I worry about those pitcher plants and so I check them regularly...I was a bit early on my last walk around to see the blossoms so I went back today. Caught them just right this time..
And I thought the count was down to only 2 clumps but I found a third it has moved itself closer to the water so now its more protected. Im really happy about that...no mower is going to get it there..now if only they don't bulldoze, they recently had a ditch witch in there to drain a new bog WHY I don't know its supposed to be a natural area so a bog is perfect but anywho they are trying to drain the bog so I hope they don't run over these pitchers.
The water lilies look great.....Last time I saw that immature male Orchard Oriole and this time I saw a mature one..he wanted to show me his backside...fine by me, awesome color!!
I made this video of a gray catbird singing....I had no idea they could sing this beautifully...
later on the other side of the lake another one was following me on the path...I was busy trying to get a shot of a Yellow Billed Cuckoo but the Gray Catbird was just sitting pretty while the cuckoo was way up in the nose bleed section of the trees so I aimed at the catbird instead!
I always spook the Great Blue Heron and he makes a quick escape to the backside of the lake...
there is a large patch of this small yellow flower I can't find the ID on it yet...it sure is pretty
Found at least one water Iris in bloom,
as well as honey suckle
and some Virginia Sweetspire is growing by the lakes edge...
this Red Winged Black Bird tried really hard to hide from me...but he did show off his shoulder patches!
and the Northern Cardinal was enjoying a good rain puddle bath!
I guess this wolf spider is hoping to get some gnats and mosquitoes from his watery perch...check those fangs...."shudders"
LOOK at the amount of rain we had in a hour long downpour yesterday!!! This is our front yard!
It did soak in pretty fast and left behind some serious erosion in the yard...
Time...well spent!
PEACE
Eleanor Roosevelt: You must do the thing you think you can not.
I am useless on birdsong, no matter how hard I try listening to birdsong cd's I still have great difficulty. I can just about do the very common ones. I'm impressed that when ever you go bird spotting you also manage to take good pictures. I was out the other day and saw 2 good spots, a pair of goldcrests, and a greater spotted woodpecker but it would have been pointles using my camera as the image would have been way too small. Thats a very large front yard you have.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave, like you I have for many years listened to bird songs and calls on CD and tape trying to learn them..I know many of the calls but songs are hard! Yes this big front yard takes up a lot of time picking up sticks, keeping the leaf matter removed and mowing! I need a new rain gauge I would say we got 3 to 4 inches of rain in that hours time!
DeleteWhat fantastic sightings!!! You sure are seeing some amazing things...how much water caused that pooling. WOW!
ReplyDeleteIm guessing 3-4 inches, it did drain away pretty fast but we had a long dry spell so it took longer than normal...
DeleteThose pitchers are beautiful; I hope they survive. Love that Orchard Oriole too, and the colour of the Iris.
ReplyDeleteI collected some seed form these pitchers one yr and they did sprout but never grew beyond tiny in size and eventually passed on...
DeleteToday I saw a plant at Lowe's and it was called a Lily but I thougt maybe it was a water pitcher plant but I guess I am wrong Again. What a beautiful song the cat bird has. I have been hearing a new song bird but he has stayed hidden in the tree.Sure enjoy your outings and pictures. My that rain sure must have crazy to turn your yard into a lake.
ReplyDeleteI am not as familiar with cultivated plants as I am wild plants I love both tho! Now I'm fighting the magnolia tree as it is shedding leaves like crazy! And the leaves are so big and brittle if you don't keep them picked up it becomes a real hot mess!
DeleteI just caught up reading your blog for the past month or so. When I'm not writing mine, somehow I forget to read others. As always you have lovely pictures. I know you must have a long lens, but I still don't see how you get such wonderful shots of wild birds. You kitchen looks amazing. Surely you can stop renovating. ;-D
ReplyDeleteHEY Girl I have missed you! I'm happy to see y'all back on the road...I have to catch up on your travels I'm up against A data allowance now so I am not getting around as much on the blog sphere as I'd like. My camera is not a special one, its a Panasonic Lumix FZ70 it does have a 60X zoom which I really make use of! I am def on the slow side of the reno..its ready to inhabit! BUT I'm holding out till after my summer trip!
DeleteThat pitcher plant is beautiful, such dramatic colors. Oh I hope they leave your bog alone -- as you say, if it is a natural area why do anything?!! and oh my gosh, your front yard is a lake. Hope that has receded some by now.
ReplyDeleteThe birds are wonderful... it is amazing how many you see and how well you photograph them.
Thanks Sallie, the front yard water soaked in within 20 mins...the beauty of sandy soil...I saw on Facebook E8 was injured by an Owl, and is having surgery on his femur, I sure hope he recovers!
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