May?

Summer is trying to break into spring, as the daytime humidity creeps up but the over nights are still nice and cool...as we used to and still do say "good sleeping weather."  

Do you realize this year is NEARLY half over???

The Iris in the my yard are giving me lots of bloom...

Wish I had something for scale, the Rhododendron is huge this year each flower is easily 8 inches across...

The Dutch Iris's are also blooming in the ponds and even ditches that have water...

I checked the nest of the Gnatcatcher pair that I videoed the nest building of and they have added what looks to be some fluff from cattails maybe, but I didn't see any activity...I was not able to get a shot down into the nest...

But I did find a different nest across the road with a bird sitting in it...no cattail fluff...

So could be a second pair or the same pair with a second brood...they hatch in only 10 days and it's been 10 days easily since I was there...

Not much else was happening at the Newsome Mill Pond...So I went down to the second area about 3/4 Mile down the road where I heard the loud ruckus of Prothonotary Warblers!  Three darted back n forth across the bridge to both sides of the little creek there...

Then one went to hopping around on the lily pads looking for an getting little worms 

There was an Eastern Kingbird hunting from this creek also...

At Bramblewood more Painted Bunting are around...I've yet to see a female come out in the open but I can hear more than one bird calling, they are very tough to spot with their lime green coloring...the males are however pretty easy to spot with all the blue, red, and orange..

And a little Downy Woodpecker at Goodale park had some luck  finding a snack...

This photo below is a freshly fledged Eastern Phoebe...

And I also got an open shot of the Great Crested Flycatcher...

Around home the yard birds are busy....

Tufted Titmouse...

And in the back the Black and White Warbler snakes his way along looking for insects..

And the Prairie Warbler leans down so I can see him or he can see me not sure which...

And to end this post a video of the Prothonotary Warbler hopping around on the lily pads hunting...I hope  you enjoy! 

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See you next week! 

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

Happy Earth Day

As Promised the Bald Eagle video, it's a little shaky hand held and at a distance but the vocalizations to me is the special part.  

             

It was great fun watching them first they soared above then landed across the river...I saw an immature flying as well probably their chick for this year?

Saturday I went to Bramblewood again, it had rained in the morning so by noon time I was stir crazy and needed dog food so I decided to check it out again once the chore was out of the way before heading home...I could hear lots of birds but finding them is getting harder with the trees now fully leafed out.  

                   

A Cedar Waxwing snags a ripe berry off this bush..I like catching wildlife going about their business...Like the Eagles speaking to each other and having that moment, seeing this Waxwing enjoy that berry...that is what makes being out in Nature so special...

This is another video...from last week when I saw the Bachman's Sparrow...notice how he is singing so low he is actually not opening his beak to sing...lol he was interacting with me sort of..

Im trying out Instagram as a photo & video storage and sharing media...It's a little bit large but it seems to work, 

The Painted Bunting arrived this week...Such a brilliant bird every color of the rainbow is on this delicate bird...

Even from the back they are amazing...

One of the challenge birds from Badgerland Birders this month is the Yellow Rump Warbler...I see them all the time but getting a photo is not as easy as you would think...

 this one came out for viewing...

Another of the challenge birds for April is the White Throated Sparrow...I thought I had missed the chance although I heard one in my yard, I was not able to get him out in the open ...but today I went to the River Park, and I found 4 of the little tweeters but SHY they were so I got this sort of shot of a Female...Lots of leafy stuff in the way.  

And I  have no chance of seeing the Blue Winged Teal, our 3rd challenge bird for April, in my area this time of year...I have till the 30th to try to find one. Lately Im not really into the long drives.  

I found this cocoon, it could be a Polyphemus  Moth, but I am no expert...I didn't check to see if it's empty or in use...some hatch in early spring and some in late summer, so I would guess it's hatched maybe even last fall.

This is a Polyphemus Moth I found in my yard in May of 2019 

Such a beautiful creature...they only live in this stage about one week...

Got a chance to see a Belted Kingfisher sitting still for a few minutes...

Amazing the Carolina Wrens have already fledged their first batch of chicks...this one was trying to guide her brood to cover from me..

Time for Wildflowers 

A Grey Catbird shows me his red under tail! 

* * *

Remembering 
JOHN💓 April 22

and 

 CASEY💗 2 yrs
 4/17/2020

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.