Saturday's Critters # 525

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!

These images are from our visit and walk at the Loch Raven Reservoir, Baltimore County. It is nice to take a walk in a different location than our neighborhood. Usually we can see a variety of winter ducks at this reservoir. There are usually lots of Gulls and Mallards hanging around the parking area.  When we got out of our car, the ducks came running. They are used to people and being fed. Sorry ducks, we did not bring any food.  

1. Our first stop was near the secondary dam, here we saw a large group of male and female Hooded Mergansers, Canada Geese, Ring-billed Gull and some Mallard ducks. 

2. The Hooded Mergansers are one of my favorite ducks. The males have a fan shaped crest that can collapse. The females have a cinnamon colored crest.

This group of Canada Geese and Mallards were resting on the top of the secondary dam. 

3. This large group of Mallards and Gulls were just fed, a couple in a car pulled up with some kind of food. Hopefully it was not bread.  

4. The large group of Mallards are resting after just being fed.  

5. I know the bottom gull is a the Ring-billed Gull, I am not sure about the top gull. It does look like a juvenile?

6. We saw a large group of the Ring-necked Ducks. 

7.  I tried for a closer look at the Ring-necked Ducks. The male is black, gray and white with a prominent white ring on the bill. The females are brown with a white patch near the bill.

A closer look at the Ring-billed Gull. They have a heavy bill with a distinct ring.

8. On the way home we rode past the Friendly Farm ponds, there were 5 Bald Eagles on the ground. Three adult Bald Eagles next to one pond and there were 2 juvenile Eagles across the driveway and near the second pond. 

"Let us give nature a chance, she knows her business better than we do."

I wanted to ask if anyone could help me to create a new badge for the Saturday's Critters party. A new year and time for a change. Thanks in advance!

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. Also, if you like you can add the badge below on your Saturday's Critter post.  Thank you to Shiju for making the new badge. 

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 # 475

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!

1. Early January we had a few nice weather days, mild temperatures but not always sunny. On this day hubby and took a walk at the Loch Raven Reservoir, usually you can always find some winter ducks on the lake between the two dams. 

2. The male Hooded Merganser, it is one of my favorite ducks. The males have a black head with a white patch that changes sizes when the crest is raised. They have a white breast with chestnut flanks. 

3. The Canada Geese had the highest count, the geese population seems to doing very well.

4. The Ring-necked Ducks have dark heads and backs with gray sides. Adult males have a prominent white ring on their bill. The females are brown and have a white patch near the bill. 

5. I could only find a few Bufflehead ducks mixed in with the other duck species and a large count of Canada Geese.

6. More Canada Geese, some Ring-necked Ducks and a few American Wigeons.

7. Below are a few Canada Geese, two Ring-necked Ducks and 4 American Wigeons. the male American Wigeon has a cream color forecrown.

8. There have been years that the Eurasian Wigeon would be seen hanging out with the ducks on this reservoir, I tried zooming in on various groups but I did not see any other duck species. 

9. Canada Goose, Ring-billed Gull with two male Hooded Mergansers.

10. The Ring-billed Gulls are a common sight to see at this reservoir, they can also be found on parking lots.

11. Male and female Mallards.

12. The Hooded Merganser couple, the handsome male with the female.  The female is a gray-brown with cinnamon tone on the head. 

13. More male and female Mallards hanging out near the shore, people come to feed the ducks in this spot. So the ducks seem to be more tame around people. 

Bonus image: our grandson Mason will be 1 year old on the 24th..  Happy Birthday to Mason.

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! Also, I am also 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 # 421

 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 photos from our getaway to Ocean City, Delaware Shore and Assateague Island NWR. 

1. Sunrise on the beach at Ocean City, Md.  The only birds seen on the beach were various species of Gulls.

2. Silhouette of a sea duck or is it a Cormorant? Sunrise at Ocean City, MD.

3. Below are birds and scenes from the Sunset Park in Ocean City, Maryland. The Gulls and Cormorants perched on a pier, A Northern Flicker, Cormorant tangled with lure and fishing line,  possible White-winged Scoter, Common Loon, Gulls with Great Blue Heron.

4. At the Indian River Inlet we saw a flock of Bufflehead Ducks.

5. At the Indian River Inlet, I was happy to see a flock of Bufflehead Ducks, in the winter usually we see more Sea ducks, Scoters, Loons and Grebes. It is also a good spot to see the Sanderlings, Turnstones and the Purple Sandpipers. 

6. We went back to Assateague State Park and Assateague Island NWR for a second time. During our visit we spotted the American Black Ducks, lots of Bufflehead Ducks with a few Horned Grebes, Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk and the Gulls.

7. A few Horned Grebes below were mixed in with the Bufflehead Ducks. 

8. A Red-tailed Hawk was seen off the road in Assateague Island NWR. 

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!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Happy Thursday!  

 I  know many people are feeling the Covid stress. Hubby and I get that antsy feeling, we had to get away.  Take advantage of the great weather.  I am continuing to share some photos from our getaway to Maryland Shore and Ocean City Maryland.  I have to say we were in the car most of the time, a few hikes and walks on the beaches.  So I have a few sky photos to share and some bird sightings. 

 

1. the first evening and Sunset at the Ocean City Inlet.  I am thankful for 2 days of beautiful weather for our getaway.

 

2. Everyone was out enjoying this great November weather, we watched the surfers and there were also some Black Ducks or Cormorants nearby.

 

3.  A scene from the Ocean City Inlet, an early morning fishing boat heading out, a Brown Pelican flying by and some color just before the sunrise.

 

 

4.  I never noticed all these locks on the fishing pier at Ocean City. I am guessing the gull is the Ring-billed Gull.

 

5.  The sunrise next to the fishing pier in Ocean City Maryland.

6. Banded Terns on the Ocean City Inlet beach. These are the Royal Terns, thanks to Sondra for the id.

7.  Two Brown Pelicans flying by us at the Ocean City Inlet. 

8. We watched 6 dolphins in the inlet at Ocean City, Md. They would take turns moving in and out of the water.  I am thankful for all my wildlife sightings.

9. A mural on a utility box and a Red Fox crossed the street near us at the Ocean City Inlet. 

 I am thankful for another great getaway. I am thankful we continue to stay safe and healthy. 

I hope everyone stays healthy and safe. 

Go outside and breathe deeply.  Enjoy every moment. 

Take care and stay safe! 


Live simple and be happy!  😊 Keep smiling!


Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
 

Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday
 

Thank you for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!!  😊

Assateague National Seashore

Happy Thursday,  I wish everyone a happy day!

I am sharing some photos from our visit to Delaware & Maryland shores. Ocean City and I have some photos from Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland. We made a few visits to the park during our trip to the beach. 

The first photo is the sunset from Ocean City Maryland inlet.

Ocean City Maryland

Not sure if these are Ring-billed Gulls, Ocean City, Md?

Assateague Island National Seashore

"Make peace of mind your priority."

This may be a flock of Snow Buntings, we never did see them on the ground or close up. We just watched their flight pattern. 

Assateague Island National Seashore. 

"Nothing soothes the soul like a walk on the beach."

My Saturday's critter post has more of my wild pony photos. 

A view of the park's beach.

"Find your place of peace and carry it with you always."

I am thankful for our national parks and national seashores.
I am thankful to walk on the beach, even on a cloudy day.

I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 

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!