Ruby-throated Hummingbirds

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

For this week's Wild Bird I am sharing the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds I have been seeing lately in our yard. They will begin migrating soon and I will miss seeing them zooming all around me. I believe the male Ruby-throated Hummingbird is the first out of my hummingbird family to leave. The female stays behind to be sure her babies are strong to make the trip.

These Hummingbirds are amazing little birds that migrate across the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

I have been filling the three hummingbird feeders daily. So, I either have a lot of hummers or they are fueling up for their trip south. I wish them all a safe journey.

Join in and post your birdies and to see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes.

Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.

Thanks for stopping by and for leaving your nice comments. I always appreciate your visits.
I wish everyone a happy week ahead and Happy Birding!

Fair Hill Nature Center

  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday .

 On Saturday, hubby and I took our walk at a new place (for us) called the Fair Hill Nature Center in Elkton, Md. Fair Hill is 5,656 acre natural resource management area. It is bordered by Pennsylvania to the north and Delaware is less than a mile away. The Farm and land was originally owned by William duPont Jr an equestrian, who enjoyed riding the fields as well as fox chasing. In 1975 the state of Maryland purchased the property from Mr duPont's estate. Fair Hill hosts the annual Cecil County fair, steeplechases, turf course and flat races.

 FOXCATCHER FARM COVERED BRIDGE ..constructed in 1860 a Maryland landmark.

  BIG ELK CREEK...a popular spot for the anglers.The trails are open to hikers, bikers and equestrians.

Tiger Swallowtail butterflies seen along the trail and Big Elk Creek.

Pond at Fair Hills...lots of white and pink hibiscus and some pretty Cardinal Flowers. I would love to re-visit Fair Hills in the spring to see the Bobolinks, Meadowlarks and Grasshopper Sparrow which are regular breeders seen in the fields.

On the way home from Fair Hill we stopped for another walk at the SUSQUEHANNA RIVER...Bald Eagle..Double-crested Cormorants, Great Blue Heron.

 As always, I hope you enjoy my post and thanks for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

Join in on the fun and for more wonderful photos please visit  Mosaic Monday and more
 from  Our World Tuesday

 Thanks to our host: Mary our host of Mosaic Monday and to the hosting group of Our World Tuesday: Arija, Gattina, Lady Fi, Sylvia, Sandy and Jennifer.  I wish everyone a happy week!

Bombay Hook NWR part II

I am linking up Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-b-birdin   I hope you are joining in and posting your birds and critters.

August 10, 2013

 Hubby and I saw a lot of birds during our visit to Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware. It is a great wildlife refuge to visit in the summer. Just some of the birds we saw are the American Avocets, Glossy Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Canada Geese, Green Heron, Blue Grosbeak and  Indigo Bunting.

I posted a lot of photos.. so click on  them  to view a larger size.

Glossy Ibis

American Avocets

Juvie Terns and a Sanderling, I am not sure which species of Tern.

Great Egret

Great Blue Heron

Ruddy Duck

Blue Grosbeak

Eastern Kingbird

Indigo Bunting

I hope you enjoyed the birds of Bombay Hook NWR..if you are ever in the area you should plan a visit.

 Ok, here is my new list for the week of my favorite blogs to visit and if you missed any... look back at all my previous Saturday posts they go as far back as my post on 6/22/13.

Misty Dawn our host for Camera Critters can also be found @ Mistys musings where she shares her wonderful wildlife photos.

Andrew @ Rambles with a camera shares his birds and pretty natures scenes from the UK.

Denise @ An English girl rambles is one of the host of Today's Flowers and shares her life and outings around the Virginia suburbs close to DC.

Liz @ The Greatest of These is Love  shares her birds and the beautiful scenery of Australia.

Tina @ East Gwillimbury Camera Girl from Toronto shares some amazing nature photos.

I hope you are able to find some time to visit some of my favorite blogs above, they are all wonderful bloggers.

 I wish everyone a happy weekend.

 To see more beautiful photos and cute critters

 please visit:  Camera Critters and I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the gracious hosts Misty Dawn of Camera Critters and to Anni of I'd Rather-B-birdin.

At the Lake

I am linking up with NF Winged   and  Skywatch Friday

My post on our walk to our local lake. Some beautiful skies for Skywatch and a couple of yardbirds for NF Winged.

In the  yard a view of the sky and our Crepe Myrtle bush.

 Skywatching during our walk to the lake. I love these pretty fluffy white clouds and blue sky.

 A pretty day for our walk to the lake.

Sometimes we see Bald Eagles fly over this part of the lake but on this day we only saw a GB Heron.

For my NF Winged post I am including a new yard bird..a juvenile Veery.

The Peeping Tom juvie Veery. I caught it looking in our den window.

Another yardbird I was thinking this could be a juvenile Oriole but also looks more like a juvenile male Scarlet Tanager. It's wing looks funny, I hope it is Ok.

This poor bird looks like it has been in a battle. It is flying so I assume it is Ok. It is has been seen in the weeping cherry tree, which is right next to our blueberry bushes. The birds are all having a feast on the blueberries.

  Happy Skywatching everyone!

Thanks for visiting my post and  blog and I always appreciate your comments.

To see more pretty skies from around the world please visit  Skywatch Friday
and to see more of the winged critters check out NF Winged

Thanks to Sylvia, Yogi  and Sandy for hosting Skywatch Friday! Thanks to Monica the host of NF Winged.   I wish everyone a safe and happy weekend.

Least Bittern

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

For this weeks feature bird  I am sharing my not so great photos of the Bombay Hook Least Bittern.

Hidden behind the tall grasses, you can make out the yellow legs and the beak. They are small birds range from 11 to 14 inches in length. The birds underparts and throat are white with light brown streaks.

This is a shot of a GB Heron with the Least Bittern still hiding behind the tall grasses. If I had not seen it move I think it would have remained well hidden.

A cropped shot of the Least Bittern.

This was my first sighting (May 19) of the Least Bittern also seen at Bombay Hook. I think it is just a funny looking pose. The shot above shows more of the coloring on the Bittern's head, back and side.

It is a cool bird to see and I just wish my photos could have been better. But, I will take what I can of this elusive bird.  They do spend time straddling the reeds like the American and when alarmed they freeze and point their bill straight up.. blending in with their marsh vegetation.

 I was excited to see the Least Bittern somewhat out in the open and I hope you enjoy my Least Bittern.

Join in and post your birdies and to see more beautiful and wonderful bird photos please visit:
 Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Michelle's  Nature Notes.

Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.

Thanks for stopping by and for leaving your nice comments. I always appreciate your visits.
I wish everyone a happy week ahead and Happy Birding!