December Update

i guess i need to update want to thank you all for nice message you have left much appreciated.   my  a walking is little less strong my hands shake and its hard for me to type...but i will try.   my Appetite has improved back to more solid food maybe i will regain some weight.  My sister is happy for that  she wants me eating 3 solid meals at least..which has been a huge challenge.

my sis and went car birding at bramblewood it was fun so i really enjoyed that.  and the front yard birds are paying daily visits.  Annie is doing good some scratching but i think she will get past she was to go to the mobile vet for shots and they cancelled it for the 18th...

i hope all who visit are doing good & trying to get thru December.  I know I am.  I have the van up for sale wish me luck.

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

Cold Week!

Last  week and this week was colder than it should  be for this time of year with a chilly north-westerly wind...So I didn't get out much to go exploring...and it was time to finish up some yard work...BUT I did get out on a few short runs. 

A Pied Billed Grebe glides in front of the Cyprus reflections  at Goodale park...this is a breeding adult due to the Black Line on the beak. There is no difference between males and females just looking at the coloration of the bird.. 

The weather is going to change next week so they say...soon I m sure you will hear me grumbling about the heat! That's just the way I roll.  

These 2 Pileated Woodpeckers could be mates...I think the one on the Left

 I can barely see a little red stripe on the cheek area and the crest is bigger..

"HE went that a way..." 

The Eastern Phoebe was busy with some preening!

Another Yellow Throated Warbler this week...again the numbers seem lower than normal so far...

And then he got down out of the wind, to relax a few minutes...

I think I have been mis-IDing the female, as a Pine Warbler, I must be sure to take a look at the eye area, as these birds could look similar from underneath....

Eastern Bluebird...

A Great Egret, this bird seemed to be eating the tassels on this tree top...

This Goose had a couple Killdeer invade his personal space...

A Goose couple floating around...

I stopped at the tennis & pickle ball center to use the facilities so I thought I would check for some birds...the restrooms were immaculately clean.  Im happy to find that cause when Im at Bramblewood nearby they have NO facilities, this is within a 5 minute drive. 

And I found a few...like this Brown Thrasher who did his best to hide and get a look at me at the same time...

A Northern Mockingbird was building a nest in this small cedar tree...

In  5 mins I found 5 species of bird...If I had stayed a little longer I may have found more...I will go again and walk the whole perimeter...there is a fantastic drainage ditch, good habitat for birds.  Ive been doing more urban birding because Im combining  trips to grocery stores and doing errands with birding, all in one trip.  

Over at Bramblewood a Palm Warbler perched  for my attention...

At the stop light on the way home I see the Historic Battle Mural is getting a spruce up...It had faded out and now it's getting a facelift. 

Back at home,  I like this packaging, just the product in a biodegradable box!! No plastic.  Tasty croissants, delicious...I've been doing the "shake test" I can hear if there is plastic inside...

A yummy way to end of my first week of Spring...and the first Hummer was spotted in the yard no photo yet but soon I hope!

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

Sunny and cold

 I made a couple trips to Bramblewood and hiked the trails that go around the ponds.. and one visit on cold day at Sandhills...

                It's really pretty with all the seeds hanging onto the bushy stuff that edges the ponds...

I was under the spell of just how many types of seed is there for the birds to take advantage of...

Some plants that have a really sunny spot are still in flower...

Lots of Song Sparrow are feeding there...

They dart all over the trail and try to hide in the thickets...and they blend right in...

A Cormorant was swimming in one of the ponds, 

And far on the other side was a Great Egret fishing..

The Cattails are going to seed...

An Eastern Phoebe was hunting for insects from the tall stalks in the water. 

This Mockingbird is lucky he still has some Poke Berries to eat...

The trail meanders and winds around and figure 8's the ponds, 

Drying out....

The river is high right now...

This is a great place to take a walk on a sunny day and enjoy the plants, and some birds too....and the water. 

At Sandhills I saw this really cute Pied Billed Grebe

One awful thing I saw was this deer, who met his demise and somehow ended up in this pond very sad thing...

There was a HUNT here last week, it would not surprise me to know someone shot him and was not able to retrieve him and he made it this far..then predators are working on the carcass. 

There was a couple of Loggerhead Shrikes around....

Swamp Sparrow 

The Dark Eyed Junco's are back! 

And the first of Fall Field Sparrow was out 

I did try in the middle of the night last week to get a shot of the moon eclipse  from my deck it was behind a few trees, but I got this shot..at 4:44 am. 

This year is almost over, and I am glad...it certainly has not been the best year...

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

Busy Week

So this week I decided Im ready to take the bike beyond the yard.  

Safety First

I went to Sandhills, it's quiet, no cars, or rarely and there is Paved  dirt and gravel roads to practice on as well so my first day ended up being like a 10 mile day!  But I didn't like pedal to metal do 10 miles, I did it in 4 different section rides including 2 dirt/gravel roads...I did about 5 miles of each. 

I absolutely need a new front gear shifter.  I tried to buy one on Amazon, but they insist on putting Amazon Prime in my shopping cart so I dumped the whole damn thing right there in the virtual aisle.  WTH, that should be illegal.  Lately Im just grumpy and my patience has worn not thin...but out.  So I went to Walmart.com bought the thing free shipping and no dirty tricks. 

IT was so good to be moving through the air with the only sound is the gentle click of the wheels I really enjoyed it and I want to do that again.  

Red Headed Woodpecker

Brown Headed Cowbird

I took a muddy hike to see the Pitcher Plants up close they are in bloom now.  These ones get quite tall and they love this boggy hillside.  

This Wood Duck pair had 2 ducklings, so very cute..

And the Geese had some Goslings  from the opposite side of the pond.

The Orchard Orioles have arrived and I added a new FOY bird...

Another day I went to Bramblewood and took a nice long walk around...The Clover is in bloom and it's so pretty.  

It attracts some cool insects, 

And the big mature hardwoods bring in some migrants.  

The Painted Bunting, 

The Prothonotary Warbler, 

The greens along the edge of the river soooo inviting. 

Red Winged Blackbird 

And around the yard some good going's on...

Floss "show your surprised face." 

A new Guard at the door, 

The Myrtle Yellow Rump in the trees, 

Along with a singing Black and White Warbler 

 

And a brilliant Prairie Warbler

The Red Breasted Nuthatch still in the yard...a pair actually.

And a new Rose Bush Inspector...

And my latest project is UP in the Air! 

Barn Owl Box!!

That was a full week we have a cold front passing through then some rain we actually need it even tho we had a rainy winter the air is very dry right now...AND one more the lady RB Nuthatch 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

RIP Little Bunnies 

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.