Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday! Happy August! 

Wishing everyone a great day and happy new week!

"Hope is being able to see that there is a light despite all the darkness."  Desmond Tutu

"Joy is a light that fills you with hope, faith and love."

"We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

 Happy Thursday!

 I am continuing with my throwback photos of our visits to various National Wildlife Refuges around the USA.  I found out due to shortages of workers at the wildlife refuges, many of the wildlife refuges are lumped together and called a complex. A complex can consists of up to 7 or more wildlife refuges in one area of a state. A refuge complex could possibly only have a few part time or full time workers.  If you visit, you might want to check to make sure it is not closed for hunting and or maintenance. Visitors centers maybe closed due to COVID but the wildlife drives and trails are open.

 

I have so many photos, I had to break up the post. With these COVID times, we are not traveling. I am thankful to share some archived photos, I hope you enjoy. I am thankful for all these wonderful memories hubby and I have while traveling.

 

1.  I am starting off this post with  our visit to New Mexico, we were able to visit 2 wildlife refuges. This first one is called Bitter Lake NWR, not far from Roswell New Mexico. Below are the Sandhill Cranes, refuge sign, possible Lesser Goldfinch, Pied-billed Grebe, Loggerhead Shrike, White Pelicans with ducks and more Sandhill Cranes.

Click on photos for larger viewing....

 

 

 

Bitter Lake NWR this is a link to my original visit and post.

 2. While on the wildlife drive we saw the migrating Sandhill Cranes, ducks, geese and many other species of birds. Pretty view of the refuge located where the Chihuahuan Desert meets the Southern Plains and wetland area of the Pecos River watershed.

Bosque Del Apache NWR link to original post and photos.

3. This refuge is located in San Antonio New Mexico. This was one of my favorite refuges in New Mexico, the birding was great. I actually saw a Mountain Lion crossing the wildlife drive, my first time seeing this critter. Below are the Sandhill Cranes, top right is the Road Runner a lifer for this trip, Gambel's Quail lifer, White-crowned Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Snow Geese, Northern Harrier and Killdeer.

4. Sunset at the Bosque Del Apache NWR , flock of blackbirds with the Cranes.
 

 

 

 Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge   a link to my original post and photos.

5. This refuge is located in the Finger Lakes region near Seneca New York. Below are sightings from the wildlife drive the Purple Martins, Great Egrets, Canada Geese, Red-wing Blackbirds, Bald Eagle, Northern Shoveler duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Tern, Gadwall ducks, DC Cormorant, Song Sparrow, Mallards, unknown Sandpiper and lots of turtles. 

 

Pea Island NWR  my original post and photos.

6. This wildlife refuge is located in North Carolina at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Pea Island is one of 9 refuges that make up the North Carolina Coastal Refuge complex.  Below are the Great Egret, Double-crested Cormorants, White Pelicans, Swan, Ruddy Ducks and a Eastern Meadowlark.

 

 

 

 7.  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge,  Oak Harbor Ohio. My visit here was a quick.  I was on a trip  with a couple of birding friends to Magee Marsh in Ohio. Magee Marsh is a famous spot for spring time birding. My friends and I drove the Ottawa NWR wildlife drive, visited their visitor center, we saw the Bald Eagles, Egrets, deer and the White-crowned Sparrow.  

 

Cape Meares NWR  My original post and photos

 

8. Oregon, one of my favorite states to visit. Hubby and I drove up and down the Oregon coast. Along one section of the coast is the Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Three Arch Rocks, Oregon Islands NWR complex. Nesting seabirds include the Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemots, Pelagic Cormorants and the Black Oystercatcher.  The Cape Meares Lighthouse is actually part of a state park, the surrounding area is the wildlife refuge.

9. A view of one of the islands, covered with nesting seabirds.

 

John Heinz NWR   original post and photos

10. This mosaic is photos from our visit to John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Tinicum Township Pennsylvania. It is not far from Philadelphia PA. 

Included below the boardwalk trail at the wildlife refuge, views of the wetlands, turtles, ducks, marsh wren and flowers.

Savannah NWR South Carolina my original post and photos.

Now down the east coast to South Carolina, we were able to visit 2 national wildlife refuges in this state. We have been to the Savannah NWR and Pinckney Island NWR. 

11. Savannah NWR photos below lots of turtle with alligator, lots of alligators, Glossy Ibis, White Ibis, Green Heron, Great Egret with the Snowy Egret. Part of the Savannah NWR is in South Carolina and part is also in Georgia. We have been to both, the wildlife drive and the visitor center.

 

Pinckney Island NWR  My original post and photos.

 

12. Pinckney Island NWR South Carolina near Hilton Head SC .

 Below, Eastern Blue Birds, Common Moorhen, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis with gator and Phoebes.

 

I will have one more post to finish off my National Wildlife Refuge visits.  I am thankful to enjoy all my moments with hubby.  Thankful for the joy of seeing wildlife.

Go outside and breathe deeply.  Enjoy every moment. 

Take care and stay safe! 


Live simple and be happy!  😊 Keep smiling!

Thank you Martha for hosting Throwback Thursday 

Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
 

Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday
 

Thank you to Jutta the host of Nature Thursday

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

 

Saturday's Critters #317

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!



December 2019 road trip to Hilton Island and Florida. These are some critters/birds seen at the Pinckney Island NWR just a 1/2 mile west of Hilton Head Island.



Below are the Great Egret, juvenile Little Blue Heron, Great Blue Heron and a Snowy Egret.

 Lots of Eastern Bluebirds were seen at the wildlife refuge.

 Pied Billed Grebes.

White Ibis flying in to the Ibis Pond at Pinckney Island NWR

 Common Moorhen (thanks to Ken, the correct name is Common Gallinule).

 White Ibis, Coots, Moorhens and a big alligator.

I appreciate and thank everyone who visits and links up their post and for all the wonderful comments !











Here is a list of my linky parties;

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

Happy Thankful Thursday

 Hello, Happy Thursday! 


  I am sharing more of our Hilton Head SC visit. On Dec 20, we visited different parks and beaches, we walked until we couldn't. A total of 7.8 miles for the day..  The first park was the Pinckney Island NWR, the Coastal Discovery Museum, Audubon Newhall Nature Preserve and  Coligny Beach Park.

 Bluebirds and a pretty blue sky!

 Me and my shadow (hubby).. at the Pinckney Island NWR in Hilton Head SC.

 Wood Pewee?  I am just guessing. 

 The boardwalk at the Coastal Discovery Museum.

I really liked this sea turtle sculpture seen at the Coastal Discovery Museum. 

 A group of Hooded Mergansers were seen from the boardwalk above. 

 At the Audubon Newhall Preserve, we saw the Brown-headed Nuthatches. They seem to like the Loblolly Pine trees.

 The Coligny Beach Park in Hilton Head was very nice.

Below, Black Skimmer with Ring-billed Gulls and possibly juvenile Forster's Terns with the black eye patch.

Can you make out a faint partial halo or circle around the sun, or am I imagining things. Our walk on the Coligny Beach in Hilton Head South Carolina.

A cloudy sunset, but a peaceful and pretty beach walk.

I am thankful for new experiences, in the past year and for those to come in the new year 2020!
Always thankful for the small things, walks on the beaches and bird sightings.
I am always thankful for your visit and comments.
Live simple and be happy!  😊




Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday




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

Our World, My World

 Hello and Happy Monday!

I will be sharing some trip photos today and in posts to come. I hope you enjoy nature scenes and birds. I admit I am easily distracted by birds and I love anything nature related. 

Before leaving home I research the places we were visiting, in this case Hilton Head South Carolina.  I looked for nature parks, walking trails and nice beaches.  I found Jarvis Creek Park which is 53 acres and has a 1.1mile loop around a 11 acre lake. There were pavilions and clean restrooms. 


Mosaic below, park scenes, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron, Anhinga, Northern Mockingbird, Carolina Wren.

Pulling up to the park's parking lot, I immediately started seeing Warblers, they were on the ground, in the trees and flying about.  I was not expecting to see so many different species of Warblers in late December. 

Below on the left is the Yellow-rumped Warbler, the top middle a Pine Warbler. I am not sure but the warbler on the right with the reflection ? CLICK ON PHOTOS for larger image.

More Warblers on the parking lot.

A view of the lake and park.

 Pine Warblers were in the trees and on the ground.

I love these big trees with the moss.

 A Bluebird was also seen hanging out with the Warblers on the ground.

I see warblers below that have more of a distinct white "eyebrow" are mixed in with the Yellow-rumped Warblers. Could it be a different warbler mixed in?

 I am pretty sure there were a lot of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Pine Warblers and we saw a Black & White Warbler.

The Black & White Warblers were seen on various days and various places.

We saw a few Anhinga perched in trees near the lake.

Please check out and visit the following memes and links. I hope to see you there. 

Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi  the host of Our World Tuesday!

Thanks for visiting and commenting, have a happy day and a great new week!

Happy Thankful Thursday

 Hello and happy Thursday!

A new year and the first Thursday of 2020. 
May the New Year bring with it all the fulfillment your heart desires. Have a wonderful New Year! 

We spent 3 days of our road trip in Hilton Head South Carolina. I think the Fish Haul Creek beach Park  was one of our favorite places to walk and see birds. 


Our second visit to this beach was at a very low tide.

 Black Skimmers in flight. Click on photo for a larger view.

 I am guessing this is a Black-bellied Plover.

 Another look at the Black Skimmers on the beach.  It is funny seeing all those red legs.

 A Willet on the beach at low tide.

 Sorry, another guess at a bird id, the long bill with a pinkish base is a Marbled Godwit.  Also Dunlins?

 I believe these are the Semipalmated Plovers.

South Carolina designated the Lettered Olive as the official state sea shell.  I think we found one, I just took a photo and we put it back down on the beach. 

 A pretty Snowy Egret, seen not far from the Bald Eagle.

 Possibly a juvenile Semipalmated Plover?

I realize everyone is entitled to their opinions and political views. But, I am sickened to read the current administration has dramatically weakened the Endangered Species Act. One of our countries widely supported and successful environmental laws. This law helped to bring back the Bald Eagle from the brink. We are in the midst of an unprecedented extinction crisis. 

This Bald Eagle was seen on the Fish Haul Beach in Hilton Head South Carolina.

I am thankful for the past year's experiences. I am looking forward to a Happy New Year filled with new possibilities.
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




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