Woodpecker Delight

Today as I headed off to work, I knew that I had a few minutes to visit the Mariner. As I drove in the parking lot. I notice the truck ahead of me stopping for something in the road. It was a snapping turtle heading away from the water to the grassy area.

This was my chance to catch a turtle maybe laying eggs. So I hurried to a spot to park, grab my camera and headed for the turtle. She was gone. I could see the water trail up to the grass. Where she went from there, I could not tell.

So, disappointment set in and I headed back to the path. While talking to a young mother with twin girls, I noticed a red-bellied woodpecker going back and forth from the tree near us. To my delight, I realized that she was feeding her babies.

So I waited and sure enough one of the babies poked its head out. My woodpecker delight made my day. I could leave for work happy.

Animal Control

The other day as I was checking on the swan family, I notice the animal control truck circling the marsh. Two people got out and was holding a trap of some sort.

Well, this scared me. I thought that they were out to capture the baby swans. So, I had to stop to beg for mercy. I was ready to fight for the swans.

It turned out that they had just rescued a snapping turtle that was crossing the busy road. They were just putting it in the marsh.

How quick I was to jump to conclusion. Here I was ready to see the worst before I knew all the facts.
Many time the people that work for the animal control are out to rescue instead of trapping and destroying animal's lives.

The sad thing is that I jump to wrong conclusions a lot. When I take the time to check out all the facts, I do not look and act like a fool. I am so glad that the animal control people were gracious. I am also relieved that they were not going after my swans.

I Don't Want To Go

"I don't want to go," my grandson said with crossed arms. "You can't make me."

Every Sunday after church, I take my grandson to Harford Glen when the weather permits. This past Sunday was no different. All he wants to do is go home and get on the kindle. But, once we get there he get excited to see the different creatures we come across.

This Sunday, one of our favorite person was there checking on the many birdhouses. She is so good with my grandson and other children. Since she runs the youth bird club, we often go on bird counts with her.

So, off they went to document what birds are using the boxed birdhouses. While they were out, I got to spend time with two other researchers who were in the process of tagging the birds. They had nets throughout the trails to catch the birds.

It was a great day to learn about the research and see new birds. Both my grandson and I had an eventful day. Yet, I know next Sunday I will hear the same words again. I don't want to go.

But we will go and he will have another great day.

Redstart

A new bird for me. It is also a new bird for the Mariner. That makes 94 different birds I have documented there.

He was a little bugger to catch a picture of. He would not stay in one place long enough. I just keep shooting hoping to get one decent shot. Than, I had to get my trusted bird book out to look up what I just got.

I had a hawk fly over my head with two red-winged black bird chasing it. I startled a deer and she run right in front of me. I watched a crackle bombard a squirrel for a peanut I had just threw out.

Yet, I find getting to see the American Redstart my favorite part of today.

Five New Swans

Count them. There are five new members of the marsh. For years I have been following the life of the two mute swans. Each year, I hoped that they would have little ones to follow as well. But, I learn that each year when they nest, the eggs are covered with oil to keep them from hatching.

They must have been slacking on the job. Today, I was pleasantly surprise to see that they have five new swans in the marsh. They did a pretty good job of hiding them. Every day I stop by the marsh and never saw that there were babies.

Now my mission is to try and get some close up of these new members of the marsh community. They are just too cute.

Upside Down Rainbow

Have you ever seen an upside down rainbow? This is the third time I have seen one. But on Mother's Day, this one was the best example I have ever seen. I watched as the clouds drifted by the sun and behold a rainbow emerged.

It reminds me, that when we look to the Son of our creator, we see a hint of the rainbow and God promises to us. There are signs ever where that tells of God's existence. The rainbow is the one sign that God created to signify a promise to mankind never to flood the whole earth.

God did not promise that trials would not be a part of our life. He did promise that He would always be there to help.

The rainbow is a wonder to behold, even if it upside down.

Teaching Heron

Many years ago, I watch this night heron teach her young one to fish. It was quite interesting as the juvenile heron took its turn and fell face first into the water.

From the minute a child is born a mother becomes a teacher. We are there for the first step, the first words and the first day of school. We have to laugh sometimes as they fall face first with each new attempt.

Soon they do learn and leave the nest. But our job as a teacher never ends. They become adults and come back to us for help raising their young ones.

Like this young heron, our children copies us. We need to teach with loving hearts. We need to prepare them for what lies ahead. We also need to let them fall face first into the water, and not laugh to hard.

Leading Ducks

As a leader, a mother lives her life by example. This way her children learn how to grow and become leaders themselves.

This mother duck is leading her ducklings through rough waters to safety. We must as mother be willing to go through hard time to show our children how to manuver through life.

The way is not always easy. Through God we can gain the wisdom, power and strength to overcome any obsticle we encounter.

There is not a day that goes by that our chuldren do not watch our reaction to life trials. Through our leading, we can help them become better parent and an example to others.

Tomorrow we might be facing rough waters just like these ducks. Today we need to turn to God to help us lead our children through the waters just like this mother duck.

Foxy Protector

One of the most important hat a mother wear is the hat of a protector.

I am sure the fox in this picture would have attacked me if I tried to come any closer. I stayed in the safety of my car as I took this picture. The whole time that she was attending to her kits, she kept a watchful eye on me.

When my children where small, I kept a watchful eye out for them. Let anyone try to hurt them, and they would know the wrath of a mother. But, we can not always protect them, We have to let them grow and move on.

My children are all grown. Yet, I still have the protective desire in me. Like the fox, I still want to be their protector.

Maid Squirrel

Another hat a mother wears is the hat of a maid. Just like this maid squirrel, we spend our days cleaning and fixing things around the home.

From the minute a child is born, our lives are changed. First, it start with changing diapers, cleaning spit-ups and washing tons of bottles.

Second, it continues with picking up toys, spillage and whatever a child gets itself wrapped up in. If you have more than one child, the cleaning never stops.

Third, as the child gets older, it is not only cleaning after your children, but also the many friends that visit and leave their mark around the house.

Soon, they do leave the home and you are left cleaning only after yourself. The sad part, even though you are glad that all the hassled of being a maid to your children is over, you miss it.

A Swallow's Dinner

I am going to spend this week talking about the many hats a mother wears.

As we focus on the many hats, one such hat is a cook. Like the swallow in this picture, a mother goes out shopping for our food and brings home our meals.

Some mothers have many mouths to feed. It is our job to fill these mouth with nutritious food, unlike the bugs the swallow is putting in the mouth of her young for their dinner,

These days it is hard to balance all the activities that monopolizes our lives. We rely on fast food and microwave dinners. It is rare for me to prepare a home cooked meal.

When I do find the time, it brings back the old days when I would fill my mouth with a plate full of delicious food.

I know the swallow dinner provide all the nutrition it needs. So, when I wear my cook hat, I do my best to provide the right nutrition for my family.

Mother Goose

For weeks now I have been keep tabs on a mother goose sitting on a nest. Year after year, I have been trying to get some good shots of baby geese hatching. It was exciting to find a nest where I can get close and personal. Yet, it seemed like it was taking a long time for the geese to arrive.

This past weekend, I ran into a fellow birder. So, I asked her how long does the incubation period last for the eggs. She told me that there were no eggs in the nest. That some time back the eggs were eaten by a fox or some other critter.

How sad. The mother goose refuses to leave the nest. She still thinks there are eggs inside.

With Mother's Day around the corner, I have to think about all the mothers that have lost a child or never got to have one. How sad they must be on this day. There is always hope.

We are all God's children. He cares about our lives and the trials we face. He knows the pain of losing a child. When we put our sorrows at His feet, He carries them to His heart.

I am praying for the mother goose. I am also praying for all the mothers who dread facing Mother's Day. Healing will come.