Wood Ducks

I so seldom see Wood Ducks in my area but when
I visit my daughter in Harrisburg, PA there
is a place that always promises lots of water
fowl.... Wildwood Lake Sanctuary

Stopping off on the way was a happening I could NOT resist.
and am I glad I did. As I started to walk I was seeing
some Canadian geese and then on a small log out
further this gem came into my view finder.
Yippee!! A Male Wood Duck.

He was far enough away that I was no threat and he
moved every which way preening his feathers. click on the
collage below to see all his fancy moves.

Isn't he beautiful?

He started to flap his wings ....

Looking out over the water ...

I thought he was going to fly.... but then looked where
he was looking.

No wonder he was happy.. here comes his mate

She swam right in to where he was

Hopped right up on the other side of the log....

And started her preening as well..

He watched her as she got down to business

Here they both are one on each end of the log

I was very much in heaven being able to see them both
at the same time.

Many people consider it to be the most beautiful of all waterfowl.
Wildwood has reported 8 pairs there this year.

You might want to check out An exciting outing
back in July in Wildwood..It shows the beauty of the Park
or Fall in Wildwood

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

Happiness Turns to Sad

I'm always delighted to see the Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks return to the backyard. This year so far
I have 4 pairs. There may be more but I've
actually seen the four all at once.

The first sighting of the Male with his splash or Red on his
breast is always a thrill.

He sits in the tree and awaits his turn at the feeders.

We tend to make them 'human' and make-up things they
may be thinking or saying like this expression below...

"Hey, Get some seeds out here"

Then there is the occasional first year bird... look at his colors

They seem to be having a hard time getting settled in..
brown turning to black, a little speckled, and the red not
quite red yet

Then there is the lovely Female... not so colorful but just
as pretty...

I love her eye stripe and how bold and beautiful it is

She seems fearless...shown here watching two Blue Jays spar
for the feeder

Then as I was recovering from bronchitis and coughing my head
off....I notice one of the female Grosbeaks also coughing..

The next day she is looking a little rough around the
edges and just sitting on the feeder and not eating

Nothing scares her away

It seemed as if her mate is saying... "you ok?" as she
shuts her eyes...

I guess she was not ok...as the next morning I found her
on the deck under the feeder feet up.

"Hope ever tells us tomorrow will be better"

I just hope she didn't have a nest full of eggs somewhere but it
doesn't pay to question these things too much or dwell on them.
My dad always says to me "It's just nature"


To God be The Glory ~~ Great Things He Hath done.

Back to the Archives.....

Back in April before I went to New River I was

fortunate enough to get the very best pictures
of a Female Belted Kingfisher I had ever taken.
So let me share them with you.
The Belted Kingfisher is one of the few bird
species in which the female is more brightly colored
than the male.

Thanks to my Best friend Barbie, and her birding
route, I was able to drive by the stream where
the Kingfishers frequent.

I had gotten the male a few weeks earlier at the same
location. As you can see he is bluish gray and white
and not as colorful as she is.

Then, in the back yard I saw one of my favorite 'passers-by'
in the Spring. The Brown Thrasher.

A few shots of him in the tree

and a few more of him doing what he loves most....
scratching the ground for insects

The Female looks mostly the same as the male but
a little smaller..

Having a window to gaze through and
having beautiful birds to see is such a blessing.

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

Saying Goodbye.....

What I learned while in West Virginia.......

click for a closer view..


Ahhhhh yeah... It was a very good time....
And a BIG part of that good time was due to one person...
Keith Richardson.
If you look at other blogs you
will see him often... whether he is being friendly and
kind.... posin' for a picture

All donned in his apron tending the grille

Tending to PR with Bill Hilton Jr. as the flock
laughs merrily in the background...

or playing Paco the cabano boy....on Susan gets native's blog....

He definitely was a one man show and made everyone
feel so much at home. So, I will say my goodbye to
Keith... Until we meet again. Thank you.

Good bye Lynne... I see you waving to me

good bye Don, you and Karen were a joy

Good bye you old coot... WV mountain man.

Good bye Geoff.... I'm indebted to you for
taking us to the Blue smoke..where I got
the most wonderful salsa!!

Good bye to the blue rain coat that ballooned
when the wind blew....

Good bye to the beautiful sunsets at the gorge

Good 'night' to Jeff Gordon...

Wild and Wonderful West Virginia...