Shenandoah National Park

Happy Thursday, wishing everyone a great day!

On Jun 15th, hubby and I went on a day trip to Shenandoah National Park. These are some photos from along the way and at the park and on the Skyline Drive. We hiked the Limberlost Trail, walked on the Big Meadows and stopped at a few overlooks along the Skyline Drive. 


On the drive to the park I was riding on Rt 340 just outside Berryville Virginia I looked over and saw a Roseate Spoonbill. A rare sighting for Virginia, I had to turn the car around and go back for some photos. Looks like a juvenile Roseate Spoonbill was hanging out on a flooded field with a couple of Mallards. 

 The White tailed deer can be seen along the Skyline Drive, usually early in the morning and later in the evening. Do your two deer, one is a little hidden. I wonder how many bike riders have seen bears along their rides, they could be surprised unexpectedly having a bear pop out on the drive. 

A few Shenandoah Park birds, the top left I am not sure of it's id, the top middle bird is the female Eastern Towhee and top right is the male Eastern Towhee. Bottom left is a Cedar Waxwing, middle bottom row is a Song Sparrow and bottom right is a Blue-headed Vireo. 

Columbine seen along the Skyline Drive.

Skipper on the mountain laurels. 

A couple of sky shots taken at the Big Meadows, Shenandoah.

Some flower on the Big Meadows. 

Black Bear seen along the Skyline Drive in the Northern Section of the park. 

We were first to see this Black Bear along the Skyline Drive. I was glad not to have a line of cars in front or back of me. 

I am thankful for the wildflowers, what a lovely sight. 

I love seeing wildlife, I was thankful to see the Black Bear. 

I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 

Thank you Michelle for hostingHappy Monday, enjoy your day and new week! 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!

Cape Coral & Myakka River State Park, Florida

Hello,


These are some images from our time in Florida, one day we visited the Myakka River State Park after a visit to the Cape Coral area to see the Burrowing Owls.  While watching the Burrowing Owls I also noticed the Loggerhead Shrike, seen below. It was also the spot were we saw the Monk Parakeets, I posted on a previous post.

Below is the Loggerhead Shrike seen on a wire near the ball field. It was a pretty blue sky above the Shrike.



The Burrowing Owls seen in Cape Coral Florida.




A scene from the Myakka River State Park



This is one of the many Roseate Spoonbills we saw at the Myakka River State Park. It was a pretty sky and sunny day.



For my list of thankful things this week:
I am thankful for the beautiful birds in the world.
I am thankful for my eyesight, I am able to see the beauty in the world.

I hope you enjoyed my post and photos.  Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments. Have a happy day!

Thank you Michelle for hosting. Thankful Thursday

Thank you to the hosts of   Skywatch Friday

Merritt Island NWR & Cape Canaveral Seashore

Hello,

Wow, just one more day and March will be over. I am looking forward to April, the springs birds and visiting my old favorite Maryland birding spots. Since returning home, I have not been out much due mostly to the weather. I miss the Florida weather, sunny and warm. So I hope you do not mind seeing more Florida photos.

A pretty Roseate Spoonbill seen at Merritt Island NWR

Another Roseate Spooonbill, maybe a young one. The coloring was more whitish then the pretty pink.

Also at Merritt Island NWR, a group of Coots is called covers or a raft.

A flock of Red Knots at Cape Canaveral Seashore.

Terns on the beach at Cape Canaveral Seashore.

A pretty sky and reflection

Be kind, be thoughtful, be genuine, but most of all be thankful! 

My thankful list for today:

I am thankful for my health. It is not perfect but it could be worse.
I am thankful for today.
I am thankful for warm weather.


 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.

Viera Wetlands

Hello,

Prayers for London and the victims of the terror act.

These are images from our time in Florida, I hope you enjoy. It was a great 5 months living in Florida, I have enjoyed this experience of living in a new place and the state of Florida.

We learned to avoid traffic on the highways in Florida it is best to leave early in the morning. On this day we were heading to the Viera Wetlands in Melbourne Florida. We were early enough to see the sunrise at the nearby Satellite Beach.

Pelican flyby.

Below are the some of the birds we saw at the Viera Wetlands, the White Ibis with his colorful bill and legs.

A Great Egret and a Roseate Spoonbill.

Great Blue Herons on nest.

White Pelicans were one of my favorite sights.

Start each day with a thankful heart. 

I am thankful for my time and experiences while living in Florida.
I am thankful my dreams that turned into reality.

Be thankful for unknown blessings already on their way. 


 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.

Saturday's Critters #168

Saturday's Critters #168

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

If you have not guessed already from my other post, the Circle B Reserve in Lakeland is one of my favorite birding places in Florida. Sometimes we visit the Circle B twice in a week. Here are some more of my favorite scenes, birds and a butterfly from the reserve.

Two Wood Storks.

A Zebra Longwing Butterfly

Two baby gators.

A Roseate Spoonbill

A Pied-billed Grebe

Green Heron

Sandhill Cranes

As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.

Saturday's Critters #165

Saturday's Critters #165

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party.

These are some images from our visit to Ding Darling wildlife refuge in Sanibel Island, Florida. This was an overnight trip and we were able to visit some various parks and preserves. 

A couple of Roseate Spoonbills seen from the Ding Darling wildlife drive.

I believe this is a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night Heron.

Adult Yellow-crowned Night Heron with a crab.

American White Pelicans.

Various birds seen from the wildlife drive.

I hope you enjoyed this visit to Ding Darling and my bird photos.

As always thanks for the visits and the nice comments. I also thank everyone who is linking up and sharing their critters.. Happy Saturday, have a great weekend!

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious host: Anni.  Also check out Camera Critters. Thanks to Misty for hosting this fun meme.

Roseate Spoonbill

Hello,

Joining in today with a couple of my favorite memes Michelle's Nature Notes and Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday.

The Roseate Spoonbill is one of my favorite Florida birds. Since being in Florida, I have seen the Spoonbills at the wildlife drive at Merritt Island NWR, Ding Darling NWR, Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland and at our local Lake Parker Park in Lakeland. These are some various images of the Roseate Spoonbill.

The Roseate Spoonbill has a long flat spoon-shaped bill. This shot shows just how flat the bill is. The first three photos were taken at Lake Parker Park in Lakeland, Fl.

Their head is bald.

This angle shows the cool spoon shaped bill.

Immature Roseate Spoonbills are a paler pink. Their pink color is derived from their diet. They eat frog and aquatic insects and very small fish. The next two images were taken at the Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland Fl.

The photo below shows they have red eyes.

The Roseate Spoonbills in the next two photos were seen at the Ding Darling NWR , Sanibel Island 12/7/16

I hope you enjoyed my photos and post. 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

South Lake Howard Nature Park

Hello,


Merry Christmas and a happy healthy New Years to all.

Each day hubby and I are in Florida we try to visit a new park for our walks. It is our way of exercising, they say walking is good for you. On Nov 3rd, we visited the South Lake Howard Nature Park in Winter Haven. They have a nice paved path and boardwalk for our walking pleasure. Of course while walking I am checking out the birds.

Before our walk we usually do our gym routine and try to see a sunrise. This shot is from our neighborhood clubhouse.

A pretty sky and boardwalk. I think a White Ibis is on the railing.

A Little Blue Heron

 A Great Blue Heron

I believe this is the Red Shouldered Hawk

A Roseate Spoonbill and an alligator in the water below. There are warning signs to warn people the gators can come out of the water, some times to lay in the warm sunshine.

A Roseate Spoonbill on the railing.

A Tricolored Heron on the railing.

The Roseate Spoonbill showing off it's pretty color and wings.

A skywatch over Lake Howard. This quote says exactly how I feel and some of the things I am thankful for. I am thankful for being able to spend this time in Florida and I am thankful for our good health at this time.

"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky, and for everything that is natural, which is infinite, which is yes." E. Cummings

I hope you enjoyed my post and photos. 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.