Our World, My World

 Happy Monday everyone!

"All is well, that's my new philosophy." 

 On April 3rd hubby and I walked on the trails at the Hashawha Nature Center. I checked before leaving home that the trails were open, it is a Carroll County Park.  We walked a couple of miles and did not seen any other people, just another couple we noticed as we were leaving.

My FOY Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, they seemed to be everywhere we walked in the park that day. 

Me and my shadow starting the loop trail at Hashawha Nature Center.  

 It is nice to see the trees starting to bloom and some have the red buds. 

I caught a movement near this pond and was surprised to see 2 River Otters running away from us, they were following a creek that goes into the pond.   They were moving too fast for a photo.

 Bluebells, Helleborus, and a white unknown wildflower.

 We walked the loop trail past the Raptor Mews and Martin Cabin, it is home to a few species like the Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Barred Owl, a Great-horned Owl and a Screech Owl.

 At the Hashawha lake we saw a pair of Canada Geese, a Robin and lots of Slider Turtles.

Covid 19 update, as I typed this post Maryland residents were still being asked to stay at home. They are expecting this week April 5-11th to be a bad outbreak week, more positive cases to be reported.   Thankfully the Maryland Governor is on top of this, giving out current information and he is honest and reports the facts. We have found most of what we needed at the food store. The price of gas in our area $1.95 a gallon, not bad. Too bad we can't take a road trip now.   I hope everyone stays safe, strong and calm. 



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!

Happy Thankful Thursday

Hello and Happy Thankful Thursday!

Sharing another walk at the Hashawha/Bear Branch Nature Center. It is a local Carroll County Maryland park, one of my favorite places for a hike. Usually there is something always there to see, nature related.  


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

"We have come too far,
we have sacrificed too much, 
to disdain the future now." John F Kennedy


In the park there is an early 1900's cabin, belonging to the Martin Family. Nearby is a 300 year old White Old tree. 

"Where flowers bloom, so does hope."  Lady Bird Johnson

"We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it's forever." Carl Sagan

Common Buckeye Butterfly

"Life is short, spread your wings and fly."

Red-spotted Purple Butterfly

Thankful for pretty blue skies and cool days for a walk. 

Me and my shadow.

I like this cloud right above a silo. 

"The earth does not belong to us, we belong to the earth." Chief Seattle

I am thankful for natures beauty!

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




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

Hashawha Nature Center

Hello,

Happy Thankful Thursday, wishing everyone a great day!

These are some images from our July 1st walk at the local Hashawha Nature Center in Carroll County Maryland.  It is one of my favorite parks, the trails are great. There is always something to see there, lots of birds and wildflowers .  

The trail and lake at Hashawha Nature Center. 

An Indigo Bunting sky. 

Another view of the trail.  

Pretty waterliles.  

Some Barn Swallows. 

The trail and pretty Bee Balm. 

Closeup of the Bee Balm. 

Cedar Waxwing next to the trail. 

A Common Yellowthroat Warbler. Thank you to David for the correct id. 

The Swallow Sky

"Love the world as your own self, then you truly can care for all things." Lao Tzu


Leaving the park, the stare down.  

I am always thankful for the little things.
I am thankful to spend time with nature.
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



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

Taking the back roads

I am linking up with World Bird Wednesday  and  Nature Notes

I wish all my USA readers a safe and very HAPPY 4th of JULY!!

 The weekends seem to be flying by, just like the birds. Just a  few weeks ago hubby and I decided to take a Sunday drive on the back roads of Carroll County, Maryland.  Following the lead of many Maryland birders before me... I headed out to see my first Dickcissel.

From the backside one would think this is your usual little brown bird. The adult male has a gray crown and nape contrast with yellow washed supercilium ( I still call them yellow eyebrows). It also has a black throat stripe and a yellow breast which is actually beautiful. Of course when he turned around my camera wasn't ready for a shot. But, I did get to see the front of this beautiful Dickcissel. He was posing nicely... right were he was suppose to be, at least the last reported sighting. You should really check out Wikipedia's Dickcissel so you can see how pretty he really is.

He would repeatedly fly down to the ground I guess to catch a bug and then fly back to sign for awhile. I watch for a few minutes until a truck drove down the road behind me. So, I drove to the end of the road so I could turn around to go back to see the Dickcissel. Another bird caught my attention on another sign at the other end of the road. I thought maybe I was looking at a female Dickcissel so I took a few photos before driving back to the original Dickcissel.

I posted my bird or what I thought was my female Dickcissel on my facebook page so members of my bird club could see.. when they informed my second bird was a Grasshopper Sparrow. The Grasshopper Sparrow has a pale white central crown stripe, yellow lores, white eye ring, heavy bill and a chunky body.  Cool..lifer number two..I was happy with my sightings, my next back road bird will be a Bobolink maybe during the fall migration?

 And here is the street where they live...


 So, to my delight I got two lifers on one street. The Dickcissel and the Grasshopper Sparrow. So believe me when I say it pays to ride the back roads. You never know what you might see...Happy Birding!!!



To see more beautiful birds check out Springman's World Bird Wednesday  and for more nature scenes please visit Michelle's Nature Notes.   Thanks to Springman for hosting World Bird Wednesday  and to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes. I also thank you for stopping by to see my world birds. Happy Birding and have Happy 4th of July!!