Saturday's Critters # 651

   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!

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir

Hubby and I went on a 2 night getaway April 20-22nd to the shores of Delaware and Ocean City Maryland. We were lucky get an appointment with a dialysis center close to Ocean City. The stars have to align for this to happen, hubby had to have blood work within 30 days, the center had to have a chair opened at the time we wanted to travel.  They called me on Friday with a time and we were leaving on Monday, a close call. Miney went on her own vacation on that Sunday April 19th. It was our first trip since our Alaska trip back in July-Aug 2024. I forgot to mention I signed Miney up for a Doggie Boot Camp for 2 weeks, she needed some training on leash walking and social behaviors.  

Click on images for better viewing.

1. On our loop road trip from home we drove to Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware. I messed up with my camera card, I left it home and could not take photos until I stopped and bought a new card in Dover Delaware. I took a few photos with my phone which are just so-so, I can not get closeups at all with my phone.  I did like catching this Bald Eagle in flight next to the wildlife drive. 

After stopping to buy a new camera card we drove onto to Prime Hook NWR in Delaware.  I wanted to see if the Pink Lady Slippers were in bloom.  Years ago we saw them lining the trail, this trail had the most Lady Slippers I have ever seen.  This year we were lucky to see 3 or 4 plants.  

2. Next we drove on to Ocean City, Md where we would be staying for two nights.  We had an ocean front room at the Hilton Garden Inn.  I thought  it was a good deal for off season.  

3. The next morning we watched the sunrise from our balcony and room.

I watched lines of Double-crested Cormorants flying by, just above the Atlantic Ocean. 

Early morning, the workers are out cleaning the beach. 

4. Mid Morning, Michael can not travel without having his dialysis treatment.  We found a place in Berlin Md, 8 miles outside of Ocean City.  So part of the day Michael had his dialysis and I birdwatched and read my kindle book. We did stop at the Heron Pond in Berlin for a little walk and some birdwatching. We ran into some other walkers with dogs, the dogs always like Michael.

I watched a Killdeer on the parking lot at the dialysis center.  

5. Later in the day we watched the sunset at the Ocean City Inlet. Across the inlet I could see the Ponies at the Assateague State Park. 

7. On the jetty at the inlet, I saw a few Great Blue Herons, some Brown Pelicans, various gulls and some Cormorants resting on the rocks. 

8. Sunset at Ocean City, Maryland

On a sad note, our neighborhood peacock has disappeared, he has been missing for a few weeks now. I am afraid something bad happened to it, maybe a fox?

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.

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.

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Thank you for sharing your critters and post! 

Saturday's Critters #329

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!



These are photos from our early March getaway to Delaware and Ocean City Maryland. I am so happy we took this trip before all the requests to stay safe at home and the park closures.  On the last morning,we left early in the morning, so we could visit a few parks on the way home. 


Two birding spots were new to me and right off the highway we were taking to go home. Below a quickie stop at the Ocean City inlet before slowly heading home.  Top row is the Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon. Middle row more Common Loons.  Bottom row is from W. Ocean City pond Gadwall and female Ring-necked Duck.  

Click on images for a larger view.

 

Ocean City inlet, there were a lot of Gulls and Cormorants.

More ducks from the West Ocean City pond, a male Ring-necked Duck, 2 Tundra Swans, Gadwall, a Northern Shoveler. Bottom row are the Tundra Swans, Bufflehead Ducks and a pair of Ring-necked Ducks.

Tundra Swans, Northern Shoveler and guessing a Gadwall.

Below is another new spot for me was at the Berlin, Maryland @ Heron Park.  We saw a lot of ducks, of course they were all floating on the opposite side of the pond and lighting was not the best in the morning. Plenty of Ring-necked Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Redhead Duck and Ruddy Ducks.

A large group of Northern Shovelers seen in Berlin Maryland at the Heron Park.

Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their post.


Here is a list of my linky parties;




 

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the host Anni.

Saturday's Critters #328

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!



Before the lock down in early March, we took trip to Ocean City Maryland. During our getaway we visited the Assateague Island National Seashore and the Assateague Md State Park. Hubby and I both have senior passes for both parks which is nice, we no longer have to make sure we have exact change. 

We walked the beaches, the boardwalk trails and drove around the park looking for birds and the Assateague ponies.  

The Maryland Assateague Island ponies are owned by the national park, they are kept separate from the Chincotegue Island Virginia ponies.  Around 150 ponies are owned by the Chincoteague Island Volunteer Fire Company in Chincoteague Island Virginia. Some of these ponies are auctioned off each year.

Below a few Killdeer, Northern Gannet over the ocean, bottom right are some of the Common Loons.

 The Common Loons seemed to be the most common bird seen from the beach.

 I was able to find a few Northern Gannets far out in the ocean, it is fun to watch them dive.

The Killdeer were seen and heard on the Assateague Island beach.

Traffic back up from the Assateague ponies crossing the street.

Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their post.


Here is a list of my linky parties;


 





Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the host Anni.

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thankful Thursday!


These are the end of my Ocean City photos, the sunrise on our last morning Feb 6. We were up early to see the sunrise and check out the Ocean City Inlet in case any new sea birds showed up. Then we headed to Blackwater Nat'l Wildlife refuge on the way home.  I will share the wildlife refuge photos in another post. 

Thankful for another day and a beautiful sunrise. 

Most of the sea ducks were at the opposite side of the inlet, I could see the Common Eider, Long-tailed Ducks, Bufflehead Ducks and a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers.

The beach is a hang out spot for various gulls and pigeons. 

I always miss the Dovekie and Razorbill sightings by a couple of days or even hours. But, we did see the Ruddy Turnstones hanging in the same spot. 

I am thankful for my hubby who enjoys nature as much as I do.
For each day I am Thankful, Grateful and Blessed!
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


Happy Thursday, enjoy your day!

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

Ocean City, Maryland

I am linking up with Skywatch Friday  and Good Fences
I hope you can join in on the fun and share your fence scenes and pretty skies.

I have more images of the sky and some fences from our last visit to Ocean City Maryland and Assateague National Seashore. I hope you enjoy!

A Cormorant poses.

For Teresa's Friday Hunt..Thanks to Teresa for hosting.
1. letter G
2. week's favorite
3. in my kitchen

Week's Favorite above and the letter G.... I am sharing these two photos above and below from Ocean City of a Cormorant and a Gull.

My Gull lineup in front of various fences. How many different fences do you see?

Another favorite for my photo hunt and skywatch. A neat looking sky over the bay side at Assateague Island.

The USA and Maryland flags at the Assateague Island visitor center.

One of the many yellow-rumped Warblers we saw at Assateague.

The boardwalk trail at Assateague.

A couple of horses seen near the tree and behind the bushes. I hope you enjoyed this post and photos. Thanks for visiting and for the nice comments.

To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and check for more fence shots at Tex's Good Fences

Thanks to Theresa @ The Run*A*Round Ranch for hosting Good Fences this past year it has been fun looking for fences for my post. Also, thank you to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for doing such a great job at hosting Skywatch Friday.    I wish everyone a happy day and weekend ahead..

Ocean City, Maryland

I am linking up with Skywatch Friday  and Good Fences
I hope you can join in on the fun and share your fence scenes and pretty skies.

I heard on the news that the groundhog did NOT see his shadow, now if you can believe him we will have an early spring. I am already wishing it was spring, I seem to wish the time away during the winter months. Our 23 inches of snow is shrinking, the latest day of rain and warmer temps helped to get rid of the white stuff. It is hard to believe on Feb 1st, my son will have been in his own home for two years. Gee, where does the time go?

I am behind sharing some photos, these are more images from our most recent trip to Ocean City in early January. We spent two nights visiting the Delaware shores, Ocean City and Assateague Island, Maryland.

Ocean City, Maryland inlet is a hotspot to see Loons and other seabirds. We also saw a dolphin.

Plenty of Loons around the Ocean City inlet.

A view looking toward the bay

We had a sighting of a large flock of Brant Geese near the inlet.

Pretty view of the sky and reflection and a fence shot at the inlet.

More Loons, we saw 6-8 Loons hanging at the Ocean City Inlet.

It was a cold winter day, a little windy but always nice to have the beach practically to ourselves. We did share the beach with some gulls and pigeons.

Find JOY in the little things. I hope you enjoyed our trip to Ocean City, Md. Thanks for visiting and for the nice comments.

To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and check for more fence shots at Tex's Good Fences

Thanks to Theresa @ The Run*A*Round Ranch for hosting Good Fences this past year it has been fun looking for fences for my post. Also, thank you to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for doing such a great job at hosting Skywatch Friday.    I wish everyone a happy day and weekend ahead..

More from Ocean City, Maryland

I am linking up with Skywatch Friday  and Good Fences
I hope you can join in on the fun and share your fence scenes and pretty skies.

For my Skywatch Friday and Good Fences I am sharing another sunrise from our Ocean City hotel. We had an ocean front room with great views. Some more beach and fence scenes in Ocean City and at the Delaware Indian River Inlet.

Some clouds floating in front of the rising sun at Ocean City, Md.

For Tex's Good Fences we walked around Ocean City's inlet, usually I can find some great shorebirds or gulls around the jetty.

A look at the pretty sky and an amusement ride near Ocean City's inlet.

A Dark-eyed Junco perched on a fence at Sunset Park, Ocean City.

I found a White-throated Sparrow also in the Sunset Park, Ocean City.

I have always loved this bridge design at Delaware's Indian River. I hope you enjoyed our visit to Ocean City, Maryland. Thank you for stopping by and most all for the nice comments. Have a happy day and weekend ahead..

To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and check for more fence shots at Tex's Good Fences

Thanks to Theresa @ The Run*A*Round Ranch for hosting Good Fences and thanks to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday.    I wish everyone a happy day and weekend ahead..