

5. April 9th,  I spread out some peanuts loose and in the shells for my yard birds, usually the peanuts disappear quickly.  This female Cardinal may have missed out on getting a peanut. 

6. April 11th, another walk to the lake with the dogs, we saw more Double-crested Cormorants, Canada Geese and some wildflowers. 

7. April 11, I have multiple bird houses in our yard but this chickadee is nesting in a dead tree that we left for the woodpeckers. 

8. April 12th, I drove hubby for his eye checkup and we made a quick stop at the area known for seeing the Yellow-crowned Night Heron nesting about the Jones Falls in Baltimore. 

9. April 12th,  a view of the Jones Falls and the Yellow-crowned Night Heron. 

Hubby and I celebrated our 32nd Anniversary on May 4th, we have had 32 years of happy times and great memories. 

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 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!

Saturday's Critters #267

Welcome to Saturday's Critters !


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 have so many Florida photos to share, lots of birds and critters. I hope you enjoy. This is a part two of our Merritt Island NWR visit. 

The White Ibis and a Tricolored Heron

Smile for the camera, Florida alligator.

Below is a good sized group of Blue-winged Teal and some American Coots. 

I can make out some distant Northern Shovelers in the photo below. 

Great Egret

The Green Herons were a common sight too.

Anhinga, seen in many Florida parks.

Glossy Ibis were around in high numbers.

This group of birds took off from the ground, they were hidden until they were in flight. The pink Roseate Spoonbills stand out in the crowd.

I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments !






Here is a list of my linky parties;

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

Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Happy Thankful Thursday

Hello and happy Thursday,

I am back from my trip to Florida, we had a great trip. It included visits to many beaches, wildlife preserves and refuges, Florida State Parks. We drove to Florida making an overnight stop in Georgia to break up the long drive. 


On January 4 we arrived in Florida and making a stop at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. The wildlife drive was open but other parts of the refuge was closed due to the shutdown. These are some of my images from the wildlife drive, lots of birds and some scenic views.

A pretty view of the sky and palm tree along the wildlife drive.

Great Egret and  Tricolored Heron.

Tricolored Heron

Roseate Spoonbill

Two Roseate Spoonbills.

A large flock of American Coots.

Blue-winged Teal

A pretty sky and view of the wildlife refuge.

I am thankful that we had a great trip to Florida and arrived home safely.
A thankful heart is a happy heart. 
I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


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


Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!

Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!

Circle B Bar Reserve

I am linking up with   Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday   They are both fun memes to participate in...I hope you can join in with the fun  and check out some of the participating posts.

I am continuing with another post and photos from our Florida trip.  We visited the Circle B Bar Reserve located in Lakeland, Polk County. The Circle B is known as a hotspot for birding in Florida.  It is named after the cattle ranch that existed on this property. The property was acquired by Polk County and the pastures were restored back to it's natural state, the marsh land. It is now home to an impressive bird population. Nature trails, picnic areas and a beautiful Discovery center are a must see if you are near Lakeland, Florida..

Above some of the beautiful trees along the Circle B trails, Marsh land, Cormorant & Red-shouldered Hawk are seen in the mosaic.

I love the lighting on the trees and spanish moss.

One of my favorite Florida birds the Limpkin and the Common Moorhen or also known as the Common Gallinule.

Limpkin with snail

Waterway and some of the wildflowers seen along the trail..

Top row: Anhinga, aligator on trail, Blue-winged Teal
Middle row: Black Crowned Night Heron, Roseate Spoonbill, GB Heron
Bottom row: Green Heron, alligator eye, Osprey on nest

We had to wait awhile for this gator to move off the trail. I am not sure if the lady on the other side turned back and returned the way she came or not.  These are photos from our first visit to Circle B, we loved it so much we went back a second time.. I hope you enjoyed my photos.. Thank you for visiting and for all the nice comments.. Have a great day and week ahead!

I use Pic Monkey to create my mosaics, you can use Pic Monkey free or pay for an upgraded version.

I hope you can join in on our fun with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday

 Thanks to Judith our host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  I wish everyone a happy week ahead!

Everglades National Park

June 29, 2013

 EDIT: I am linking up with Favorite Fotos thanks to Lydia at Where the Wild Things Were 

I hope you will join in on the fun and share your critters and birds.

I enjoyed my Florida vacation so much I have to share some more birds and critters, these are all from the Everglades National Park. We saw a nice variety of birds in the Everglades. On this day we were near the Flamingo Visitor Center.

Osprey's were a common sight in the Everglades National Park

 Blue-winged Teal couple.

 Walk this way...Alligator on the visitor center parking lot . Most of the gators we saw in Florida were laying in the water, this was the first one we saw walking. I am glad he was walking away from us!

Above are two alligators with a turtle nearby.

This was my first time seeing both the Brown Pelican and the White Pelican together. Above, I see six White Pelicans and two Brown Pelicans.

One of the many White Pelicans we saw in Florida.

The American Crocodile we sighted in the Everglades National Park. The Crocodile has a narrow snout is and lizard shaped. The male crocodile can reach 20feet long. They live and thrive in salt water.

A Black Vulture's view of the Everglades wetlands.

 My last photo is my favorite the Green Heron, this shot shows off some of their pretty colors. And I love their eyes. I hope you enjoyed my tour of the Everglades National Park.

Like weekend I am sharing some more of my favorite blogs to read and visit. I hope you have a chance to visit. In case you missed my first time sharing my favorite 5 blogs for the week here is the link 1st Favorite 5

Betty always seems to have something positive or lovely to say Cut & Dry

If you have not already done so visit with Tex at the  Run*a*Round Ranch ..she see awesome birds at her pond.

I am always amazed at Fiona's gorgeous photos on her blog..go and check them out: Lady Fi

Chris at Las Aventuras has some awesome bird reports from Arizona and beyond.

Last but not least, I always enjoy the sky shots at Spare Parts and Pics..always a pleasure to go skywatching on this blog.

 I wish everyone a happy weekend. Thanks for stopping by and I always appreciate your comments. 

 To see more beautiful photos and cute critters

 please visit:  Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious hosts Misty Dawn of Camera Critters and to Anni of I'd Rather-B-birdin.