Walking Continues

Being soaked alone is cold.  Being soaked with your best friend is an adventure. ~  Emily Wing Smith,  Back When You Were Easier to Love It was a beautiful day.  A note for new adventurers (or old "rowdy" ones like me):  Pay attention to fencing and signs. Whenever birdwatching or hiking (or out in the world) one must REMEMBER to go ONLY on public property or property where you have PERMISSION to be. It may sound strict, but without permission you are trespassing. It is against the law. I wasn't sure if I was going to bring Zelda along on this bird count. It can be a slow day - walking for miles and jotting down the birds you see and then sitting in the car and waiting for just the right bird to show up.*  However, the last time I left Zelda home alone she chewed up a couple of things (including Santa's foot!). It seemed wise to bring her along. And Zelda is always ready for adventure. I could always leave her at home after the first break. [Note: Zelda is a great do

I know he'd be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly. ~ John Denver 12-18-2020 8:15 a.m. Today dawned a little misty/foggy. It was a good day for a Bald Eagle . On the drive out to the ponds I kept thinking, "let the eagle be there." I reached the pond on the corner and looked up - and there it was. The white head and tail of the Bald Eagle almost glow in the early morning light. See it? Bald Eagle Bald Eagle. Same bird/different view. I'm always more than a little excited to see the eagle. I could almost stop right there, but I spent a little more time checking the area and so there is more. What other new birds showed up today? I think the eagle and Northern Shovelers were the only "new" birds to show up. Here are a few of my favorite shots. American Pipit American Pipit. Same bird/different view. I wonder if this is the same one from yesterday watching me while I watch it. Northern Shoveler (male) : This isn't the best photo as the head is act

To be standing together in a frosty field,  looking up into the sky,  marvelling at birds  and revelling in the natural world around us,  was a simple miracle.  And I wondered why  we were so rarely able to appreciate it.”  ~  Lynn Thomson,  Birding with Yeats: A Mother's Memoir This is one of the main ponds in my "designated area." On misty days I often find a Bald Eagle perched in one of these trees, but I haven't seen one this week.  12-17-2020 I went out to check on the birds twice between errands. The birds were waiting.  MORNING:  It froze last night. A thin layer of ice formed in my water collection tubs. When I got out to the ponds I saw no ice -- but there were ducks. And the light was much better than yesterday - making some ducks easier to identify. The same ducks were here and I've included a couple of photos. A few different birds - common birds - showed up that I didn't see yesterday. In fact, the ponds were busy with birds and I am sure I didn&#