Sunday Morning Walk

 I am linking up with Simple Things Sunday and  Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday

 I was so happy to wake up this Sunday morning and finally see some blue sky and sunshine. Our weather lately has been mostly cloudy and raining. Since, working all week I enjoy getting outside on the weekend to take a walk with hubby and our dog. And to do a little bird watching is always a simple pleasure for me.

One of our favorite places to take an early morning walk this weekend was at the Loch Raven Reservoir.

On the weekend the road around the Loch Raven reservoir is closed to car traffic and open to people walking, biking and jogging.  We usually see families out with their young children on their little bikes. Today we took our Goldie Girl.

Sometimes I try to arrange our walks where a certain bird has been seen hanging out. This time I was looking for the Eurasian Wigeon. I did find a couple of American Wigeons which I have in the mosaic above. We also saw lots of Gulls, Canada Geese and Ring-necked Ducks.

 We watched one family with a cute toddler feeding the geese and gulls. The toddler seemed to be enjoying all the birds he was attracting with the bread.

A shot of the reservoir and a couple of Canada Geese giving me the eye.

The walk along the road is pretty with the tall pine trees and the reservoir.  I hope you enjoyed my Sunday morning walk. Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate the comments as well.


Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit Simple Things Sunday and to see beautiful mosaics please visit Mosaic Monday and more from  Our World Tuesday
 Thanks to our host:  Rebecca of Simple as That and Mary our host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  Thanks also for stopping by to see my post.  I wish everyone a happy week!

More of my Great Backyard Bird Count

 I am linking up with Simple Things Sunday and  Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday


This President's Day weekend has been all about the birds. It was the annual Great Backyard Bird Count Feb 15-18th. I have been participating each day, keeping a count of all my yardbirds. It is fun and I am happy to help with the science of tracking the birds for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon

A quote I like by John James Audubon "A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children". 

Having a little snow during the weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count was actually a great thing for me. I see a lot more birds in my yard when it is either snowing or there is snow on the ground.

On Saturday, I had 23 species of birds with a total count of 143 birds. Some of my highest counts for individual birds: 33 Grackles,  26 Juncos and 13 Pine Siskins!

  

Another John James Audubon quote I like " I never for a day gave up listening to the songs of our birds, or watching their peculiar habits, or delineating in the best way I could".

Above is my snowy backyard and a Redbellied Woodpecker. Snowy shots taken early yesterday morning. The snow was pretty, it covered the trees like a blanket. The best kind of snow, it was not on the streets.

Today was extremely cold and windy day. Birds do not seem to like windy days, which I think affected my count but it was still a great day of backyard birding. For me it is a simple thing, something I really enjoy doing.

Another quote I like author unknown " Bless the flowers and the weeds, my birds and bees". This quote makes me think of spring and I am so ready for spring.

Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your nice comments.

Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit Simple Things Sunday and to see beautiful mosaics please visit Mosaic Monday and more from  Our World Tuesday
 Thanks to our host:  Rebecca of Simple as that and Mary of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia and Sandy .  Thanks also for stopping by to see my post.  I wish everyone a happy week!

Cold Winter Day

 I am linking up with Simple Things Sunday and  Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday

Yesterday, hubby and I took a brisk walk on the NCR bike trail. It was a cold day, but the sky was a beautiful blue and the sun was shining.

John Muir, was a man I admire. His love of nature was clearly shown in his artwork. This is one of his quotes that I love. "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul".

Above are some scenes from our walk yesterday on the bike trail. The wall of ice was beautiful, the details on the icicles, the colors from the sunlight shining on the ice was just amazing.

A few of the birds I saw were a flock of Eastern Bluebirds and a Downy Woodpecker. Watching the birds is a simple pleasure for me.

A male Downy Woodpecker working his way up the tree.

Another quote I would like to share author unknown to me "Birds are a miracle because they prove to us there is a finer, simpler state of being which we may strive to attain".

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

I am a person who enjoys nature and the more simple things in life like beautiful blue skies, sunrises, sunsets, nature, birds, wildlife and a forest of trees left untouched by man. Do you enjoy nature? 
Thanks for visiting my post and I hope you enjoyed my photos.

Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit Simple Things Sunday and to see beautiful mosaics please visit Mosaic Monday and more from  Our World Tuesday
 Thanks to our host:  Rebecca of Simple as that and Mary of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia and Sandy .  Thanks also for stopping by to see my post.  I wish everyone a happy week!

Early Morning birds

 I am linking up with Simple Things Sunday and  Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday

Happy Superbowl Sunday!!   GO RAVENS!!!!!!!

 I love the view from our mailbox. I wanted to check out the condition of our street after yesterdays snowfall. Some day I am afraid the foresters will be cutting down these lovely pine trees along my street. :(

It will change my view for ever. But, for now I am enjoying the view.

Above is a mosaic of what I call our monster, the trumpet vine on our deck. We left it for the birds to hide in or perch. This morning they patiently waited for me to clean the snow off the feeders and fill them up.

More birds patiently waiting the Juncos and a White-Throateed Sparrow

It seems to be a happy place for the birds above are the Juncos and a Morning Dove.

Early this morning, I swept the snow off an area where I walk to fill up the feeders. I placed peanuts along the deck railing for the birds or I should say squirrels.

 

My cardinal couple waiting for their breakfast. I think they are telling me to hurry up.

What makes you happy? I am happy to keep my birds safe and happy. The birds are enjoying the food on these cold winter days. I hope you enjoyed my post. Thanks for stopping by and I always appreciate your comments.

Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit Simple Things Sunday and mosaics please visit Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday
 Thanks to Rebecca of Simple as that and Mary of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia and Sandy .  Thanks also for stopping by to see my post.  I wish everyone a happy week!