Saturday Critters #88

Saturday Critters #88

Happy Saturday, it's time to share your critters and post. Any kind of critter will do, even a new or old post.. I appreciate everyone who is linking in with this week's critter party. I am sharing my backyard Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. They will be leaving soon, heading south for the winter. I will be so sad when they go.

My Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have been keeping me busy making sugar water for their feeders. I seem to re-fill them daily, sometimes twice a day. The feeder above has 4 hummingbirds on it, one bird is not seen except for it tail on the other side of the feeder. And I have three feeders on my deck, I try to keep them all happy birds.

All of my bird photos are usually taken from my dining room window, so they are not the best images.

A cute Indigo Bunting poses on my shepherd's hook.

I have been very happy to keep seeing the Indigo Bunting in my yard this summer.



My Youtube Hummer video..very short

An InLinkz Link-up

I've been busy the last two days and may have missed visiting some of my favorite blogs, I decided to join some other bloggers and slow down my own blogging. I am not stopping just slowing down. That will mean less random blog hopping. Saturday's Critters will continue and I will continue some of my favorite meme hookups. As always I appreciate my blogging friends stopping by just for a visit and for leaving a comment. I will always visit the participants that are linking in with my Saturday's Critter meme and I will return a visit to anyone that comments on my post. Thanks to all who have been participating with my Saturday's Critters, you are all the best blogging friends.

To see more beautiful birds and cute critters, check out these two memes below.

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

Loch Raven walk

  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday 

January 12, 2014

Hubby and I went took our weekend walk  at the Loch Raven Reservoir. I picked this spot mainly because I knew there are usually a lot of different ducks in the winter. It was colder than I was expecting we it was a brisk walk and we did not hang around looking at the ducks for too long. It is nice that they close this road for the hiker, bikers and joggers on the weekends.

Hubby and Goldie Girl walking ahead as I was taking photos.

There are usually gulls hanging around the edge of the lake. I am pretty sure these are the Ring-billed Gulls.

Across the lake we could see a large group of Ring-necked Ducks with the Canada Geese.

A few distance shots and in the middle a closer view of the Ring-necked Ducks.

This grouping includes the Common Merganser, Canada Geese and top right are some Redhead Ducks and the bottom right shot includes a Hooded Merganser.

Above are the Redhead Ducks and my favorite Hooded Merganser. Also a Canada Goose and some Coots in the background. I was hoping for some warmer weather today, but it was only 40 degrees and the wind felt like it was in the 30's.



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 ahead!

A Snowy Owl & Eagle Day

  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday 

December 15, 2013

Early Saturday morning, I was reading the listserve for Maryland birders and I saw all the people posting about their Snowy Owl sighting near HavreDeGrace, Md.  I was undecided about going, between the weather forcasting more snow for the day and I had already recently seen the Snowy Owl in Delaware. Then I thought this my be may be my only chance to see a another Snowy Owl in my own home state. So, hubby and I took off around 10am,  I was on a back road I usually take when I noticed this Bald Eagle on a pole hanging over the road. Well with no cars were coming either way, I had to stop and snap a few shots.

I am always excited seeing Eagles.  I thought to myself this outing is starting off great.  A little further up the road I caught the back of a hawk or an owl flying off into the woods. Now with a car coming behind me I had to move on..on to see the Snowy Owl and no time to waste I wanted to be back home before the roads became a nightmare.

The morning's outing started off great with this Bald Eagle sighting.

We had easy directions and this Snowy Owl  was probably one of the easiest birds I have been able to spot. It is in the photo above....like Waldo..can you find the Snowy Owl?

We were a distance from the Snowy Owl, standing along side the road and the owl was across the field on the opposite side of a pond.

Apparently this is a female Snowy Owl and she seems to be doing well.. She has been seen flying around the field... As with any Snowy Owl or any bird sighting..it is best to keep your distance.

The weather was feeling cold, windy and damp, even though the snow had not started yet.  We made a quickie visit to see the Conowingo Eagles..I was surprised to see the parking lot just about empty...We talked with one of the photographers there for a bit..He drove from Boston just to take photos of the Eagles while it was snowing..Well I was not waiting for the snow to start...I snapped a few photos of the Eagles in the trees and checked out the river..seeing lots of gulls and a GB Heron..Hubby and I took off for home..3 hours roundtrip total..I'd say it was a pretty good outing..




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!

 Just a reminder about my new MEME called Saturday Critters..posted early every Saturday Morning...join in on the party and post your cute pets or critters.

Bombay Hook, Delaware

December 12, 2013

I am linking up with NF Winged   and  Skywatch Friday 

Wow, I can not believe this is my 700th post...

After working full time during the week I really look forward to the weekends. It is my time to go birding, do some skywatching and just about whatever I want. So, it is time to share my skies for Skywatch Friday and some more birds for NF Winged. These are more shots of birds from Delaware and the skies as we headed home.

We saw some huge flocks of Snow Geese while driving around Delaware.

Here is the flock of Snow Geese seen at Bombay Hook NWR.

A pretty scene and sky at Bombay Hook NWR.
 

Not the best shot but probably one of my only American Kestrel photos.

 I do not like the utility poles, but since we were on the road while the sun was setting I had no choice.

The sky as we were almost home from our overnight trip to Maryland-Delaware shores.

It was a gorgeous and colorful sunset, we just had to stop and take a couple of photos. I hope you enjoyed my post. Thanks for visiting my post and  blog and I always appreciate your comments.

I am looking forward to seeing you join in on my new MEME called Saturday Critters..early Saturday Morning..join in on the party and post your cute critters.

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 long weekend.

Birding Cape Henlopen, Delaware

  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday 

December 8, 2013

This post shares some of the sights hubby and I saw while birding Delaware last weekend. We stopped at so many different places in Delaware, I took tons of photos. Some are scenic and lots of birds photos of course  ;)

I was kind of hoping to see some  Snow Bunting on the beach at Cape Henlopen. There was not a Snow Bunting in sight only a few gulls hanging around.

The beach at Cape Henlopen State Park, it is just around the corner from the Cape May/Lewes Ferry.

A few gulls and a Horned Grebe

The House Finches perched in a tree near the nature center's feeders.

Above the House Finches look like ornaments on this bare tree. And the Brown-headed Nuthatches are so cute, they were one of my favorite sightings.

We were walking back up the trail when this Turkey Vulture flew low over our heads. It was a pretty sky but a very cold day on the beach.

Even though is was a cold day and I missed seeing the Snow Buntings we still had a fun time walking on the beach. I did get to see my favorite Brown-headed Nuthatches..  I hope you enjoyed our walk around the Cape Henlopen beach.

I was happy to take some photos of my great - nephew on Thanksgiving.. Baby Neill is so cute and was one of my favorite guests for Thanksgiving this year...

I have starting a new MEME called Saturday Critters..posted early on Saturday Mornings...join in on the party and post your cute critters.

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!

Brown-headed Nuthatch

I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes

December 10, 2013

The Brown-headed Nuthatch is usually seen in the pine forests of the Southeastern United States. It's sharp beak is a tool to dig for the insects.  The Brown-headed Nuthatch and the Pygmy Nuthatch are the two smallest of the worlds Nuthatch Species.

There are four species of Nuthatches in the US. I have seen three of them, this Brown-headed Nuthatch, the Red Breasted Nuthatch and the White Breasted Nuthatch.. I am missing the Pygmy Nuthatch, somehow and someday I hope to add the Pygmy Nuthatch to my lifelist.  This is a link to one of my other Nuthatches post

For comparison, above is a mosaic showing  both the Red-breasted Nuthatch and the White-breasted Nuthatch in my backyard.

While walking on the trail at the Cape Henlopen State Park in Delaware we noticed 5-6 of these cuties all poking around the same tree. It was hard to focusing on one of the Nuthatches while they were all moving about the tree limb.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my cute Brown-headed Nuthatches.. Thanks for visiting my post and for the nice comments.

 I am starting a new MEME called Saturday Critters..early on Saturday Mornings ...join in with the party and post your cute critters.

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 our host Michelle our host Stewart.  Happy Birding and have a wonderful week!

More Bosque Del Apache NWR

November 16, 2013

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

Can you believe half of November is over already? Gee, the days are just flying by. Pretty soon it will be Thanksgiving, time to prefer for the big family Thanksgiving day dinner.

 Above are some of the birds we saw while visiting the Bosque Del Apache wildlife refuge: the large photo is the Sandhill Cranes, top right is the Roadrunner, Gambel's Quail, White-Crowned Sparrow, Bottom left is a Marsh Wren, Snow Geese, female Northern Harrier and a couple of Killdeer.

 Neat reflection of the Killdeer.

 A Sora not far from the boardwalk trail. The Sora is a small waterbird, breeds in marshy areas.

Pepe le Pew thankfully running away from us, as we headed back to our car.

 Cute bunny also seen near the boardwalk trail.

Female Northern Harrier showing off its owlish looking face. The male Harrier is grey and is called the Grey Ghost. I hope you enjoy my birds and critters from the Bosque del Apache wildlife refuge.

Thanks for stopping by and  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.

Truth or Consequences

  I am linking up with Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday 

November 10, 2013

Happy Veteran's Day..I am thankful for the brave Veterans and our present Military service men and women.

 I am still sharing some New Mexico trip photos, I hope you are not tired of seeing them. After leaving Carlsbad we headed to our next stop on our loop around southern New Mexico.  Hubby and I enjoyed a one night stay in the spa city of Truth or Consequences. There are several local hot springs and the first bath was built in the 1800's.

Our hotel was the Sierra Grande Lodge and Spa, the stay included the private hot springs soaks.

There is a story behind the name Truth or Consequences, originally called Hot Springs. The city changed its name to Truth or Consequences to the title of a 1950 radio show hosted by Ralph Edwards. Ralph announced that he would air the program from the first town that would rename itself after the show. Hot Springs won the honor. Ralph Edwards visited the town during the first weekend of May for the next fifty years. This weekend became an event with a beauty contest, parade and a stage show.

Above two of my trip lifers..the Say's Phoebe and the Black Phoebe.  When planning the night stay at Truth or Consequences I noticed that there were two state parks nearby that are considered hotspots for birding. I knew both parks were a must for some birding. We stopped at Caballo State Park before checking in to the hotel and we visited the Elephant Butte State Park the next morning . It was at the Caballo State Park where I saw my first Roadrunner, another lifer for the trip. It ran into some brush on the side of the road so fast, no Roadrunner picture of my first sighting.

Say's Phoebe lifer.

Pictured above a Townsend's Solitaire, Junco and Chipping Sparrow, top right is the Red-naped Sapsucker..bottom left is a House Wren and bottom right my lifer the Say's Phoebe.

The water line is just amazing to me...how low can it go?

 In the mosaic above is the Elephant Butte lake, New Mexico's largest body of water. It is amazing see the water line and just how low the water is now. It is reported to be the lowest since the 1970's. The Rio Grande River delivers water to the Elephant Butte reservoir.  The water level is at 3% of the reservoir's capacity. Another one of my lifers is the top right photo of a Western Grebe.

Our one night stay in T or C rewarded me with 4 lifers. The Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, the Roadrunner and the Western Grebe.

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.