Happy Monday!

 Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week!

"Calm is a super power. Don't let stress kill your happiness."

"Judge nothing, you will be happy. Forgive everything, you will be happier. Love everything, you will be happiest."

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

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week!

"Curiosity is one of the great secrets of happiness."

"Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures."

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

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Saturday's Critters # 518

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Hello and happy Saturday!

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 🦃🥧

 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!

On Oct 9-11th , hubby and I went on a short getaway. First we took a short detour off of Rt 50 to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge Maryland. Then we headed to Chincoteague Island Virginia, the Chincoteague Island National Wildlife Refuge, Tom's Cove and the Assateague Island National Seashore. 

1. These are images from our drive at the Blackwater Wildlife Refuge. At Blackwater NWR, we took the short Marsh Edge trail. 

We saw and heard these Terns, they were so loud. I think they were fighting over a fish?  Back in the car and on the wildlife drive, I found a juvenile Bald Eagle sitting in a tree, monarchs were flying next to our car, a White-tailed Deer walking off into the wood and the Tickseed  Sunflowers were plentiful along the drive. 

 

The Tickseed Sunflowers looked pretty, the yellow flowers were seen all along the wildlife drive. 

2. Further along the wildlife drive, we saw the Yellowlegs, numerous Great Blue Herons, Canada Geese and an Egret. 

3. We saw two Mallards, one is hidden in the grasses hanging out with the Canada Geese.  

4. Looking straight on, the Great Blue Heron looks a little silly. 

5. After driving a total of 4 hours or more, we arrived in Chincoteague. We took a walk on the trail to the pony overlook.  On the way I saw this tiny Sika deer, it is so cute. At the pony overlook I found one Tricolored Heron and the ponies of course. 

The Sika Deer is a small member of the elk family, they have dark brown to black coat. They have short snouts and small ears. The Sika Deer were introduced to Maryland's Eastern Shore and in Virginia. I am assuming this was a juvenile Sika Deer, it just stood and stared at us while we were on the trail. 

A distant look at the Chincoteague Ponies. 

Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets are mixed together, a few times I think I saw the juvenile Little Blue Heron which is also white.  

6. On the road to the beach, we see lots of Egrets. Further up the road we see the Double-crested Cormorants hanging out, we caught the sun setting at Tom's Cove, a small group of Black-bellied Plovers  (just a guess) and there were 3 Great Blue Herons flying over the cove. 

7. On the shore of the cove, I was watching a group of what I believe are the juvenile Black-bellied Plovers.  There is a closer look at two in the mosaic above bottom left image. 

8. The end of day one, we watched the sun setting over Tom's Cove in Chincoteague 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 linking up to Heidrun's Mosaic Monday  I hope you can stop by and visit Heidrun and check out the Mosaic Monday post.

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week!

"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul."

Chincoteague Island and the Assateague Nat'l Seashore

"Happiness is a quiet walk along the beach."

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

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Happy Monday!

 Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week!

" An early morning walk is a blessing for the entire day."

Limberlost trail, Shenandoah National Park

"Be like a tree, stay grounded, keep growing and know when to let go."

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

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Happy Monday!

 Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week!

"Follow the path that lifts you up and lights your way."

"Each path goes somewhere, choose your destination."

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

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week! 

Happy Labor Day!  

" Every day wherever you are, you have the opportunity to be a light and a blessing. "

"Be someone's light, when they are hopeless."

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

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Saturday's Critters # 408

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!

On Sept 19-21, 2021 hubby and I visited Chincoteague Island, the National Wildlife Refuge and National Seashore in Virginia. I love seeing the wild ponies. It is a great place to see migrating birds, shorebirds and waders, geese and ducks. 

Click on photos for larger viewing.

1. These are images from our first day Sept 19th.

On the top row are the Laughing Gull, Chincoteague wild ponies.

Second row: juvenile Little Blue Herons, Snowy Egret with Great Egret, Cattle Egret, adult Little Blue Heron.

Bottom row: Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Bald Eagle, sunset and full moon rising.

2. The Cattle Egret showing it breeding colors on it's crown and back. 

3. The Chincoteague ponies, some egrets were seen on the ground and on the backs of the ponies. 

4. Adult Little Blue Heron with a few first year Little Blue Herons are actually white in color showing a two toned bill.

5. I am guessing at these 3 birds, 2 were larger in size which I believe are the Greater Yellowlegs and the smaller bird in front is the Lesser Yellowlegs.

6. The Great Egret is obvious with it's long yellow bill and dark legs and feet. 

7. Snowy Egret with the taller Great Egret. 

8. A pair of Bald Eagles perched high in the trees.

9. A closer look at one of the Bald Eagles. 

I hope you enjoyed this post, my photos and our visit to Chincoteague Island NWR. 

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!

Here is my linky:

YOU are all # 1.

Thanks to all my visitors and for your comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post.

Our World, My World

Happy Monday,  

In early October hubby and I were able to getaway to Chincoteague Island  Virginia.  We were still wearing our mask and keeping our distance and trying to stay safe and healthy.  A great deal of time we were either in our car or enjoying the outdoors.   We enjoyed the change of scenery with walks on the beach, seeing the wild ponies, lots of shore birds, fresh air and the sounds of the ocean. 

 1. Photos below of our walk on the beach, near Tom's Cove, there was a huge flock of terns mixed with gulls, cormorants and the Sanderlings were seen on the beach. 

 

2. Me and my shadow, walking on the beach at Chincoteague.

 

3.  The Chincoteague ponies were a distance away, some were seen in the corral. The wild ponies were being rounded up for a fall health check up. 

 

4. Some ponies were already in the corral, waiting for their health check up. 

 

5. Snowy Egrets, DC Cormorants, Great Egrets and White Ibis were plentiful, seen all around the Chincoteague NWR.

 

 

6. Lots of Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Tricolored Herons and White Ibis.
 

 7.  Social distancing at the Chincoteague Island beach, also known as Assateaugue Island National Seashore. 

I'll have more to share on our visit to Chincoteague Island and the National Wildlife Refuge and National Seashore.

We are still hanging in there, happy and healthy.   I hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy. 


What's happening in your corner of the world? 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!

 

 

 

Saturday's Critters #357

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 wanted to finish my little series on the National Wildlife Refuges, my last two post show  wildlife refuges from around the country.  When the wildlife refuges were started they were a place for the migratory birds to rest and some to nest. Our current administration has opened more federal land for hunting. I can only assume once a species is gone, they will look for something else to hunt?  I am not against hunting completely, only that there should be limits. 

 

1.  Hubby and I traveled from Salt Lake City to the Tetons NP during two separate trips. One trip we stopped and visited the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.  Below are some of the birds we saw: Black-necked Stilt, Tree Swallow, Mountain Bluebird, White-faced Ibis, Yellow-headed Blackbird and the  Meadowlark. The Bear River flows into the Great Salt Lake.

 

 

Click on images for larger viewing..

 

 2. In Virginia we have visited three of the National Wildlife Refuges. The first one is Back Bay NWR near Virginia Beach Virginia. Original post is here Back Bay NWR. 

Below a Cardinal, Redwing Blackbird, Yellow Rump Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, Horned Grebe, Gull, Northern Gannet, Brown Pelican, DC Cormorants.

 

 

 

 

 

3. Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, one of my favorite refuges to visit. Original post seen here: Chincoteague NWR

Lighthouse, Little Blue Heron, Peregrine Falcon, ponies, Cattle Egret, Bald Eagle, Great Egret, Brown Pelican, Black Skimmers, Snowy Egrets, Tree Swallows, Northern Shoveler and American Oystercatcher.
 

4.  Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Original post seen here Great Dismal Swamp NWR. 

Turtles, Swallowtail Butterfly, Brown-Headed Cowbird, American Coot, Grackle, Killdeer, Belted Kingfisher and another  turtle.

 

 

 

 

5. We have been to three of the National Wildlife Refuges in the state of Washington, my favorite was Billy Frank Nisqually NWR near Olympia Washington. Original post seen here Nisqually NWR.

 

 Seen below, the boardwalk, Hooded Merganser, Gadwall, GB Heron with gulls, Song Sparrow, Cormorants, Barn Swallow Tree Swallow, Seal, Canada Geese and the twin barns.

 

6.  Dungeness NWR  in Sequim Washington.  We have been to this refuge a few times. It is another one of my favorite places. Original post seen here Dungeness NWR.

 

Seen below, the trail at Dungeness NWR, Rough Skinned Newt, the Dungeness Spit, Driftwood, Black Oystercatchers, Cormorants and Mergansers.

7. Grays Harbor NWR in or near Hoquiam Washington . Original post seen here Grays Harbor NWR. 

Seen below, views of the wetlands, trail, sparrow and ducks.

 

 

 

 

8. National Elk Refuge in Wyoming not far from Jackson Hole. 

 

 Seen below are the Elk,  various swallows on fence , Violet Green Swallow, Cinnamon Teal, boardwalk trail, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Northern Shoveler and Canada Geese.

 

 

 

President Theodore Roosevelt designated the first national wildlife refuge, it was the Pelican Island NWR in Florida. The NWR is a system of public land set aside to conserve fish, wildlife and plants. Land set aside for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. Enable the public enjoyment of these conservation lands. 


Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post.


Here is my linky:

 

 

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

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

Happy Thankful Thursday!

 Hello and Happy Thursday!  😀

These are some more images from our getaway to Shenandoah National Park.  Since we spent the night nearby in Front Royal Virginia we were able to stay late and watch the sunset from the Skyline Drive. 

Some scenes from our walk at the Big Meadows in Shenandoah NP.

 If you look close some bugs can be seen flying around us during our walk at Big Meadows. At least the bugs weren't landing on us. 

Pretty red plants on the Big Meadows, in the distance the Visitor Center looks tiny on the top right.

Shenadoah NP, the Skyline Drive and the Big Meadows. 

We had beautiful views of the sky at Big Meadows, seen below I like this lone tree. We did not come across many people on this day in the park. We probably see more people in our local Walmart. 

I am guessing at this bird's id, a Field Sparrow seen on the Big Meadows, Shenandoah NP.

Me and my shadow at the Signal Knob Overlook, Skyline Drive @ Shenandoah NP.

 Sunset from the overlook on the Skyline Drive. The end of a beautiful day! 

I am thankful for a beautiful sunset and a great visit to Shenandoah National Park. We wore our mask in public areas and kept our distance.  So we are thankful to have returned healthy. Most of all we returned a little happier  🌝 since we were able to have a change in scenery.  Most of our time was spent in the car except for our hikes. 

My latest books:
Raven Black by Ann Cleeves, # 1 in the Shetland Island series..
Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica, a fiction/thriller and a new author for me
A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear # 11 in the Maisie Dobbs series..


I hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy! 😊  Please wear your masks and keep social distancing.. I am always thankful hubby and I are both doing well!


I am always thankful for your visits and the comments. Check back for any replies will be under your comments. 



Live simple and be happy!  😊 Take care and keep smiling!


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!