Saturday, May 9, 2009

Spectacular happenings...


While I was in West Virginia Spring happened in my backyard.
As I sit on my deck blogging I can smell the wonderful
scent of the lilacs and hear the beautiful song
of a Baltimore Oriole. I had been praying I would get
one at the feeders this year, and I came home to a
pair.... I will blog that later.
Anyway, no matter where we were or what we were
doing at New River Barbi and I were looking for birds
and photo opts. We never rested... A familiar sight as we
came and went from the Cabin was this creek...


and farmhouse. We stopped the first time we
passed it to get the pictures.


Then on our way home from Lowe's one afternoon.
I needed an extension cord so I could use my computer on
the porch!! I saw birds flying into the trees at the creek as
we came to the bridge by the house. We stopped and I was
thrilled beyond words to see a flock of Cedar Waxwings.



I rarely get to see this bird at home and I was in
'almost heaven' just standing on the bridge snapping
away. He was carrying some material in his mouth.

They were busy doing their thing and didn't really
even care that we were there.

I took way too many shots, but couldn't help myself.


When we are getting pictures of a coveted bird we always
say something like: Don't you wish one would land right here
close to the road...... or

right over there with that stone wall as a back drop and the
yellow flowers....

We're never happy with what we are getting we always
want more. The perfect picture with the perfect background.

And as you see, the CW did go over and land where I could
get the wall and flowers in the background. I WAS in heaven!

I couldn't have asked for anything more.


Well maybe one more thing...............

On our way to dinner one night we came around the bend
right before the creek and farmhouse and Barb stopped the
car and said get your camera!! There's a Pileated in the
tree. Wow! I was again experiencing a feeling of euphoria

So much so that we left the car in the middle of the road
got out and continued to shoot.....

Birders are nuts you know.

As the Woodpecker worked his way up the tree
I was taking pictures.

Then sadly too soon he was off and flying away.

The next happening was while I was out on the porch
at the Cabin and watching through the screen.

Hello little squirrel...what are you doing today? The pictures are kind of grainy
hence the screen between me and him.


If anyone knows what he was doing let me know. I watched
and watched as he went over to an old rotted out log and started
to roll around in it.


He was turning upside down


around and around


looking like he was enjoying every minute of it.
In this picture I had to laugh..he looks like he's
playing that game 'twister'

I have a LOT of squirrels in my back yard and have
never seen such a display of activity.


I bet he rolled around for 5 minutes.


any ideas what he was doing?

With eyes half shut he really looked like he was
having himself a fine time.

New River in West Virginia didn't disappoint
It really is: 'almost heaven'

To God be the Glory ~~ Great Things He Hath Done

8 comments:

PSYL said...

Maybe the squirrel has an itch that it couldn't reach?

Keith at Opossum Creek said...

What a great post. Thank You.

Beth said...

Love this post, Jane. Great pictures.

Beth

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Your pictures tell a beautiful story,almost fairytale like.Sometimes I do believe that God allows the birds to come into view just to bless us.You were certainly blessed that day.
Blessings,Ruth

nina at Nature Remains. said...

I came home to a pair of Orioles, too!
The perfect reminder I needed--there's loveliness everywhere!

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

You and Barb are the queens of

"Right place- right time"!!

No idea on the squirrel. Maybe he found a natural flea repellant to roll in?

DallasD said...

Love those cedar waxwings!
Beautiful. I can't say they were my spark bird, but I had only been birding for a few months when I saw a (short) whole tree full of them chowing down on berries like speed demons.

Mary said...

Pileated!!!! Whoooo haaaaaa! I loved my first good glimpse at one over at the Meadows but I really had a few other goods looks that week.

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