Monday and a trip to Lake Erie, Pa

On Monday I took my sister on a belated birthday gift trip around Erie, Pennsylvania. Being right on Lake Erie our first stop was the channel, that lets the boats and ships out from the bay to the lake. This Great Blue heron was eagerly waiting for a fish from this man, but while we were there he didn't get any.

                                 The poor guy looks rather thin I think. He sure could use a few fish.

Down at the foot of State street in Erie, there is a tall bicentennial tower, and this is a shot looking South toward the city from the top of the tower.

Driving around the peninsula, there is a really cool place to eat called Sara's. All retro 1950's décor. That is the front of the counter. They have red covers over the outdoor table area roof for cool weather and they are mostly red, so it's difficult to get any pictures without it. During the summer, you can't get close to this place, it's so busy.

At the entrance to the Presque Isle is Waldameer Amusement and Water park. There they have the Ravine Flyer, a huge wooden roller coaster. Waldameer is the 4th oldest amusement park in Pennsylvania. Yesterday they were doing a test run with the coaster empty. They will be opening soon for the summer, and were also testing a number of the other rides.
I think Spring finally has arrived. I saw my first Baltimore and Orchard Orioles yesterday. Pictures soon.

Thursday

 

My little Bantam hen Marigold hatched out 3 chicks on Easter Sunday. They are adorable, and I sure won't have trouble remembering their birthdays.

 

I took a walk on the creek trail this afternoon, and really didn't see much. The skunk cabbage is out and some wild onions. That was all. Not even any wildlife. We've had some warm days, but no warm rain yet, and Tuesday we had snow again, so things are still hibernating I guess.

Hope all is going well for everyone.

Thursday morning

 

 

Wednesday evening as the moon came into view. I ran out and in the dark to take this picture, and had to squeeze between the split rail fence and a big Spruce tree. Then all night I felt like there were bugs in my hair..

 

 

Thursday morning, and the beautiful sunrise. It's still cold, 27 deg. and with the gusty wind it sure seems much colder. I still have the wood stove going.

 

 

I haven't had Purple finches all winter, but a few pairs have showed up now.

 

The Goldfinches have finally gotten some of their summer colors. I love these birds, and have lots!

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Sunday morning and the creek trail.

 

Most of these shots were taken along the creek trail I walk. It is a gorgeous day, although really windy, and a good time to survey the damage done after the ice jam on the creek this winter. This is the creek looking West, or downstream. That tree leaning over the water is a Sycamore tree, and has been leaning like this for many years.

 

Looking upstream or East.

 

 

 

The resting bench had gotten twisted from being hit with ice chunks. It sits not far from the water, but right in the path when the creek gets high.

 

 

The only wildlife I saw were these two male Mallard ducks.

 

Another shot looking downstream.

 

 

So much silt, and I did see the wild onions beginning to emerge. They are really tasty!

No Skunk Cabbage yet.

 

 

Sometimes it's not a good idea to walk on this trail during high winds. Limbs can fall and crack your noggin..lol

 

On the upper trail that is on higher ground, the ground hogs are busy constructing new burrows.

 

 

 

This dead tree is a great place for the woodpeckers. I have yet to see which kind though.

 

 

I posted this on Facebook, but if you didn't see it, I checked on one of my birdhouses, and out fell a mama mouse with two of her babies, apparently nursing because they hung on as they all dropped to the ground. I'll check again later when they are older.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day.

Thursday

 

 

Finally the weather has moderated here, and I think maple syrup season was a big success. Many sugar houses were really up and running full time this season.

 

I took this picture the other morning on my walk with my dog, and the sun shining on the trees and the ground made everything take on a reddish tint. We got rain later that day.

 

It doesn't take much warm sun to get the little Crocuses to pop out of the dirt. Spring is on the way for sure, although we are still having cool mornings.

 

These are my granddaughter's Mallard ducks, and they have been in the barn all winter. The other day when I was doing some cleaning over there and had the door open, they flew up over their pen and got out. Now they are in the over flow from French creek and so happy, but I'm concerned that something will get them . They are tame, and can't fly very far or very fast. I'll keep watching out for them.

More from Florida

 

This was the view the very first night from our hotel balcony looking out over Tampa Bay.

 

 

 

 

 

Another view from the balcony.

 

 

 

Busch Gardens, Tampa Florida.

 

Sea World, Orlando, Florida. A mama Orca and her baby.

I wish I were still there. The weather was perfect. This morning here it is 6 deg. and we got another 1" of snow last night bringing the total for this season to 177.5" Not an all time high, but enough believe me. Have a wonderful day.

Florida Trip

I just got back from an 8 day vacation with my sister to Florida. The weather was nearly perfect, and not too hot. These white Pelicans were at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park.

 

Lots of them fishing in Tampa Bay too. We had a great view from our hotel room.

One day we stopped to visit some friends and this Sandhill crane was in their front yard.

We had a wonderful time despite 2 days we were both sick with that stomach virus that is going around, and missing our connecting flight from Pittsburgh, Pa, back to Erie, Pa. Had to drive the remaining 150 miles. On the day we were hoping to attend a New YorkYankee/ Pittsburgh Pirates ball game it poured, but otherwise it was perfect. I'll be posting more pictures soon.