Saturday's Critters # 499

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!

I have more birds to share from my yard and from our walks in the neighborhood and fire roads. These posts are also a record of the birds I see, where they were seen and the dates they were seen. 

1. June 3rd, on our walk to the lake we saw the Great Blue Herons, first time 3 seeing Belted Kingfishers together, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood Pewee, Mourning Dove, yellow Iris wildflowers and a pink wildflower.

2. The Pileated Woodpecker is a common bird seen and heard in our neighborhood. 

3. June 4th,  our walk at the Hemlock Gorge, Prettyboy.  We saw a lot of Louisana Waterthrushes, a Carolina Wren and an unknown warbler sitting high in a tree, the Dames Rocket and wild Mountain Laurels. 

4. June 4th, one of the six Lousiana Waterthrushes I saw during our walk on the trail at the Hemlock Gorge Prettyboy. 

5. June 4th, a Scarlet Tanager was seen in a tree next to the trail at the Hemlock Gorge area of Prettyboy. 

6. Here are two Lousiana Waterthrushes of three that were seen at this spot near the Prettyboy Reservoir. 

7. June 5th,  a Wood Thrush was walking ahead us on the fire road. 

8. June 5th, we saw one deer walking around our yard, the other two were seen off the fire road during our walk. We have been seeing 2-3 deer in our yard every day. They must be finding lots to eat here. 

9. June 6th, On our morning walk again was on one of the Prettyboy fire roads in our neighborhood.  I was walking ahead of hubby when I thought I saw a dog on the fire road but a closer look it was a fox. 

10. June 9, our walk was on the NCR bike trail.  We walked round trip 3 miles. I saw and heard so many birds, some of the highlights were 3 Scarlet Tanagers chasing each other around. 

11. The Cedar Waxwing is a beautiful bird, I recognized their sounds during our walk too. 

12. The Northern Parula was singing loudly, I heard a few of these birds during our walk.  

I hope you enjoyed my birds and critters!  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. 

Saturday's Critters # 447

 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!

Images are from various days in June, walks with hubby and the dogs. We took a walk at the nearby Hemlock Gorge, and a visit to the York Pa Great Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron rookery. 

Click on photos for larger viewing. 

1. June 10th, on this day my hubby and I took a walk at the local Hemlock Gorge, it is part of the Gunpowder State Park. In the summer months I can usually always find a Louisiana Waterthrush on the rocky area of the Gunpowder River. A Common Yellowthroat was fussing at us, as we walked along the trail. Other birds seen and heard, Eastern Phoebe, Gray Catbird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Ovenbird and Eastern Wood Pewee. 

2. The Louisiana Waterthrush can always be found along the Gunpowder River at Hemock Gorge. This bird has what I call the white eyebrow and pink legs.

3. A female Common Yellowthroat Warbler was fussing at us as we walked along the trail. This bird is olive-brown above with a yellow throat.

4. June 12th, our local fire road walk with the grand -dogs to the lake, lots of Canada Geese. Back at home in our yard, is the female and male Eastern Bluebird and the Ruby-throated Hummingbird on the feeder.

5. June 14th, backyard blooms, a Fritillary Butterfly with a Bumble Bee in the Bee Balm and the Fritillary Butterfly on the Lantana. 

6. June 15th, the following photos are from a visit to the York Pa rookery. Great Egrets and the Black-crowned Night Herons. We saw lots of Great Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons, Mallard Ducks and Canada Geese. 

7. A Great Egret nest high in the pine tree.  

8. Another pair of Great Egrets on their nest. 

9.  Adult Black-crowned Night Heron near their nest. 

10. A juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron near the nest. 

11.  The Great Egret chicks seemed to be different ages, some looking much younger than others. 

I hope you enjoyed my critter post.  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 # 397

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!

I am sharing some yard birds and birds seen from our local walk at the Hemlock Gorge part of the Gunpowder Falls State Park and our Prettyboy Reservoir watershed. 

1. Eastern Bluebirds in our yard, they are back to using one of my birdhouses.  The male Bluebird is often perched in a tree in the side of our yard which overlooks the birdhouse. A young bluebird has been sitting in the back part of the yard, easily id by the speckled chest. 

2. I am pretty sure the Bluebird below was born this year. The bluebirds can have 2-3 broods each year.  The young Bluebirds are speckled with touches of blue on their wings. 

3. The male Eastern Bluebird is beautiful, a lovely color blue, rufous underparts and a white belly.

4.  The only feeders I left up it the Hummingbird feeder, I can change out the sugar water and clean the feeders often.

5. The deer has been a regular visitor in our yard and on the neighbors driveway.  I can watch the deer from my kitchen windows.  

6.  An area of the Gunpowder State Park is always a good spot to see the Louisiana Waterthrush in the summer months.  These are some photos from one our our recent walks to Hemlock Gorge. 

7. The Louisiana Waterthrush breeds near a fast moving stream. They nest in thickets on the ground, they can be found walking along the shoreline in search of insects.  

8. A young Lousiana Waterthush below has found a tasty grub or worm to eat. We watched at least 3 Waterthrush foraging along the river on this day. 

9.  Another guess below is an Eastern Wood-Pewee. they have olive gray with dark wings and thin white wing bars. I usually can hear these birds before I can see them. They like to perch in trees with good view points. 

10. I believe below is an Eastern Phoebe, they have a dark head with a gray back and they lack an eye ring. 

I am happy to find the birds on our walks, there are times I have some great bird sightings.  Happy Birding!  

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!

Here is my linky:

YOU are all # 1.

Thanks to all my visitors and for your comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post. 

Our World, My World

 Happy Monday everyone,

Time to say good bye to August, tomorrow I will welcome September.  I am still not sure where August went, I just know the days and month are in the past. I hope all my blogging friends are safe/survived the Hurricane Laura, chaos and the wildfires.  My world is pretty calm.  Moving right along I am sharing a recent hike at the local Hemlock Gorge. This area is part of the Prettyboy Reservoir watershed. We hiked the trail along the Gunpowder River to a small waterfall which is surrounded by tall Hemlock trees. 

 Views of the trail and the Gunpowder River.

 One section of the trail and Gunpowder River.

 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails

Wildflowers and butterflies seen along the Hemlock Gorge trail.  I think the pinkish plant is Joe Pye weed?

 The Louisiana Waterthrush can be found along the Gunpowder River. We also had a quick look at the Belted Kingfisher as it flew by.

 Views of the Gunpowder River, Eastern Wood Pewee were heard often, Waterthrush and Goldfinches. I also saw and heard the Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe  and the Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.

 These 2 Goldfinches almost blend in with the yellow flowers.

 Louisiana Waterthursh, I have seen these birds on previous hikes in almost this exact spot next to the river. Maybe their nest is nearby?

 Goldfinch mosaic, these birds were enjoying the wildflower seeds.

Back near the parking area we saw this tiny Ring-necked Snake. They say juveniles are around 8 inches, this one was thinner than a pencil. It was black in color and had the yellow band. This was the 2nd day in a row where I almost stepped on a snake.

One last look down the river, there was a rope or wire hanging low over the river. I do not remember that being there the last time we walked here. 

We are still staying close to home, our walks/hikes are done locally. Deer hunting season will be starting soon, I think it starts the middle of September.  We will have to change the places and fire roads we walk on, avoiding the bow hunters. Saying prayers for peace in our country.   I hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy.  


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!

Our World, My World

 Happy Monday and Happy month of June!



Some times hubby and I are lucky to be able to take a hike on a day like this one. The weather was nice and the wildflowers were just beautiful.  These wildflowers were all along the river, most shades of purple but some were white.  

 A view of the Gunpowder River at an area called the Hemlock Gorge. Someone named Tom left their name on the Gorge sign. 

Just a few of the birds I saw and a Swallowtail Butterfly at the river. A Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher and the Louisiana Waterthrush are  summer residents.

 I watched a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers across the river.  They have a cute sound. 

 I am guessing at the flower id, I believe these are the Dames Rocket, bloom in the late spring or early summer.

Pretty purple blooms by the river.  

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail landed on a rock in the middle of the river. 

These were tiny little blooms..

A view looking down the river and some pretty tall hemlock trees. 

 This is one of our local places to walk and part of our reservoir's watershed. I hope everyone is doing well, take care and stay well.


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!