Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday, 

May the New Year bring joy, peace and happiness to you and your family!  Happy New Year! 

I am sharing some of my favorite photos and some happy memories from this past year, some from our time in Florida and some travel photos and some from Maryland. I have so many favorites, it is impossible to share all of them. 


January 2017, Flagler Beach, Florida sunrise

January 2017, a favorite Florida bird the Roseate Spoonbill.

February 2017, a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers seen at the Circle B Preserve, Lakeland Florida.

February 2017, my favorite ducks, the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.

March, 2017,  a pretty beach at Sand Key Park, near Clearwater Florida.

March 2017, the Barred Owl couple at the Circle B Preserve, 

Lakeland Florida

April 2017, back at home in Maryland I started watching my backyard birds. The Red-bellied woodpecker is a favorite.

May 2017 Washington State trip, the Deception Pass Park and bridge. 

May 2017, Hoh River and Olympic National Park. 

June 2017, Yellow-crowned Night Heron chick and nest in Baltimore, Md

June 2017, our neighborhood Great Blue Heron nest. 

July, 2017 A small Black Bear seen on the Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park.

August 2017, our hike on the Maryland Heights trail Harpers Ferry, Md

September 2017 Lake Erie Pennsylvania

October 2017, Big Meadows Shenandoah National Park. 

November 2017, Sunset seen at Sunset Beach, North Carolina.

December 2017,  I was happy to capture this Chickadee in mid-air.

My thankful list
I am thankful for my family. 
I am thankful for today and I am happy to be soon starting a new year. 
I am thankful for all your visits and comments this past year. 


Thank you Michelle for hosting. Thankful Thursday

Thank you to the hosts of   Skywatch Friday


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

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

White Ibis

Hello,

This week I am sharing and featuring the White Ibis for my Wild Bird and Nature Notes post. The White Ibis was a common bird seen all around Florida. I believe some have been seen in the Mid-Atlantic states.

As you can see this White Ibis has white plumage and pink face skin. The adults have black tipped wings, visible in flight.

It is said their range is from Virginia and west to Texas and is very common in Florida.

Seen below are the White Ibis mixed with the Wood Storks, Heron, Swans and ducks.

A juvenile White Ibis can be seen below with the brownish feathers.

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

Wild Bird Wednesday

Great Horned Owl

Hello,

During our time in Florida, we often visited the nearby Lake Parker Park in Lakeland.
We would check out the Great Horned Owl and it's baby owls at least once a week. It was fun watching them grow.  These images are taken from a distance and the owl's nest was on top of a light pole that was on the soccer field.

I am sharing a few facts about these owls. The outer ears are concealed by feathers on the side of the head.

Their iris is yellow and their eyes are ranked are among the largest in the animal kingdom.

Their bill is hard and inflexible.

It was awesome seeing the owlets. One on each side of the adult. I assume this is the adult female, we never saw the two parents together.

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

Crested Caracara

Hello,

I am sharing the Crested Caracara, a raptor seen in Florida. We saw this bird in several places and up close in the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State park. It was also seen along the roads hanging out with the vultures eating road kill.

The Crested Caracara is a resident of these Florida prairie lands and range land.

This raptor has a crest, naked face and a heavy bill.

The Crested Caracara are on the decline due to their habitat being converted to housing development.

This is one of my Florida Birds. My first sightings of this raptor was in Costa Rica. I also saw it in Panama and Curacao. 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

Lakeland Florida

Hello,

These are some images from our Lakeland neighborhood, the lake, view of the moon, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Juvenile Moorhen and an immature Little Blue Heron. I have enjoyed the past winter in Lakeland Florida, I hope you enjoy my photos.

This is a sunrise scene of our local lake, Lakeland Florida.

The neighborhood Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.

I believe this is a juvenile Common Moorhern but then I also think it could be a juvenile Purple Gallinule?

A juvenile Little Blue Heron.

I am thankful for being able to live my life around the things that I love, mostly nature related.
I am also thankful and blessed to be retired and doing what I am doing. It includes living part time in Florida for the winter.

 Thank you for your visit and comments on my post. Enjoy your day and the weekend ahead!

Thanks to Michelle for the meme Thankful Thursday

I am also linking up to Skywatch Friday, I hope to see you there.
Thank you to Sylvia, Yogi and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday.

Purple Gallinule

Hello,


My bird this week is the Purple Gallinule. It is a swamp hen in the rail family. The adult has big yellow feet and blue-purple plumage. This bird looks beautiful when the light is shining just right on it's feathers. It seems to be a common bird seen in our local Lake Parker Park in Lakeland Florida.

The Purple Gallinule has a pale blue forehead with red and yellow bill.

Lake Parker Park is just a short drive away and we usually see the Purple Gallinule every time we take a walk at this park.

I hope you enjoyed the Purple Gallinule and my photos. 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

Anhinga

Hello,

Today, I am sharing the Anhinga. It is a common bird in Florida. The Anhinga is also known as American Darter or the Snakebird.

There is at least one Anhinga on this tree with a few Cormorants. Can you find the Anhinga?  The bill is different on the Anhinga, sharper and thin.

The Anhinga can stay under water for a long period of time.

The male is a dark color almost glossy looking. Their wings are streaked with white.

Anhinga seen at Circle B Reserve.

Pretty colors on the breeding male Anhinga.

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