It's Thursday



I don't have too much to add today, but I did see this bunny rabbit in our back yard. This is the first time in many years, and I think the coyotes have either moved out or have been hunted because I don't hear them anymore.

I also saw this mama doe and her fawn racing across the field by our house. I think they were on their way to the creek for a drink of water.

Back on Lake Erie, I have taken so many pictures of this light house. It is no longer in operation, but I still can't resist more. It is especially beautiful in the winter when there is lots of ice hanging from the pier, and the lighthouse itself.

Mowing our trails is a great place to spot Forget-me-nots. They are everyplace.
Another beautiful day for us. I hope you all are enjoying it as well. Take care.

Week-End Goodies

Traveling to the recycling center this morning we got behind an Amish farmer driving this wagon with his kids on board, and carrying some farm machinery

Down on the creek trail a cute little Nuthatch scurries upside down on a Willow tree limb.

Down farther on the trail this Woodchuck was surprised to see me and headed for his burrow.

Also on the creek trail I checked on our wild apple tree, and the apples are looking really nice. I can't believe the deer haven't been sampling them yet.

Near Lake Erie the Concord grapes look good too. Yum, yum!

Searching for some Monarch caterpillars, I came across a Milkweed beetle, and a daddy long legs spider.

Here is a good view showing the difference between Barn Swallows on the left , and Tree swallows. They must be migrating. This past week there have been hundreds in the evening flying over the corn fields.
I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.

Another week-end.

Up in this roof overhang a female house sparrow checks it out for a possible nesting place. This is the creek out behind our house. The water rose lots over the past few days due to all the snow melt. Thank goodness we didn't have any rain with it.

I am able to walk the "upper" trail and I found a spot of green. Moss with a tiny leaf.

Usually everyday a large flock of blackbirds stop by for a snack. Here are a few Brown headed Cowbirds.

This guy appeared in the back yard this afternoon. What a fat critter he is. Ground hog, wood chuck, or whistle pig, they are kind of cute, but oh the holes they dig!

I was hoping to get a good shot at the big moon last night, but no dice. Way too cloudy.

It's Thursday

A large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds arrived this morning along with lots of Starlings and cleaned up all the seed on the ground. A sure sign of Spring? ? Along came this Robin too. I feel bad for him. There isn't much to eat, and the temps are really cold tonight. Right now at 8PM it's 11 deg! I'd invite him in, but Frosty was already licking her lips at the thought of a snack!

Speaking of Frosty, here she is. Peeking out from behind my coat.

On a trip earlier in the week, I spotted a Ruffed Grouse hen sitting in this bush. Of course by the time I got the van stopped and got the camera focused, I only had time for one picture before she flew away.

L0ts of deer out this time of year too. All looking for a bite to eat.

On the way home this woodchuck ran across the road, and up this snow bank. Some of the ground animals are beginning to appear. We have had a skunk in our back yard for the past 3 nights eating underneath the bird feeder. The Canada geese are showing up too and flying all around the neighborhood. I even saw a Brown Creeper this afternoon on our big Maple tree out front,but couldn't get any pictures. He was going around the tree way too fast for me. Just before supper I looked down on the creek and spotted a small flock of white ducks. I got out the binoculars, and I'm sure they were Common Mergansers. I have seen them there in past Springs, but today there were too far away for any pictures. The trail to the creek isn't accessible yet because of the high water this week. The water level has receded, but now all that is left are big chunks of ice.

That's all for today. More snow this morning, but only flurries. Some afternoon sun, but a very cold and windy day.

This week, and more snow

Oh dear, more snow this week, as a matter of fact 11" on Sunday night. Just when we had tons of it cleared away from the house.
Sunday afternoon on a drive past this Amish house shows church is still going on as you can see by all the buggies. A little later I spied some deer resting beneath some underbrush,

Here is one doe that had her nose buried in the snow searching for grass. She didn't hang around very long though and ran off.

On our way to watch trains we always pass this adorable little country house. I never see any one there, and I would love to just sit on the porch and look at the beautiful scenery. Someone takes very good care of the house, and plants beautiful flowers in the Spring.

I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count this year again, and I had 8 Cardinals all at one time.

This is our front yard after the 11" snow fall, and now I hear there is another storm coming tomorrow night! Oh joy!

Soggy Saturday

More shots from our ride to Lake Erie a few days ago. Not much wildlife but I did spot some Mallards in this harbor. Of course one of them took off just as I shot this picture.
This group of resting Ringed seagulls included at least one Bonaparte gull. The ice in the harbor has begun to melt, and it provides lots of places for these birds to sleep.

Here is another look at the broken ice pieces. Just a few days ago it was frozen solid.

On the way home at the "corn crib" is just one lonely little doe. She wasn't too afraid, and it was surprising to see here here by herself.

The heavy snows have brought down part of the roof of this old barn.

Back at my feeders, the Carolina wren seems frozen in time having spotted the Cooper's hawk. Seldom do I ever see it this still, so I took advantage and got several shots.

Such a cute face!

We had some record warm temps today, and plenty of melting took place. The creek behind our home is really high, running fast, full of ice chunks. 2 of my 4 trails are under water right now. I wonder how the Beavers are...It has rained fairly hard all day too, and we have several streams of water scooting across the floor in our basement. The sump pump got it's first workout of the year, and hopefully it won't need to be tested again for a while.

Sunday

Boy, oh boy am I late! It has been a busy week-end, and I haven't taken very many blogging pictures.
This cute little Carolina Wren has been visiting the past few days. He always chooses to show his backside though and is such a busy body.

A few deer that made it through hunting season.

This Orchid is blooming right now in my little greenhouse. There is no scent though :~(

We all went to my sister's house for Christmas yesterday and here is one of her cats, Sadie posing for a moment.

The weather here is still gloomy and only a trace of snow the past few days. Temps in the low 20's . The snow and ice storm that is traveling up the East coast of the USA has missed us. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Midweek

On our way to the grocery store this morning I spotted this Bald Eagle sitting in this old dead tree at the edge of a field. The crows really were tormenting him, but he just sat there . We stopped for a while and eventually he flew around this field. We saw what he was looking at, a dead raccoon laying along side the road. We got our groceries, went out to lunch, took a ride to take some photos, and 4 hours later checked back and the eagle was still in that old tree.

Driving by a small lake in Clymer, New York it was full to the gills of Canada geese. Can you imagine the noise when they all take off?

Down on the creek trail at home, the Wood ducks seem to have left and the Common Mergansers have taken over the dead tree.

I also found this huge Snapping turtle crawling through the swampy water near the creek.

A beautiful day today and I couldn't resist a picture of the Aspen leaves against the blue sky.

Early in the morning as the sun shines through the trees in our front yard.

As I type this Wednesday night there is rain on the horizon. So much for the nice weather.

Hope your week is going as planned.