Birding the NCR trail

Last weekend hubby and I enjoyed a brisk walk along the NCR bike trail not far from our house. Usually in the afternoon I do not see many birds but on this outing we saw the Carolina Wren and was surprised to see about 10 Eastern Bluebirds flying fast over the trail and up the hill next to us. I missed getting photos of the beautiful bluebirds. The trail follows the Gunpowder River and is fast moving so only parts of it were frozen. 

These are some of the shots I took while on our walk and joining in on 2sweetnsaxy's meme Watery Wednesday and Susan's Outdoor Wednesday.

Carolina Wren  is a resident in the eastern half of the USA. Rufous colored upperparts and orange buff on its belly. It has a striking white eyebrow and a long bill.

Goldie Girl always enjoys our walks, I think sometimes she stops and looks around for the birds too.

Happy Birding and I hope you enjoyed our walk and thanks for stopping by. Clock on my links to visit more Watery Wednesday and Outdoor Wednesday posts from all over.

In case I do not get the chance again I want to wish everyone a very HEALTHY and HAPPY NEW YEARS.

Birding the Hemlock Gorge

On Sunday, hubby and I took a hike around the Hemlock Gorge. This area is known for its large beautiful hemlock trees. The river that flows thru the Hemlock Gorge ends up in the top part of our reservoir. During our loop drive back to our house we stop and took a look over the bridge that is when I spotted the Hooded Merganser couple. It was a quiet day for the birds. These Hooded Mergansers were the easiest birds for me to spot. Usually I see a kingfisher in this area but it was not there on Sunday.

  The Hemlock Gorge loop trail take us past an an old cemetary where the Hoffman family are buried. The Hoffmans were the first paper makers in the state of Maryland. Mr Hoffman died in 1811. I was told the small maker stones in front are actually makers for the servants.

             The trail takes us along the river and the pretty hemlock trees.

I am linking up with 2sweetnsaxy's Watery Wednesday and Susan's Outdoor Wednesday. Thanks to these wonderful host and thanks for stopping by to see my post.

Red-Breasted Nuthatch

I have been enjoying seeing  the RedBreasted Nuthatch as they visit my feeders.

I am link up with Wordless Wednesday  and Outdoor Wednesday with my cute Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Thanks to the wonderful hosts of these meme and thanks for stopping by my post.

Backyard Birds

Lately I have been enjoying some FOY which is first of the year birds in my yard. The Purples Finches and the White Throated Sparrows are two birds I usually see more in the winter months.

Click here to see more of Wordless Wednesday  and click here to see more of Outdoor Wednesday

Thanks to the host and for stopping by to see my birdie post.

Our neighborhood reservoir

This is the reservoir that is within walking distance from my house. On Sunday, hubby and I and the dog took a walk on the fireroad and came back along the lakeshore. The reservoir is low so we are able to walk along the shore. It not good that the reservoir is low but I do love to walk along the shore. When the water is at normal levels the water is right next to the tree line. During our walk I saw along the waters edge all these feathers. There is a line of white feathers all along the waters edge. I can only assume they are from the Canada Geese that frequently visit the lake. If anyone can id the feathers, in case I am wrong I would appreciate the help


If you click on this shot you get  a better view of the white feathers along the shore.

Feathers along the shore mostly small white feathers

As you can see the water level is low, we have had a dry summer.

A little bit of Autumn colors

My Goldie Girl just had a bath so no swimming allowed.

Some more pretty colors along the fireroad

I am linking up with 2sweetnsaxy's Watery Wednesday and

Susan's Outdoor Wednesday  Click on the links to visit these fun memes.

Thanks to these great hosts and thanks for stopping by my post and blog.

Birding Ocean City, Md

These shots are from Sept 18 and a quick visit to Ocean City, Md. Birding at the beach and Ocean City's inlet is usually good. On this day the most common bird I saw was the Ruddy Turnstone and a lot of gulls. The inlet and the rock jetty is the place I head to for birding in Ocean City. It was a crowded weekend for Ocean City it was biker week. I have never seen so many motorcycles, they were on the crowded road  and every parking lot.

The weather was perfect for spending the day at the beach.

Ruddy Turnstones

They can be id by the necklace they wear around their necks and their orange legs.

Cute seagull

I love the shadow this gull has created, it looks like he is leading an orchestra

Fishing boats coming back in

I am linking up with 2sweetnsaxy's Watery Wednesday and Susan's Outdoor Wednesday Click on the link to visit these fun memes.

Thanks for stopping by to see my post, have a great week.

Piscataway Park

My Pink Saturday post is here:   Pink Saturday

After leaving the Mattawomen creek( in my post below) hubby and I stopped for a walk at the Piscataway Park. The trail leads you down to a boardwalk along the Potomac River. Even though it was later in the day we saw a couple of Prothonotary Warblers, a flock of  swallows, a few Osprey, a cormorant, lots of butterflies and dragonflies.

Common Buckeye

 Swallows

Cormorant and Osprey

Swallowtail Butterflies

Not sure

I am linking up with 2sweetnsaxy's Watery Wednesday

and

                                          Susan's Outdoor Wednesday  thanks to both of these wonderful host.

                     Also, a big thanks to you for stopping by my post and blog. Have a great day :)

Walk to the lake

I am adding Weekend Reflections  to this post. Check out the reflections of the trees around my lake photo. And if you click on my Goldie Girl swimming, there is a cute reflection of her face and nose. Thanks to James for hosting Weekend Reflections.


For Watery Wednesday, Outdoor Wednesday and Nature Notes I am posting some of my photos from our walk to the lake near our house.

Wildlflower seen by the lake

This is an ovenbird, they seem to be common in the woods next to my house

The fireroad going to the lake

A pretty day for a walk

I hope you enjoyed my walk to our lake and I am link up with

Weekend Reflections Click on the link to see more wonderful reflections.

Watery Wednesday  click on my link to see more watery shots

Outdoor Wednesday  click on the link to see more of the great outdoors

Nature Notes  click here to visit Michelle's great Nature post.

Thansk to all the wonderful host and thanks for stopping by.

Backyard Pond

Besides having the beautiful waterlilies our pond is doing exactly what I wanted and that was to attract wildlife. There are probably hundreds of tadpoles, frogs and just the other day I watched this dragonfly dipping into the pond. I believe it was their way of laying eggs.



                                         Dragonfly seen at bottom of photo with its bottom curved

Yellow Waterlilies

A few tadpoles with their wiggly little tails can be seen in shot

                                            Frogs love it.

The birds seem to enjoy the pond too.

I am linking to several memes with my pond post to see more great photos visit 

 Susan at her

Outdoor Wednesday

and Michelle at

Nature Notes

and 2sweetnsaxy at

Watery Wednesday

Thanks for stopping by my post