Unravel my week...

Last Wednesday

was a low humidity day for me, so I took the bike and rode a trail in Sandhills refuge...to see what I could find.  The trail I picked is one I've shown you before it ends up at the back side of Pool D...it's only half mile round trip but it's thru a mature pine forest and it's not all flat it has an up/down hill section also.  The Trial in red, 

and I heard way more than I saw...The trees and bushes are so overgrown it's hard to find birds if they are trying to hide which most do,

BUT not all, these young Barn Swallows were in harsh light but at least right out in the open..

They were practicing bug catching from this perch...

Its a swampy area once you get back there as you can see the Ham creek spreads out and keeps this whole little boggy area moist.

One Prothonotary Warbler swooped past me calling very loudly but then disappeared in the thick stuff, all that racket brought out a couple of Common Yellowthroats, and I got a not so good shot of one of the male...

And a Red Winged Blackbird was hunting from just above the water's surface...

I don't know anything much about Dragonfly except I enjoy seeing them...I tried to get the correct name of this one but could not pin it down conclusively, so Im going with Pond Hawk. 

The wings were all clear. 

I pedaled back to the van,

and moved over to the Lake Bee Recreation Area they are refilling that pond I will be happy when they open it back up cause there is a wetland I enjoy checking on the opposite side of the earthen dam. 

Bee Lake refilling 

I had a cool drink and a snack here and then

Drove up to the Oxpen Lakes area. 

 Parked and headed out on foot for a walk in the fields looking at plants and insects.  And checked the Yellow Pitchers, they are doing well...

AND a lot of Hat Pin is flourishing by the waters edge...with the world's smallest insect sitting on one

Could be a dragonfly nymph?  A Buckeye butterfly along with a Variegated Fritillary 

Along with some other insect on the ground there,..Busy doing what butterflies do....

There was even more Common Yellowthroat around 

Along with Eastern Kingbird

Orchard Oriole 

This Common Crackle found a worm...

And an Immature Red Winged Blackbird was learning the ropes down in the lily pads...

I visited the one and only public restroom on the refuge and in the parking area an Eastern Wood Pewee was flycatching...

Found something new!

And on the wall of the building I found this really weird creature...it may not look it but he was big, at least 4 inches long! And  creepy antennae, his wings seemed  almost be armored...

He definitely had the steampunk look going on..

When I looked this up I found out it's called a Dobsonfly and those long things at the front is a mandible! Like Jaws of life!  Its actually an aquatic insect...and it only lives a couple weeks and during that time it doesn't really eat anything.  There is one species of this insect in China that gets a big as a human hand! 

Later on in the week...

 I took a walk around Goodale park, one of the mornings when it was clear but hot...

And there was one Wood Stork flying around in lazy circles, I don't know if he landed a man came up and started talking to me and I lost track of the stork...

He was photographing the pitcher plants there and then I showed him where I just spotted some

Sundews...another carnivorous Plant that I have found there....this is the first time I've seen them in that area that has tried to be a BOG, the staff keep fighting this, I don't know why they don't let it evolve into what it wants to BE! So here are the tiny little Sundews

These particular ones are only an inch tall and barely 2 inches wide....

And a young Tufted Titmouse was keeping track of his parent while he learns the ropes of life...

So that pretty much unravels my week..

My van has an issue...SO until I can that diagnosed and repaired I won't be going far from home. I don't mind walking but in 89% humidity its really TOUGH...I worked on my property a little this morning.   A wild grape vine had grown it's self thru the wire of my pasture field fencing, and  was creating an issue...so I took the chainsaw, yep that's how thick it was, to cut it off the fence and get the fence attached to the post again, I need some more metal post to replace a few of the old cedar posts that are getting  rotten they have been in the ground 45 yrs.  I am keeping the fence in repair so my dogs can play in there and I don't want to worry that other stray dogs may be in there, the deer jump in but fox or coyote I really don't want in there.  Anyways I was soaked as if I had been out in the rain from the humidity when I finished up.   Now inside in the ac recovering.  

And can we all say "WTH" is up with this picture?  Are the veggie sausage people not paying attention?

Hope your week unravels in a good way. 

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

Local Patch checks..

On Sunday  the 21st, another gorgeous day happened a little breezy and cold so I figured my old stand by Sandhills would be good I can warm up when needed in the van.  I decided to spent my time at Martin's lake area...So first I stopped at the far end and walked down to the dam.   Along the way I pass the Holdover Pond, which lately for some reason has not been a pond.  But more like a mud puddle area.  And I found it with this weird stuff on it, no clue what this is. Here a Song Sparrow is perched above it. 

It was very curious....the birds didn't seem to mind whatever it is I hope it's not toxic....it can't be a spider unless its one of that escaped from Jurassic Park. 

Eastern bluebird was successfully finding food on the edges...

They have recently cut the fields back and they may be planning a burn...

Im heading to the lake in the distance but of course I find birds along the way....this little White Breasted Nuthatch was reminding me of what a chattery call they have.

He runs up and down the trunk of the tree gleaning insects from under the edges of the bark...

His back is so blue, a really gorgeous bird. 

I hear the trilling call of the Pine Warbler, they are everywhere right now...just look up and you will probably see one...

Never tire of them 

As I get closer to the lake, and scare off a few Killdeer...

The mowers left some stems  in place and the Eastern Phoebe perches to have a look for insects..

These Northern Mockingbirds, seem to be a couple...defending this one willow tree...

And not far from them in the heavier cover was several Swamp Sparrow, one of my favorite sparrows, they are so colorful out in the sun. 

Then I spied a nest from last year....no clue what bird made it. 

And finally I arrive lake side...Im the only human there, so Im free to ramble, take my time and act as weird as I wish. I can talk to myself, stop and turn in circles, look up at trees, and make weird noises with no one to judge. 

BY the dam there was a lot of action I think the sun reflected warmth back up off the cement spillway.  

The Northern Cardinal looking more Orange than red today...

this little cove area by the dam is protected from the breeze the water was pretty awesome. 

There was a few Canadians out swimming around..

More willows near the lake edge had Field Sparrow another one of my favorite Sparrows, in fact I love sparrows.  

More Song and Swamp Sparrow

Then before you know it a couple hours had passed....so headed back to the van to warm up and had a snack then headed to the Photo blind,  while peering out one of the openings, I heard a little cooing sound...def an Eastern Screech Owl was nearby so I followed the sound to this Wood Duck box.  There was some vegetation in the way but I saw the owl he was sunning in the entrance to the box...

Could just make him out in there with one sleepy eye closed ...what a great surprise,
the red morph. 

My last good thing of the day leaving the park I spotted  not one but 3 Red Cockaded Woodpeckers  up pretty high but I got a shot of one of them...

Had a great time...then on Monday I checked out Goodale Lake before I ran errands in town.  

Hiked the Lake Trail 

It was good to see some Mallard there and who knows, maybe a nesting can happen? 

Along the trail still many Ruby Crowned Kinglets making a fuss as I pass by them..

And the perfect ending to a nice walk around the lake before other people began to stir was seeing this immature Bald Eagle, soar overheard,  

It was a good start to the last week of February. Since the birding is picking up I am making a mid week post so I don't get too far behind with my chronicles.  Have a great week. 

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.