Resurrecting a blog that died in 2014

I can’t believe that I haven’t blog since 2014. And now I am traveling full-time and actually living in my van as I travel. I don’t really live in the van I live out of the van. I spend more time outside the van then in. All that I own on this earth is in this van. I am finding it an interesting and challenging lifestyle especially with my physical limitations. So I’m going to try again to keep up with a blog to let you know where I’m at and what I’m seeing in God‘s beautiful creation. I Feel so much more alive when I’m dealing with God’s creation because I am communicating directly with the creator. I almost can’t believe that he would communicate with a fool like me, but he does. Being outdoors and seeing his creation ( birds, flowers, animals, and the rest) is like medicine to me. I forget about all the negatives, especially the ones I’ve created myself, when I am concentrating on the beauty, Intelligence, Power, and love of God shown through his created world.  so here we go again. If you want off this mailing list simply email me and I’ll drop you. But there are some friends who have requested that I get back to this. And my lifestyle now suits it better than ever, as I am out almost every day enjoying His creation.

At this point I’m back in Florida for the winter. I’ve only been here two days so I’m just getting to be familiar with the place again. I have seen some special friends I haven’t seen since last year, both human and nonhuman. So I’ll share a few pictures with you now and look forward to your comments later.

At this point I am working with only my iPad so my pictures will not be the quality I had in the past. I will be changing that soon, I hope.  I return to my “old stomping ground” behind the Cracker Barrel in Bradington north of Sarasota. And found lots of my old friends including dozens of Muskovy ducks and dozens of White Ibis.

                                                     Muscovy duck

                                                White Ibis

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.