Happy Thankful Thursday

 Hello and Happy Thursday,

I have mentioned many times how I am thankful for the small things, like skywatching, finding birds and for the pretty Autumn colors.  

Oct 19th, hubby and I took a walk not far from our house. It is near the top of our lake, known as the Prettyboy Reservoir. When the lake is lower, I call this area the mud flats. I can usually find some sandpipers, ducks and Canada Geese. On this day we saw and heard the Belted Kingfisher and a few Red-bellied Woodpeckers.  

 The Belted Kingfisher made it's fussy rattle noise and flew off to another branch.

 It was a pretty sky day, contrail and wispy clouds.

After the walk, we drove the longer way home around the reservoir and surrounding watershed.  We stopped at one bridge to look at the colors, hubby found a Great Blue Heron flying toward us.  The Heron was too fast for me and my camera.

Enjoy the colorfest, winter will come soon. 

There were some pretty colorful trees on the lake shore, this is the view from the bridge above.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker was heard and seen in a few areas that day. 

 
I am thankful for the small things in life.

I am thankful for clear blue skies and nice weather days. 

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!

Happy Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday!

The past week we were dog sitting for our neighbor. Early morning, I would go with hubby to take the dog for a walk in the neighborhood. This is a view our yard as we headed next door. 

We took Marlow on the trail to the lake, we are seeing more tent caterpillars on the trees, I wonder if the birds eat these caterpillars? Some leaves are already turning colorful. I assume we did not have enough rain this summer.  Marlow sees a bunny.  

A Great Blue Heron and a flock of Canada Geese fly over the lake, one heron is perched on a tree sticking out of the lake, the bunny was safe from Marlow, a mushroom with a slug.

"Every act of kindness spreads peace to the world, love to the heart and light to us all." Mary Davis

A closeup of the colorful leaves.

"Have Courage and Be Kind."

I noticed these pretty yellow flowers near the lake, another plant I need Id help. 

"Slow down and enjoy life."

I heard these geese coming way before I saw them, I think they landed further down the lake. 

"I find hope in the darkest of days and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe." The Dalai Lama

A pretty view of the sky reflecting on the lake. 

"Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together."


I am thankful for acts of kindness, peace and love. 
I am thankful for the simple things, like the beauty of the sky and nature around me. 

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!

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Hello, Happy Monday! 


Can you believe it is August already? The summer days are flying by. During our recent road trip to Maryland's Eastern shore we made a quick visit to the Blackwater Nat'l Wildlife Refuge. Cambridge Maryland is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from home and we crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge almost at the half way point. 

On the road heading toward Blackwater NWR we passed this field of sunflowers. The farm has a stand selling veggies and fruits. They also had a field where you could pick your own blackberries.

The Blackwater NWR wildlife drive is 4 miles long, it has various spaces to pull over and watch the birds and wildlife. Blackwater NWR is designated as an Important Bird Area. 

One of the first birds I saw heading toward the wildlife and refuge was this Red-headed Woodpecker. 

The Osprey nest can be seen from our car. There are 2 juveniles along with the 2 adult ospreys on this nest. 

A view of the Blackwater wetlands, there are terns perched on this posts. See if you can find a turtle toward the middle center of the photo. 

This is a closer look at the turtle. It is big, we saw 5-6 turtles in this area. 

Great Blue Heron

We sat in our car and watched this family of Bald Eagles together. The juvenile looked like it was throwing a fit over missing the meal. 

Pretty view of the wetland and sky. 

"Kindness is choosing love over hate, light over darkness, compassion over judgement."

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 #294

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!

The our neighborhood Great Blue Heron season is ending. On July 29th I could still hear some of the herons fussing up on the nest. I can only assume the adult herons still bring food back to the nest and the chicks go crazy. Or maybe some herons return to the nest after they fledge? 

Some of the herons still have the fuzzy feathers on their heads. 

I could count at least 6 herons on different nests. Some nest had 2 heron chicks. I think most of the herons have already left their nest. Maybe these were born later? 

The Great Blue Heron chicks look full grown to me.

The next two photos were taken on 7/26. As of Aug 1st, I am still hearing some heron noises coming from the nest area. 

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.

Our World & My World

Happy Monday,

On June 30th, hubby and I spent some time at the Great Falls National Park located in Potomac Maryland. We walked the trails to the Olmsted island Bridges, the Great Falls Overlook and part of the River Trail. 

Below is the Great Falls NP Visitor Center and the  Mercer Canal Boat. A lock project is underway and the boat rides are not operating at this time. 

The bridges over Olmsted Island and the trail leads to the Potomac River and the Great Falls Overlook.

The Potomac River @ Great Falls National Park.

People kayaking are often seen at the Potomac River.

Some of the park's wildlife seen were the Black Vultures, Canada Goose, Swallowtail butterflies and there were lots of Great Blue Herons. The heron's rookery is nearby. 

The C&O Canal Trail and towpath. 

We had great views of the river and the Great Blue Herons from their nearby rookery. 

Double-crested Cormorants perched on a rock in the Potomac River. 

We saw a lot of Great Blue Herons from the River Trail.

The Potomac River @ Great Falls NP, Maryland

I hope you enjoyed our park visit and my post and photos. 

Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi  the host of Our World Tuesday!

Thanks for visiting and commenting, have a great day and new week!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

North Point State Park is a great park for seeing all kinds of birds, frogs, turtles and even snakes. The trail goes through a wooded area and ends on the Chesapeake Bay in Baltimore County, Maryland. 

The Black Marsh trail is my favorite trail to take in the North Point State Park. 

"Our souls need time to think, dream and reflect."

There is a great wetlands area and habitat for the Osprey, Little Blue Herons, Great Blue Herons and even the Bald Eagle. Pretty sky reflections on the water. 

The Bull frogs were pretty loud and did not seem shy. 

There were two Osprey nest and we saw at least 4 Ospreys from the trail. 

"Happiness radiates like the fragrance from a flower and draws all good things toward you."

We saw some pretty Mimosa tree blooms along the Black Marsh trail. I am thankful for flowers, they are happy things. 

"Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience."

 Juvenile Tree Swallow being fed by the adult. 

I could hear snakes moving into the plants along the trail as we walked, this was the only snake I saw out in the open. I am assuming it is a Black Rat Snake. 

"My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather."

It was a nice day for a walk, this is a pretty view of the Chesapeake Bay and a beautiful sky. 

Be honest, be nice, be a flower not a weed. 


I am thankful for my son, he is handy dandy. He put wainscoting in our bathroom, it is looks great.
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!

Saturday's Critters #287

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!

My neighborhood Great Blue Heron chicks are growing fast.  Some times the noises coming from the herons is so loud, they sound like wild animals fighting at times.  

These are some images, the best I could get of the GB Herons and chicks through all the trees, branches and leaves.  I found at least 6 or more nests I can see,  there are more nests out of view.  

The Heron chick is almost on the top of a tall pine tree, you can not see the nest. 

There are 3 GB Heron chicks on the photo below, taken on June 7th.

I used to be able to see this nest from my deck, but this photo was from the nearby fire road. You can see three different nest on one tree that looks like a dead tree. 

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.