There have been feathers and flowers in my life

I've been so remiss about posting.  I've certainly enjoyed everyone else's blogging but I've been missing in action. 

I did make my annual trip to the south Texas coast during the spring bird migration.  It took a while longer to get there because we drove through rain for about 90% of the trip.   I think we had thunderstorms every night of the week we were there and our house was rockin' and rollin'.  Since Hurricane Ike, all houses rebuilt on the Bolivar Peninsula are raised on pilings.    Days included some rain but we were able to be out and about most of the time.

Scissor-tail flycatcher

I did all the driving on this trip as we were on my vehicle, although my buddy Larry would have helped out had I asked.   The three of us have birded together so much that we all know how to move along or linger so that we're all happy.  We did trek through a lot of mud and puddles on some days.  My hiking shoes weren't the waterproof ones so my feet got wet.  I always wear wool socks with those shoes anyway so my feet didn't get cold.

Because I was driving and the drippy woods, I didn't take many pictures. 

Purple Gallinule 

Here on the homefront, I arranged for a local nursery to put in a new flower bed and a new raised bed.  Took for-ev-er to get it all done. 

New perennial bed newly planted

One month later

Of course, it looks differently now.  All in all, I'm pleased with it.  I thought there would be less weeds but I'm finding that we have to crawl up that hill every so often to pull grass or weeds.  Not fun, at least to me. 

The new raised bed at the end of the house is still a work in progress.  I have a few plants waiting to go in here and it'll need mulch once that's done.  

New raised bed

I can see this bed from my sewing room downstairs.  That was a primary reason for having it put in, so that I would be able to see flowers from there.  Although, I can see the other perennial bed through the side window.  I have a bird feeder out there and some days there are so many birds flitting around it looks like yellow snow.  Goldfinches.  And lots of other things too. 

Hope everybody has been well and is having a good summer, even with the weird weather all around. 

Y'all take care. 

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. 

Feathered Friends

Happy New Year, dear friends. 

I've been watching all kinds of little birds busily fluttering around the feeders this morning.  I think they are stocking up ahead of the bitter cold that is expected to hit us tonight and the next couple of days.    This is my first experience with dark eyed juncos and pine siskins at my feeders.  White breasted nuthatches, too. 

 Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures to show you but believe me when I say that its a joy to watch them.   I'm sticking some in here trying to give you something warm to imagine during this winter. 

Cedar Waxwings 

I'm supposed to go birding at Lake Chatuge on Saturday morning but we'll see.  There IS a limit as to when I'll venture out in cold weather.  We're having wonderfully sunny weather, so that helps tremendously during the day.  Temps drop like a rock at night, though. 

On top of Diamondhead

Y'all take care.  

Texas Birding Trip, Spring 2014

Oh, how do I begin?  It's been a long time and as each day goes by, I seem to be more intimidated.   Anyway, here goes. 

The last few weeks have been very full.  I traveled to High Island, Texas in mid-April for my annual bird migration trip.  Had a great time, as usual.  After a few trips, you get familiar with the area and terrain and its like going home.  You never know what you'll see on these trips and that is the thrill of it.  

Male Red-Winged Black Bird showing off for the ladies 

Besides, catching migrant birds as they just reach the shore after their trans-gulf flight allows to seeing things you might not ever get to see at home.   

Male Scarlet Tanager (with leaf in the way!)

Male Rose Breasted Grosbeak

I have to admit that I like being in the presence of so many other birders.  It's the same among anyone with a shared passion, I suppose, whether its birding, painting, or baseball.

Heck, you don't even have to get out of the car to see good birds, as evidenced above.  

Anybody care to count how many birds are in this next photo?

Rookery at Smith's Woods, High Island, Texas 

In addition to the obvious birds, there was lots of other interesting and gorgeous scenery to take in. 

Bluebonnets

This was the only patch of bluebonnets anywhere around, but there was fields and fields of Mexican primroses.

Thistle in bloom

I'll quit boring you for the moment.    Y'all take care. 

If this is Tuesday, this must be............

Now, where was I?   And what day is this?  There have been times lately when those questions were forefront in my mind and the answers were hard to come by!!

Virginia Rail

A thrush - hermit, I think 

I spent six days in and around High Island, Texas birding with a couple of friends.  We had a fabulous time and totaled 165 species for the trip.   Our days were long but fun. 

A small fraction of the birdwatchers!

male Scarlet Tanager 

Indigo and Painted Buntings 

Splish Splash -- Painted Bunting 

Willet on a fence post 

We'd pick a location and then devote the whole day, or a big part of it, to finding the birds that were present.   I added several new birds to my life list, including a White-tailed Kite and Mottled Ducks.

We spent a considerable amount of time at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge.  I love that place.  On the surface it looks desolate and deserted, but if you look for the details you can see all kinds of critters and birds.  

It was mostly cloudy the whole time we were there, with only brief periods of sunshine.  And the wind!!!!   A cold front was coming through and our house (which was on pilings) was rocking and rolling all night.  We also went from air conditioning to heat within a twenty-four hour period.   And did I mention the ever present threat of rain?  

There's more to tell.  I'll be back. 

Y'all take care.  

Christmas Bird Count

It's that time of the year again, time for the Christmas Bird Count.  This was my first outing and it really wasn't much different from any other birdwatching day except we started at 6:20 a.m. and didn't stop until 5 p.m., when it got so dark we couldn't see another bird!!  Oh, and the record keeping was more detailed.   I was elected to be the driver yesterday, so it was a little more taxing on me than the passengers.  

Our day started by getting up at 4:15 a.m. and heading out the door by 5:30.  It didn't take us as long to drive to the count location as we had anticipated.  Anyway, we got to our first stop in time to watch dawn break and to hear the birds start to wake up.  I can't  say we got to watch sunrise, because we didn't see the sun all day yesterday.

Common loons, winter plumage

We did, however, get some wonderful rain about midday.  I don't even remember when it rained last here and certainly enough to be measurable.    We were in and out of the car, trekking down paths and wandering in parks.  Our count was in a small town, but one with tons of trees and natural areas.   Didn't bother with photos to speak of because it was so dark..

After meeting up at the coordinator's home for a count tally and dinner, we drove back and I dropped the other girls off at about 9 p.m. and I was home by about 9:40 p.m.   Today, I'm a bit draggy, if you know what I mean.  

Brown Pelican on a dreary, dark day 

But, I get to do it again on Thursday when we will be surveying an area along the Choctawhatchee River.  It will be as isolated and wild as our trip yesterday was urban.  I'm looking forward to this one because I've never had a chance to explore that area before.  

Y'all take care.  

Little Winter Visitor

The last time over at the beach, we were looking for Nelson's sparrows which had been sited there.  We had seen them before, but they are quite uncommon and we couldn't pass up the chance to go looking for one so close to home.  

This is the little guy that was causing all the excitement.  I didn't get very good pictures but it was fun trying.  We saw eight of them which was a real treat.   The only time we get to see them here along our coast is in winter.  

Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow

You never know what you are going to see.  You can count on shorebirds of some sort though.  

These little guys were so busy along the waterline.  They never seemed to stop more than a second or two. 

Sanderlings

It appears that a shell is caught on the middle bird's right leg.  Hopefully, it came off.  

And, we couldn't make a trip over without noting the lovely wildflowers that were blooming.  

And my pals are ever on the lookout for the next bird. 

She with the spotting scope and he with his trusty camera.

I'll be away for a few days.  Meanwhile, 

Y'all take care.