I've been trying to get in a number of day trips before Mom returns and when she does our focus will be trips that don't involve hiking! One of my FB friends released a book of poetry and her drawings based on her life long battle with CP. We are actually related through marriage her husband is a distant cousin in my Walling Family Tree. So A visit to pick up her book and to give her a copy of my book...was yesterday. Since I would be driving to Columbia I figured I'd go to the Arboretum that is nearby her location and see what was out and about..
Its only a small place but the trees are mature and it even has a cypress bog!
the little creek was red! I guess red clay is on the bottom...lots of ferns growing on the banks
there was a loop trail and a midline trail most of which is well marked but I managed to get off the trail a few times...
American Robins were around as they seem to be the most plentiful bird going right now...
this is a favorite of mine Clematis I don't know the variety but what a huge flower saucer sized!!
and even tho this white throated sparrow hid behind a twig he was so handsome I kept this shot...
his lores were such a brilliant yellow--another not helpful bird was the American Redstart, he wanted to follow me but he wanted to change his position constantly I had a hell-ofa time just getting this not hot shot! He just kept teasing me but I finally walked away!
I know!! SO far these photos are hardly worth sharing...and it gets worse--Brown Thrasher
Even the normally gregarious Carolina Wren wanted to only peek from the safety of a high branch
Having little luck with the bird photography I turned to the leaves on the trees...at least they can't fly away...
I could hear black and whites, vireos red and white eyed, pine warblers, red bellied woodpeckers, downy wp, above me and then a Ruby Crowned Kinglet only showed me his belly and backside, I'm only basing the ID on that big eye ring...
I had a good walk around the plants were nice, the weather was good but the birds misbehaved! No new ones just good to see some that have been missing since last summer!
Another day of
Time...well spent
PEACE
Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.
It's always good to see bird shots, and thats a great shot of the red leaves. Aboretums are so good. Do they number the trees and give you a spotters guide? Sometimes I think we take trees for granted just because they tend to be large. We support the Woodland Trust here and they purchase areas of woodlands and manage them for the public to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteSome of the trees in this Arboretum had markers-the markers were donated by individuals...in SC we have The Heritage Trust, they procure large tracts of land for preservation in our state, we can donate via our State income tax forms or through other venues.
DeleteThat's a nice hike ... And I'd be more than pleased to see that many birds. I remember pre-digital when I was always happy just to SEE, now I want photos. You got them ...you always do! I like the red creek surrounded by the lush greens.
ReplyDeleteI was happy to see them all wish they had been more co-operative for photos to accompany my post! But I left with a big smile on my face!!
DeleteOh man, who cares if the photos were perfect, you saw some DAMN good birds there! The butterfly is definitely worth the muddy shoes too. Major warbler envy over here!
ReplyDeleteHi Jen I knew I had seen that butterfly before but I still had to look it up for some reason the butterfly names just don't stick in my mind--like I got stuck in that mud, wold be perfect mud to make a Mud Dyed t-Shirt with!!
DeleteI love the pictures and the leaves are brilleant. The shot of the water pools are so clear.
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time with birds today too. I'll post later this evening.
Hi Jo, I been MIA cause I ran out of Data!! So I'll be over to see your post asap!
Deletebrilliant
ReplyDelete:o)
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