BIRDS, BIRDS, BIRDS

Hello loved ones - I have been out and about several times in the past weeks and here are just a few of the beautiful creatures God has allowed me to see.

Canada Goose and her young.  I love a parade, don't you?

Even the common grackle is beautiful in the bright sunlight.

Purple Gallinule (Common name - Moor Hen)
Notice the big foot with long toes than help him walk on lily pads.

Another View of the Purple Gallinule - with his wing spread.  Notice the
"candy corn" bill.   Not often seen North of the Carolinas
 - this guy was hanging out in Mount Holly Springs Cumberland County.

A Yellow Crowned Night Heron in Mount Holly Springs,
Cumberland County.

There are literally hundreds (if not thousands) of Red Winged Black Birds
at Middle Creek  Wildlife Management Area  now.
This one is displaying for the ladies

Thanks to modern farming practices these ground nesters are more commonly
 farm raised and stocked by the game commission.
Both of these guys were found at Middle Creek WMA.
  One in Lancaster County and one in Lebanon County.

Ring Neck Pheasants are not a native species but not too many
 years ago we had them everywhere in great numbers.
Their spring colors are bright and beautiful.

Male Eastern Blue Bird - Lancaster County

Female Eastern Blue Bird - Lebanon County

This beautiful pair of Bluebirds were also at Middle Creek WMA.

The Bobolink nests here in PA but migrates from Argentina
 to do so.   One of the longest migrations for a song bird.
Listen and he will tell you his name "BOB-BO-LINK"

SHENK'S FERRY WILDFLOWERS ARE AT THEIR PEAK

Every year I blog about the flowers at Shenk's Ferry.  They are worth the effort to visit.  We are so blessed to have this beautiful little piece of heaven here in Lancaster County.

Here are some pis from recent days.  We see the same species every year but it is like visiting old and dear friends.

blood root

blue cohosh

cut leaf tooth wort

duthmans breeches

shenk's ferry trillium

spring beauty

squirrel corn

yellow trout lilly

wild geranium 

POND LIFE IN THE SPRING

I was blessed to spend the day at the nature center at Colonel Denning State Park nature center with my friends - staff of the park and members of the Friends of Colonel Denning SP.  We had a great time watching wildlife in the little ma made pond there.  The friends group were in the park for a work day - preparing for an busy season ahead.  Thank you "Friends of CDSP".

water boatman beetle

egg mass ???wood frog???

more frog eggs (strings of pearls)

still more eggs ??? id

salamander (notice eggs inside her)

same salamander - different angle

same salamander - different angle

water striders mating

water strider

SPRING UPDATE

If you live in PA you know how welcome spring is this year.  I thought I was living in Narnia where it was always winter.  I have been out and about watching my owl nest and birding a little with my friend Randy Miller.  Here are just two of the many pics I have taken.  I hope to get to Shenk's Ferry Wildflower preserve today.

Here is mama great horned with her two young ones they have been providing hours of great fun
for the several that have been watching, including me.

These yellow crowned night herons live in the city of Harrisburg,   There are six nests in this rookery, right in the middle of a highly populated street.  I guess they think if you can't beat man you might as well join them.

THANK HEAVEN FOR SPRING

I remember a silly rhyme from my MUCH younger days - it goes like this;

"Spring has sprung - The grass has "rizz" - I wonder where the birdies is."

Well, in case you are wondering where the birdies is - I will tell you - they are migrating and nesting and singing and ....

Here are just a few of my recent bird pics.

American widgeon - swamp near river at Marietta, PA.

Red necked grebe in full breading plumage - on the Susquehanna near Marietta, PA.

Great Horned Owl sitting on nest near Mount Joy, PA

All three of these birds were a first ever sighting for me.   Get out there and enjoy God's creation.  He made it for you!

Keep looking up.

don b

SNOW GEESE RETURN TO MIDDLE CREEK

There are back.  60,000 snow geese are on the water at Middle Creek WMA.

MORE BIRD PICTURES

HERE ARE A FEW MORE SHOTS OPF SOME VISITORS FROM THE NORTH.

ANOTHER VIEW OF THE MALE SNOWY OWL IN MY LAST BLOG (3 DAYS LATTER)

FEMALE SNOWY OWL - SHE HAS A TRANSMITTER ON HER

ANOTHER VIEW OF A HORNED LARK

A RED THROATED LOON *HIS THROAT WILL TURN RED SOON BECAUSE SPRING IS  COMING.  

WINTER BIRDS

Winter 2013 -2014 is almost over and spring is just around the corner.   Soon the cold and snow of this record breaking winter will be just a bad memory.  I have not been able to get out much this winter but I hope to make up for that soon.  Last week I spent a afternoon or "car-birding" with Randy Miller and today Florence and I were out birding again here are two of the pics from these trips.  Both are winter birds for our area and I hope they will soon go "home" and our spring flights will be arriving with blossoming wildflowers.  THANK GOD FOR SPRING!

SNOWY OWLS CAME SOUTH THIS YEAR AS AN ABUNDANCE OF FOOD UP NORTH LED TO LARGE NUMBERS OF YOUNG.  THEY WILL SOON BEING RETURNING NORTH TO BREED BUT IT HAS BEEN GOOD TO HAVE THEM VISIT - THIS IMMATURE MALE SNOWY OWL HAD TO SQUINT SO I MISSED SEEING HIS BEAUTIFUL YELLOW EYES.

THE HORNED LARK IS AN ANNUAL WINTER VISITER TO THESE PARTS.  THEY CAN BE FOUND ANYWHERE THE FARMERS ARE SPREADING MANURE.  OH THE JOY OF SPENDING TIME OUT IN THE FRESH AIR.