Saturday's Critters #311

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!

Below is a House Finch couple. Whenever I see these finches on my deck or at the feeders I try to check out their eyes.  These finches have been known to have Avian conjunctivitis.

 These birds can become blind from the disease and it is contagious. The bird feeder could become contaminated and spread to healthy birds.  If you see any birds with swollen eyes and looking irritated it would be best to take the feeders down until the bird is gone. 

I pass by these ponds on the way to the local food store, on this  morning, I saw two Bald Eagles on the ground and a big flock of Canada Geese. I know the eagles look small in the photos, but you can see their white heads.  I wish I had my camera with me, my phone does not take good photos.

Click on the mosaic for a larger view of One Eagle is standing in the field and the other eagle is next to the edge of the pond. They may be the Bald Eagle couple that have been known to nest in the trees nearby.

 If you click on the photo below, you will have a better view of all the Canada Geese. The road goes up hill a little here and I took the photo from my car.  The  white buildings in the top left corner are part of a family style restaurant called Friendly Farms. They have been here for years, a very popular restaurant. They have delicious crab cakes.

I appreciate and thank everyone who 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!

 Happy Thankful Thursday!


Happy Thanksgiving! 
I hope you all have many reasons to give thanks.  


This is my last post on our road trip to North Carolina. On this last full day of our trip, we visited the Chimney Rock Park. The views and trails are awesome.  We hiked to the top of the Chimney Rock, to the Hickory Nut Waterfall and to the Exclamation Point.

 I am guessing this is an Eastern Phoebe, I was going by the sound I heard at the time.  The lighting is not the best for id.

 The tunnel to the elevator,  a 26 story elevator built inside the mountain. 

 This is a view from the natural made Opera box, the view is beautiful of Lake Lure in the distance.

 The rock shaped like a the Devil's head.

 This is a moderate hike uphill and lots of steps. But, we made to the top.

 A view of the Hickory Nut Falls

Happy mind, happy life. Choose to be happy!


I am thankful for all the things that are important in my life, my hubby and my family. 

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!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Thank you to all my followers and to all who leave comments, I am thankful for your visits.

Our World, My World

Hello Happy Monday!

October 29th, these are some images from one of our walks on the local bike trail. I have always called it the NCR trail named after the Northern Central Railroad trail. The name was changed to Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail. It is 20 miles long from Cockeysville Md to the Pennsylvania line. From there the trail continues into Pennsylvania and the name changes again to the York Country Heritage Rail Trail. 

My favorite section of the bike trail close to home, this is the Bentley Springs parking lot and the view of the trail. 

The land next to the bike trail is private, this is an old barn that is being taken over by the trees and plants. 

 The Bee Tree Preserve parking area is just across the bridge.

 Below the Downy Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher and the Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  On the bottom right is a blurry photo of the Golden-crowned Kinglet. You can see the yellow-crown in the middle of the photo between the two red berries.

I believe these are the bittersweet berries. I read the American Bittersweet are vines that can kill trees and are hard to eradicate. The birds eat the berries but I read they are not a favorite berry for the birds. I think they are pretty berries, I like the yellow and red colors. 

 A female Downy Woodpecker, was busy pecking away at this tree.

 I liked the reflections and colors seen at this spot of the bike trail.

Hubby and I can do some brisk walking on this trail. It is mostly flat and an easy walk  you just need to avoid the bike riders. 

On the drive home, we passed two deer, one on the road and the other was in the field on the other side of the fence.  The deer were not shy and hung around, I wish they would stay away from the road.  

"Happiness is simple, when you keep it simple." Be Happy!

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 #310

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!


This day started as a woodpecker day, first I heard the Northern Flicker in my yard. The Flicker was heard but I could not find it to take a photo. During our walk later, I saw two Red-bellied Woodpeckers on the same tree. A Hairy Woodpecker on a tree across the trail. On the way back we saw the Pileated Woodpecker. 


The male Red-bellied Woodpecker, their entire crown and nape are red.

 The male Red-bellied Woodpecker and the male Pileated Woodpecker, both seen on distant trees. I cropped these photos below.

The male Pileated Woodpecker has a red mark on the malar, it looks like a red mustache.  

I appreciate and thank everyone who 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 gracious host: Anni.

Happy Thankful Thursday

 Happy Thankful Thursday!

I wanted to share some photos from a hike and a park we visited back on October 28th.  Cunningham Falls State Park is located in the picturesque Catoctin Mountins in Thurmont Maryland. The park has a man-made lake and is named after the Cunningham Falls, the largest cascading falls in Maryland.  

It was a pretty blue sky day, a lovely Autumn day for a hike.  Below is the man-made lake in the William Houck area of the state park. 

 Near the lake, I watched this flock of Cedar Waxwings finding some berries to eat. Other birds seen and not photographed are the Carolina Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, Titmouse, Chickadees, various woodpeckers and the Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

 At the parking lot for the waterfall hike,  you can see a peak of the lake.

 A sunburst and some pretty fall colors. 

 I am pretty sure, below is the Golden-crowned Kinglet. It has a small bill and they have a black and white striped face. Their pretty colorful crown shows when they are excited.

I wish we had more rain , the waterfalls was not gushing. But, it looked pretty with some fall colors around.

 The boardwalk trail to and from the waterfall. The sun shining on the trees and the leaf colors were beautiful.

 "Happiness is something that you bring to life."

 Me and my shadow. 

 Walking back to our car, we saw more pretty fall colors.  Beautiful trees!

  "Whatever you decide to do , make sure it makes you happy."


I am thankful for the small things, like the sun shining through the trees, blue skies and lovely weather for walking. 

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!

Our World, My World

 Hello and Happy Monday!

 There are many parks to visit right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, on Nov 4th we visited the Mt Mitchell State Park. Mt Mitchell is the highest peak or point east of the Mississippi River. The park is located at milepost 355.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is 35 miles northeast of Asheville North Carolina.

 We walked the steep but short trail to the summit from the parking lot. It was a chilly and cloudy day, but no rain.  I lucked out on this trip with the weather once again. It started raining when we were about 3 hours from home on the last day. There are 360 degree views at the top, well worth the steep walk. 

 Hubby and I hiked and walked a lot of steps during this road trip to the North Carolina Mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway. They say there are 91 species of birds seen in this park. They were hiding from me  🙁 .  I have to say we saw few birds this trip, overall everywhere I go I am seeing less birds.  Very sad.. 

 I loved this view of the mountain ranges.

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 # 309

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!

I am sharing some of the birds and critters I saw on our North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway road trip. The next two photos are a couple of White-tailed Deer seen along the parkway. 

A Black Bear waiting to cross the road, I stopped and waited for him to cross safely.

Blue Ridge Parkway birds, Pied-billed Grebe at the lake, Pigeons on the waterfall cliff, White-breasted Nuthatch, Possibly Phoebe and bottom right corner a Carolina Chickadee.

The Green Anoles were seen at the Chimney Rocks State Park. 

I appreciate and thank everyone who 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 gracious host: Anni.

Happy Thankful Thursday

 Hello and Happy Thursday & 


I have more trip photos from our recent road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville North Carolina.  On this day, we visited Grandfather Mountain State Park, there is an admission fee that is used to preserve this beautiful mountain park, it's biodiversity and all it's nature. 

Below are the Split Rock and Sphinx Rock, rock formations in this park are supposedly dated back to 1.2 billion years. 

Rock formation is title Sphinx Rock, it does have a Sphinx face.

There is a wildlife preserve, we saw the cute river otter, elk and eagles. 

There is a Swinging Bridge, which is a mile high above sea level. The mountain is 5946 feet high and is estimated to be 300 million years old. 

It was a windy day, I was thankful they have anchored this bridge so it does not swing.  

Me and my shadow on the Mile High Swinging Bridge.

The closer view from the Swinging Bridge, I assume the buildings are hotels, condo and vacation homes.  

The American Robin seemed to be enjoying these berries.  

I counted at least 5 Robins in this bush with these red berries. 

I am so thankful to be retired and able to take road trips.

I was thankful to see any birds, this trip was more for hiking and waterfalls than birding. 

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!