Thursday, February 12, 2015

Time is Flying


Where does the time go???  Seems every time I turn around another week has gone by. 

My birding pals, Birdlady and Larry, spent a few days with me.  We had a wonderful time.  Every day was filled with birds.   It was so good to see them.  We wandered all over the place, up mountains and over mountains and over to Tennessee. 

We took a day and went over to Hiawassee National Wildlife Refuge which is northeast of Chattanooga, Tennessee.  There we saw thousands of sandhill cranes.  These are just a few.  
Sandhill Cranes, photo by Larry Goodman
In flight, photo by Larry Goodman
Sandhill crane, photo by Larry Goodman
Both of them were just astonished at the number of birds that come to my feeders every day.  
Mourning Dove, photo by Larry Goodman



Carolina Chickadee, photo by Larry Goodman

White breasted nuthatch, photo by Larry Goodman
Northern Cardinal, photo by Larry Goodman 

Another of our forays was up to Brasstown Bald in search of ruffed grouse.  We hit heavy fog on the way up the hill but punched right through the layer and found bright sunshine up top. 
Sunshine and Ice 
It was bitterly cold due to the brisk wind.  The sun tried valiantly to warm the air but with no success.  The birds had better sense than to be out and about on that morning, so after a short stop, we headed back to the warm car.  
Lovely scene, but brutal




The warm was melting the ice just enough that the brisk wind had the ice coming down constantly. 

I'll be out and about the next couple of weeks, so may not be checking in too often.  Meanwhile, Happy Valentine's Day to all of you. 

Y'all take care. 





5 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos!! I love nature! There is nothing that calms my soul more than being outside with God's creation! Have a great weekend!

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  2. I remember the first time I ever heard the Sandhill Cranes. It was the oddest sound way up in the sky, and I could barely see them. I didn't know what it was, and when I came home I told my Shug about it and he said he saw them today and they are Sandhill Cranes. Very cool that you got to see them close up. I totally agree about time flying. I was just talking to someone today about how out of control time is....I want it to stand still a bit. I'm not ready to be the older generation!

    Cindy Bee

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  3. I never see the sandhill cranes on the ground---just hear them wayyyyy up in the sky when they are flying over. Sheesh, they certainly are HUGE!

    Stay warm! Those photos look beautiful but COLD!

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  4. Wonderful shots of the birds. Love seeing the Cardinal!

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  5. Did you know the call of the sandhill crane (esp. when migrating) is what inspired Frank Baum to write about the "flying monkeys" in "The Land of OZ?"

    Great pictures!

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