Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday everyone!  

Have a great day and a happy new week!

"In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous!"

Comments off! Enjoy your day!

2018, A New Year

Happy Monday,

Wishing everyone peace, love and laughter in the New Year!

I know a lot of birding friends who think back over the past year and pick out a favorite bird sighting, it could be a lifer or just a favorite bird they enjoy seeing.  My favorite 2017 bird and sighting was not a lifer but a pair of Barred Owls seen during our many visit to the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland Florida. I love seeing all the birds, so it is difficult to pick just one bird.

These two Barred Owls were often sitting in a palm tree close by the parking lot. It was like they were greeters to everyone that visited the reserve.

Also, birders have been known to list their last bird of the previous year and the first bird sighting of the new year. Since I created this post a little early, I am going to guess my last bird and my first bird sightings will probably be a Cardinal and a white-throated Sparrow. I will let you know on a later post if I am right about my last bird and what was my first bird sighting of the new year. Hopefully I can get  good photos too.




As always I thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

My list of memes for today, I hope to see you there. Thanks to both of the host below.


Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes
Thanks to the hosting team of Our World Tuesday!

Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday

Sandhill Crane

Hello,

I am sharing the Sandhill Crane, a common bird seen in Florida. I have seen the Sandhill Cranes in a few places in Maryland also. I guess you never know where they might show up. These are Sandhill Cranes photos from our Florida neighborhood and at the Circle B Reserve.

The Sandhill Crane is a species of crane seen in North America. The adults are grey and have red foreheads and long dark pointed bills..

They live together in pairs or family groups. The Florida Sandhill Cranes are seen year round and do not migrate. 

My youtube video of the Sandhill Cranes walking in the neighborhood. You can turn the sound down and ignore hubby and I talking.. The bird sounds you hear are the Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher.



These cranes were one of my favorite Florida birds, they seemed almost tame to walk right by. I hope you enjoyed my photos and video.


Thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

My list of memes for today, I hope to see you there. Thanks to both of the host below.

Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday

Barred Owl

Hello,


This week I am sharing the Barred Owl, it was seen often during our visits to the Circle B bar Reserve near Lakeland Florida.  I love the owls and seeing this pair was a thrill every time.

We often saw these two Barred owls sitting together, a few times we even saw a third Barred Owl in a nearby tree. I thought maybe the third owl was from last year's nesting.

The Barred Owl has a pale face with rings around the eyes. Their bellies are streaked vertically.

They have a yellow beak and brown eyes. Their diet is mostly rodents or small mammals.

My Barred Owl video, it took a little bit to find him/her in the tree.





Thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

My list of memes for today, I hope to see you there. Thanks to both of the host below.

Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday

Saturday's Critters #179

Saturday's Critters #179

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.


For those who did not see my last post , we returned home from our visit to Washington State for two weeks only to find out my desktop computer is messed up. The auto update from Windows 10 did not work well. I have been using my mini iPad to comment and visit blogs for now. But, it is taking longer. So I will be visiting, it may just take me longer until I have my desktop back.
Luckily this post was scheduled, I am sharing some more of my favorite sights from the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland Florida. I hope you enjoy my photos. 

Come for a walk on the trails with me and this Great Blue Heron.

The light is shining just right to catch the pretty colors on this Purple Gallinule.

I believe this is a female Anhinga showing off her pretty feathers.

The Great Blue Herons do like to pose for the cameras.

The Green Heron does not mind striking a pose.

A pretty female Hooded Merganser and her reflection.

This female Painted Bunting was a little shy and tried hiding in the brush along the trail. Can you see her, she is bright green in color?

This is the cool looking Turquoise Long-tailed Skipper seen on the Alligator Alley trail.

Lake Hancock can be seen from walking the trail called Alligator Alley. On this day we saw a group of Brown Pelicans with some Cormorants.

As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.

Saturday's Critters #178

Saturday's Critters #178

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

I may be away from my computer and internet for a bit. I will visit your blogs and comment as soon as possible.  

I am taking you back to the Circle B for some more bird sightings. The Wilson's Snipe could usually be found in a couple places off the trails. 

Two Wilson's Snipes in the morning light.

I could always get my fill of Black Bellied Whistling Ducks at the Circle B.

The Black Crowned Night Heron could be found in various spots along the trail too.

Looking up at the sky, it was filled with Tree Swallows. 

A Limpkin was sharing the trail with us. 

My You tube video of the Limpkin, their sounds are very loud and weird.

As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.

Saturday's Critters #174

Saturday's Critters #174

Wishing all a Happy Easter and weekend!

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

More from the Circle B Reserve.  The Barred Owls were seen during most visits, right near the parking lot. Some visits we saw one owl, maybe two Barred Owls together and even three owls seen close together on one day. Can you find both Barred Owls in the photo below?

The Black-bellied Whistling Ducks always a favorite sighting.

A Snail Kite

The American Bittern was usually easy to find.

The turtles come out in the sunshine.

Green Heron

The Black Crowned Night Heron.

I always enjoy seeing the Cattle Egrets.

A pretty Great Blue heron pose.

As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.

Snail Kite

Hello,

I never got around to sharing this Florida lifer, the Snail Kite. I was able to see this raptor a few times at the Circle B Reserve in Lakeland Florida.

 The Snail Kite is a bird of prey and is included in the group with the Eagles, Hawks and old World Vultures.

The Snail Kite has a dark deeply hooked beak.

The female has dark upperparts and streaked pale underparts.

I believe the Snail Kite migrates in the winter, breeds in the Caribbean, South American and Southern Florida.

Thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

My list of memes for today, I hope to see you there. Thanks to both of the host below.

Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday

Saturday's Critters #173

Saturday's Critters #173

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

I have not been many places since being home, one reason is the weather has not been cooperating. But luckily, I have tons of photos from my visits to the Circle B Reserve in Lakeland Florida. I do not think I will ever get around to showing all of them. I am trying to pick out my favorite birds and critters. 

Another favorite the Belted Kingfisher. 

 A couple of Sandhill Cranes on the trail.

A pretty Tricolored Heron.

Common Moorhen and reflection.

A soft shelled turtle, look at that nose.

My favorite, the Green Heron

Baby gators

I am pretty sure this is the Eastern Phoebe.

Bald Eagle and nest.

As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.